DPW Edmundo "Ed" Ramos

Edmundo “Ed” Ramos serves as Director of Finance for the State of Hawaii, overseeing the procurement and fiscal management of critical public infrastructure and emergency response services across the Island of Hawai‘i. In this leadership role, he directs the acquisition of construction, utility, and public works services essential to sustaining fire protection, transportation networks, and municipal resilience. His procurement portfolio is centered on mission-critical infrastructure maintenance and disaster preparedness, with a focus on long-term operational reliability. Ramos ensures compliance with state and federal contracting regulations while aligning acquisitions with the agency’s strategic goals of public safety and infrastructure integrity. While specific contractor names are not publicly disclosed, Ramos maintains collaborative relationships with a broad spectrum of qualified construction and infrastructure service providers, including general contractors, specialty trade firms, and engineering consultants. His procurement approach emphasizes competitive bidding, performance-based contracting, and vendor accountability to ensure high-quality delivery of public works projects. He fosters transparent, consistent vendor engagement through standardized solicitation processes and post-award performance evaluations. Ramos’s office does not utilize socioeconomic set-asides, with 100% of procurements conducted under full and open competition. This reflects a deliberate strategy to maximize market participation and value through broad-based competition rather than targeted set-asides, though small businesses remain eligible and active participants in the bidding process. His contracting patterns prioritize efficiency and scalability over mandated preferences, ensuring the widest possible pool of qualified vendors can compete for state-funded projects. His primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 238910 (Site Preparation), 221320 (Sewage Treatment Facilities), 238160 (Roofing), and 236220 (Commercial and Institutional Building Construction). He routinely awards contracts for earthwork, stormwater management, roofing systems, and public building upgrades, demonstrating deep expertise in civil infrastructure and municipal construction domains. Ramos’s technical acumen ensures that all acquisitions meet stringent environmental, safety, and durability standards for Hawaii’s unique climatic conditions.