Cathy A. Plante

Cathy A. Plante serves as a Contract Specialist within the FA8773 Acc 38 Cons agency under the Department of the Air Force, where she plays a pivotal role in executing mission-critical acquisitions to support cyberspace operations, space security, and secure IT infrastructure. She manages the full lifecycle of contracts for advanced aerospace systems, computer storage devices, and specialized cyber defense services, ensuring alignment with Air Force readiness objectives. Her work directly enables the development and sustainment of high-tempo cyber training environments and protected computing facilities, requiring rigorous compliance with defense acquisition regulations and technical specifications for classified and sensitive systems. Plante maintains a consistent working relationship with Aerospace & Commercial Technologies, LLC, a key vendor providing specialized components and integrated solutions for aircraft systems and cyber-enabling hardware. Her procurement approach emphasizes long-term vendor collaboration with firms possessing deep domain expertise in defense-grade electronics and secure computing architectures. She engages with a focused pool of technical contractors capable of meeting stringent DoD standards for performance, supply chain integrity, and cybersecurity compliance. Her contracting portfolio reflects a strategic balance between open competition and small business inclusion, with 75% of awards issued under full and open competition and 25% structured as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5. While she does not routinely utilize 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB set-asides, she actively prioritizes small business participation through targeted solicitations that encourage capable small firms to compete for complex technical requirements. Plante’s primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 336413 for other aircraft parts and auxiliary equipment, 334112 for computer storage device manufacturing, and 541512 for computer systems design services. She specializes in acquiring hardened computing hardware, secure data storage systems, and custom cyber training infrastructure, reflecting deep technical expertise in aerospace-qualified electronics and mission-critical IT systems supporting Air Force cyber and space operations.