Charles McInnis

Charles McInnis serves as a secondary procurement liaison within the Maritime Administration, supporting the agency’s mission to sustain and modernize the nation’s strategic maritime infrastructure. Though not a primary contracting officer, he plays a critical role in facilitating acquisition planning, vendor coordination, and contract administration for technical services essential to vessel readiness and maritime workforce development. His responsibilities center on engineering services procurement aligned with the National Defense Reserve Fleet and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy operational needs, ensuring compliance with federal acquisition regulations and interagency coordination protocols. McInnis maintains a consistent working relationship with CONNECTA SATELLITE SOLUTIONS LLC, a key vendor providing advanced satellite communication and maritime data transmission systems. His procurement pattern reflects a reliance on specialized contractors with proven expertise in secure, resilient communications for maritime environments, often engaging firms capable of supporting Department of Defense interoperability standards and DHS cybersecurity requirements. His involvement typically occurs during the requirements definition and source selection phases, ensuring technical alignment with operational priorities. He exhibits a strong, consistent preference for full small business set-asides under FAR 19.5, with 100% of his supported acquisitions reserved for small businesses. This reflects a deliberate strategy to foster innovation and capacity within the small business ecosystem, particularly among firms with niche capabilities in maritime technology and engineering services. His contracting patterns prioritize socioeconomic inclusion without compromising technical rigor. His procurement focus is exclusively centered on NAICS 541330 (Engineering Services), encompassing maritime systems engineering, vessel modernization support, communications infrastructure design, and technical analysis for fleet readiness. He routinely procures services related to satellite-enabled navigation, cybersecurity for maritime networks, and engineering studies supporting fleet sustainment—demonstrating deep domain expertise in the technical demands of national maritime security and infrastructure resilience.