Chad L. Pickett

Chad L. Pickett serves as a Contract Specialist with the W7N5 USPFO Activity VA ARNG under the Department of the Army, where he manages the procurement of critical non-combat support services essential to the readiness and sustainment of Virginia Army National Guard personnel. His responsibilities include planning, soliciting, awarding, and administering contracts for food service, facility maintenance, and operational logistics, ensuring compliance with federal acquisition regulations and mission-driven requirements. Pickett plays a pivotal role in aligning acquisition strategies with the agency’s focus on troop welfare, overseeing contracts that directly impact daily garrison operations and training site functionality across multiple locations. Pickett maintains a consistent working relationship with WABASH CONSULTANTS, LLC, a key vendor providing perishable food preparation and logistical support services. His procurement approach emphasizes reliable, high-volume service delivery, fostering long-term partnerships with vendors capable of meeting stringent military standards for food safety, cold chain management, and on-site operational support. He prioritizes vendors with proven capacity to scale services across diverse, geographically dispersed locations while maintaining quality and compliance. His contracting patterns reflect a strong preference for open competition, with 80% of awards issued without set-asides, yet he maintains a deliberate 20% commitment to Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) set-asides, demonstrating a balanced approach to market access and mission efficiency. This reflects a strategic intent to leverage small business capabilities where they align with operational needs without compromising service continuity. Pickett’s primary NAICS focus areas include 311991 (Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing), 312113 (Ice Manufacturing), 721214 (Recreational and Vacation Camps), and 561330 (Professional Employer Organizations). He specializes in procuring meal preparation, refrigerated logistics, on-site food service operations, and integrated workforce management solutions tailored to military training environments, demonstrating deep domain expertise in sustaining troop welfare through complex, mission-critical service contracts.