Charles O. Graves

Charles O. Graves serves as the Housing Carpet Install lead at U.S. Coast Guard Base Cleveland (70Z030), responsible for managing facility sustainment acquisitions related to interior flooring systems within Coast Guard housing and support structures. In this role, he ensures compliance with federal building standards and operational readiness requirements by overseeing the procurement of carpet installation, underlayment, and related specialty trade services. His acquisitions directly support the agency’s mission to maintain habitable, safe, and resilient living environments for personnel across the Great Lakes region, aligning with broader infrastructure modernization goals. Graves collaborates with a diverse pool of specialty trade contractors, primarily flooring specialists and general specialty trade firms capable of delivering turnkey installation services in occupied military housing. His working relationships emphasize performance-based contracting, with a focus on vendors who demonstrate proven experience in federal facility renovations, adherence to GSA and DoD flooring specifications, and timely completion under constrained operational timelines. While no single contractor dominates his portfolio, he consistently engages firms with demonstrated capacity for rapid mobilization and quality control in high-turnover housing environments. His procurement strategy reflects a balanced approach to socioeconomic goals, with approximately one-third of acquisitions set aside for total small business participation under FAR 19.5, while the remainder remain open competition. This pattern underscores a deliberate commitment to fostering small business engagement without compromising schedule or quality, and aligns with Coast Guard directives to expand opportunities for qualified local and regional vendors. Graves specializes in NAICS 238330 (Flooring Contractors) and 238990 (All Other Specialty Trade Contractors), with a notable emphasis on 721310 (Rooming and Boarding Houses), reflecting his focus on residential infrastructure. His technical expertise lies in the selection and installation of commercial-grade carpet systems, moisture barriers, and transition materials suited for high-traffic, moisture-prone environments, ensuring long-term durability and compliance with federal accessibility and safety standards.