Derek Meilinger (Contracting Officer)

Derek Meilinger serves as a Contracting Officer within the W40M MRC0 West agency under the Department of the Army, responsible for securing mission-critical medical capabilities that sustain operational readiness for deployed forces. He manages a diverse portfolio of acquisitions focused on in-vitro diagnostic substances, surgical instrumentation, sterilization systems, and blood management solutions, ensuring field-deployable, high-acuity medical support. His work directly enables the agency’s mission of maintaining medical sovereignty through rapid, reliable access to advanced diagnostic and therapeutic technologies essential for combat support and trauma care. Meilinger maintains consistent relationships with leading medical technology providers including Roche Diagnostics Corporation, Abbott Molecular Inc., Cardinal Health 414, LLC, Surgical Neuromonitoring Associates, Inc., and Premier Shockwave, Inc. These partnerships reflect a preference for established vendors with proven capabilities in laboratory diagnostics, neuro-monitoring systems, and sterile supply chain logistics. His contracting approach balances reliance on industry leaders with strategic opportunities for innovation, ensuring compliance with federal acquisition regulations while prioritizing performance, traceability, and supply chain resilience. His procurement patterns demonstrate a strong commitment to socioeconomic diversity, with nearly 37.5% of awards designated as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5 and nearly 29.2% awarded through 8(a) competed contracts. This reflects a deliberate strategy to foster participation from small disadvantaged businesses, particularly those offering specialized medical services and equipment maintenance. His contracting portfolio consistently integrates 8(a), small business, and non-set-aside pathways, aligning with DoD mandates to broaden vendor diversity without compromising mission-critical performance standards. Meilinger’s primary NAICS focus areas include 622110 (General Medical and Surgical Hospitals), 621991 (Blood and Organ Banks), and 621910 (Ambulance Services), underscoring his expertise in procuring hospital-grade diagnostic tools, blood storage and transfusion systems, and mobile medical response equipment. He also supports niche requirements in electronic equipment repair and maintenance (811210), ensuring operational continuity of sensitive medical devices in austere environments. His technical domain expertise lies at the intersection of clinical diagnostics, surgical support, and battlefield medical logistics.