Donald D McManus

Donald D. McManus serves as a Contract Specialist at the Naval Surface Warfare Center (N61331), where he plays a pivotal role in acquiring advanced electronic systems critical to naval surface warfare readiness. He manages the full lifecycle of procurement actions for mission-critical technologies including sensors, signal processing equipment, navigation systems, and analytical instrumentation used aboard surface ships and maritime platforms. His acquisitions support the Center’s strategic priorities in modernizing sonar, radar, and electronic warfare capabilities, ensuring fleet-wide interoperability and technological superiority. McManus specializes in complex, technical procurements governed by FAR and DFARS, often involving custom engineering solutions and rapid prototyping contracts to meet evolving operational demands. McManus maintains consistent working relationships with a core group of specialized contractors, including ISPA TECHNOLOGY LLC, FIVE RIVERS ANALYTICS, LLC, BAUER COMPRESSORS, INC., and COUNTERTRADE PRODUCTS, INC. These partnerships reflect a focus on niche suppliers with proven expertise in defense-grade electronics, compressed air systems for underwater applications, and analytical instrumentation. His contracting approach emphasizes collaboration with vendors capable of rapid iteration and compliance with stringent military specifications, fostering long-term vendor engagement to support sustainment and technology insertion cycles. McManus demonstrates a strong commitment to small business participation, with nearly half of his acquisitions structured as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5. While no other socioeconomic set-asides dominate his portfolio, his consistent use of small business set-asides underscores a deliberate strategy to cultivate innovation from agile, specialized vendors. This pattern supports broader DoD goals of expanding the defense industrial base and leveraging small business ingenuity in advanced electronics and systems integration. His primary procurement focus aligns with NAICS 334511 for navigation and guidance systems, 334419 for electronic components, and 335999 for miscellaneous electrical equipment, reflecting deep expertise in maritime electronic systems. He routinely acquires precision instrumentation, signal processing hardware, and embedded computing platforms essential to undersea dominance and situational awareness, ensuring the Navy’s surface fleet remains technologically ahead of emerging threats.