Deborah Eppler

Deborah Eppler serves as a Contract Specialist at the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), where she plays a pivotal role in executing complex research and development acquisitions aligned with the Department of Defense’s mission to advance next-generation maritime technologies. She manages the full lifecycle of contracts for high-precision sensors, electronic warfare systems, signal processing hardware, and autonomous navigation technologies, ensuring compliance with federal acquisition regulations while supporting NRL’s mission of foundational scientific innovation. Her portfolio emphasizes technical procurement in defense-critical domains, requiring deep subject-matter expertise and close collaboration with engineering teams to translate R&D needs into enforceable contractual requirements. Eppler maintains consistent working relationships with key industry partners including ASSURANCE TECHNOLOGY CORP, L3HARRIS NEXGEN COMMUNICATIONS LLC, ENVISIONEERING INC, INTEGRATION INNOVATION INC, and ANALEX CORPORATION. These vendors are frequently engaged for their specialized capabilities in wireless communications, radar and navigation system integration, and advanced instrumentation development. Her procurement approach prioritizes technical excellence and proven performance, often resulting in long-term, performance-based contracts with firms demonstrating sustained expertise in naval-relevant technologies. While the majority of her acquisitions are conducted under full and open competition (75%), Eppler demonstrates a deliberate commitment to small business participation, with 25% of her awards structured as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5. She actively leverages small business capabilities to foster innovation and ensure a resilient supplier base for niche defense technologies, without compromising mission-critical performance standards. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 334220 (radio and wireless communications equipment) and 334511 (navigation and guidance systems), complemented by significant activity in 541712 (R&D in physical and engineering sciences). She routinely procures advanced electronic systems, embedded firmware, prototype sensor arrays, and signal analysis tools, reflecting deep familiarity with the technical demands of naval R&D and the specialized vendor ecosystem that supports them.