Darlene HOWES

Darlene Howes serves as a secondary procurement contact within the W7NC Uspfo Activity Me Arng, supporting the Department of the Army’s mission to sustain the readiness of the Maine Army National Guard through non-combat logistical and human services acquisitions. While not the primary contracting officer, she plays a critical role in facilitating the planning, solicitation, and administration of contracts for essential support functions, including meal services, medical care for recruit programs, and temporary lodging solutions. Her work ensures that non-tactical but mission-critical requirements are met efficiently, aligning with federal acquisition regulations and agency-specific sustainment priorities. Howes maintains consistent working relationships with key vendors such as JEFF’S CATERING & BAKE SHOP, INC. and ARCABEL SOLUTIONS LLC, both of which provide specialized services in food service operations and administrative support solutions. These partnerships reflect a pattern of engaging niche, locally rooted contractors capable of delivering scalable, mission-tailored services under dynamic training and deployment cycles. Her procurement approach emphasizes reliability, compliance, and responsiveness, often requiring rapid mobilization of vendors to support time-sensitive operational needs. Her contracting portfolio demonstrates a strong emphasis on small business participation, with over 62% of acquisitions set aside for total small businesses under FAR 19.5, reflecting a deliberate strategy to foster economic resilience within the regional vendor community. While women-owned small businesses represent a minor share, the agency’s overall socioeconomic strategy prioritizes broad-based small business inclusion over niche set-asides, aligning with Army-wide goals for equitable contracting access. The primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 722320 (Caterers), underscoring a heavy reliance on food service contractors to support training and deployment cycles. Additional activity spans other technical and trade schools, miscellaneous health practitioners, and advertising-related services, indicating a diversified but mission-aligned portfolio centered on human support infrastructure rather than hardware or IT systems.