Darla K. O'Neal

Darla K. O’Neal serves as a key procurement professional within the U.S. Coast Guard’s SFLC Procurement Branch 2 (70Z085), where she manages critical acquisitions supporting the sustainment, modernization, and lifecycle management of the Coast Guard’s fleet of cutters and maritime vessels. Her responsibilities encompass the full spectrum of shipbuilding and repair contracts, ensuring operational readiness through timely and compliant procurement of naval infrastructure services. She routinely handles complex, mission-critical contracts under FAR Part 13 and Part 15, focusing on maintenance, overhaul, and technical upgrades to ensure vessels meet stringent maritime safety and performance standards. O’Neal maintains consistent working relationships with leading shipyard and industrial marine contractors, including ROLLS-ROYCE SOLUTIONS AMERICA INC, VIGOR MARINE LLC, JAG INDUSTRIAL SERVICES, INC, G I INDUSTRIAL-MARINE, LLC, and L1 ENTERPRISES INCORPORATED. These partnerships reflect a preference for established vendors with proven expertise in naval vessel repair, propulsion system integration, and marine fabrication. Her contracting approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes, technical compliance, and long-term vendor reliability to support the Coast Guard’s enduring operational demands. Her procurement strategy reflects a strong commitment to small business participation, with 41.7% of awards structured as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, demonstrating a deliberate effort to expand opportunities for qualified small businesses in the maritime industrial base. While the majority of contracts remain open to all competitors, her consistent use of small business set-asides underscores a balanced approach to fostering competition and sustaining a resilient supplier network. O’Neal’s portfolio is exclusively focused on NAICS 336611 — Ship Building and Repairing — encompassing dry-docking, structural refurbishment, electrical and mechanical system upgrades, and corrosion control services. Her technical expertise lies in naval architecture and marine engineering domains, ensuring acquisitions align with Coast Guard specifications for durability, safety, and mission-critical performance across coastal and open-ocean environments.