Darlene P. Shipp

Darlene P. Shipp serves as a key procurement professional within the Mid Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center, supporting the Department of the Navy’s mission to sustain and modernize naval surface platforms through industrial-grade maintenance and repair capabilities. She manages a diverse portfolio of acquisitions focused on critical shipbuilding components, structural metal systems, and mechanical subsystems essential to fleet readiness. Her work centers on procuring fabricated metal products, fluid power components, and specialized manufacturing services that directly support vessel integrity and operational functionality, ensuring alignment with naval engineering standards and lifecycle sustainment requirements. Shipp maintains consistent partnerships with leading industrial contractors including Fairlead Boatworks, Inc., General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc., Howard W. Pence, Inc., and Kampi Components Co., Inc., reflecting a preference for established vendors with proven expertise in naval-grade fabrication and precision manufacturing. Her contracting patterns emphasize long-term vendor reliability and technical compliance, often engaging firms with specialized capabilities in metalworking, marine systems, and mechanical assemblies. These relationships are built on performance history and adherence to military specifications, ensuring mission-critical deliverables meet rigorous quality and durability standards. A strong advocate for small business participation, Shipp consistently prioritizes Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, with over 60% of her acquisitions reserved for small businesses. She also actively utilizes HUBZone set-asides, demonstrating a deliberate commitment to socioeconomic contracting and regional economic development. Her procurement strategy balances competitive sourcing with targeted support for qualified small and disadvantaged firms, reinforcing Navy-wide goals for inclusive industrial base development. Her primary NAICS focus areas include Metal Window and Door Manufacturing, Miscellaneous Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing, and Ship Building and Repairing, reflecting deep expertise in structural metal systems, fluid power components, and bearing assemblies. She specializes in procuring custom-fabricated parts and subsystems that require precise engineering tolerances and naval certification, ensuring compatibility with complex surface vessel architectures.