Cheryl Somers

Cheryl Somers serves as a Contract Specialist within the Military Sealift Fleet Support Command Norfolk (N40442), where she plays a pivotal role in procuring critical maintenance, repair, and modernization services for the U.S. Navy’s non-combatant, government-owned vessels. Her acquisitions focus on sustaining maritime logistics readiness through specialized industrial support, including propulsion systems, marine HVAC, navigation instrumentation, and vessel repair infrastructure. She manages full lifecycle contracts under the Federal Acquisition Regulation, ensuring compliance with technical specifications and operational requirements essential to fleet sustainment. Her work directly supports the agency’s mission to maintain the operational availability of the Military Sealift Command’s auxiliary fleet through timely, efficient, and compliant contracting practices. Cheryl collaborates with a diverse range of contractors, including industrial service providers, marine engineering firms, and specialized equipment suppliers. While specific vendor names are not publicly disclosed, her contracting patterns reflect consistent engagement with firms capable of delivering complex technical services in shipyard environments and at-sea support operations. She fosters long-term partnerships with vendors possessing relevant DOD clearances, naval experience, and certified quality management systems, ensuring reliable performance on mission-critical maintenance and overhaul contracts. Cheryl exhibits a balanced approach to socioeconomic set-asides, with approximately half of her acquisitions designated as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, and the other half open to all competitors. This reflects a deliberate strategy to promote small business participation without compromising operational urgency or technical capability. She actively encourages bids from 8(a), HUBZone, and SDVOSB firms, aligning with DoD priorities to expand equitable access to defense contracting opportunities. Her primary procurement focus centers on NAICS 532111 (Passenger Car Rental) and 423850 (Service Establishment Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers), indicating a significant need for specialized transportation, logistics, and industrial supply chain services to support vessel maintenance operations. These categories suggest procurement of mobile support units, tooling, spare parts, and maintenance-related equipment critical to sustaining the fleet’s mechanical and electrical systems. Cheryl’s expertise lies in translating complex naval engineering requirements into clear, enforceable contract statements of work.