Erica M. Collins

Erica M. Collins supports the Naval Oceanographic Office in executing mission-critical procurement activities aligned with its mandate to deliver advanced oceanographic and geospatial intelligence for naval operations. While her formal title is not specified, her procurement responsibilities center on acquiring technical services and specialized equipment essential to environmental sensing, undersea warfare support, and real-time data modeling. She manages a diverse portfolio of acquisitions focused on software development, geospatial analytics, and sensor systems, ensuring alignment with DoD standards for operational readiness and scientific accuracy. Her work directly enables the agency’s capacity to maintain maritime domain awareness across global theaters. Her contractor relationships span a mix of large defense contractors and specialized small businesses, particularly those with expertise in oceanographic data systems and custom software solutions. She frequently engages vendors capable of delivering secure, field-deployable tools for environmental modeling and sensor integration, fostering partnerships with firms experienced in naval operational environments. Collaborations emphasize technical agility, compliance with military specifications, and rapid prototyping capabilities to meet evolving mission demands. Collins demonstrates a strong commitment to small business participation, with over 26% of her acquisitions structured as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5, and an additional 2.9% allocated to 8(a) competed contracts. While the majority of awards remain open to all competitors, her consistent use of socioeconomic set-asides reflects a deliberate strategy to cultivate innovation from emerging vendors with niche capabilities in oceanographic technology and data science. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 541511 (custom computer programming) and 541519 (other computer-related services), reflecting a heavy emphasis on algorithm-driven environmental modeling, geospatial software, and real-time data processing systems. She also regularly procures specialized instrumentation under NAICS 334519, indicating deep engagement with underwater sensor platforms and precision measurement devices critical to seabed mapping and anti-submarine warfare. Her technical domain expertise is rooted in the integration of oceanographic data with operational decision-support systems.