Cheri Thetford

Cheri Thetford serves as a Contracting Officer, playing a key role in the execution of the agency's procurement mission. In this capacity, she is responsible for managing the acquisition lifecycle and ensuring that contract actions align with regulatory requirements and agency objectives. Her role involves overseeing various procurement activities to support the agency's operational and technical requirements. The agency's procurement landscape is characterized by a significant reliance on full and open competition, with a vast majority of its contract actions categorized as no set-aside. While the agency maintains a presence in the marketplace, there is a relatively low percentage of total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5, indicating that the agency's acquisition strategy frequently utilizes unrestricted contract vehicles. The agency's procurement activity is heavily concentrated in high-tech manufacturing and specialized engineering sectors. A primary focus of their requirements is the manufacturing of search, detection, navigation, guidance, aeronautical, and nautical systems and instruments. This technical specialization is complemented by significant requirements for engineering services and aircraft manufacturing. Additionally, the agency procures specialized maintenance and repair services for electronic, precision, and communication equipment, reflecting a technical domain expertise centered on advanced aerospace and electronic systems.