Heather A. Brick Saunders

Heather A. Brick Saunders serves as a Contract Specialist within the C5I Division 3 Portsmouth of the U.S. Coast Guard, where she plays a pivotal role in executing complex acquisitions to modernize critical command, control, communications, computers, cyber, and intelligence (C5I) systems. Her responsibilities include managing the full lifecycle of procurement actions—from market research and solicitation development to contract award and administration—to ensure the delivery of advanced maritime surveillance, navigation, and communication technologies. She supports mission-critical operations in maritime domain awareness and national security by securing cutting-edge systems that enhance operational resilience across all domains. Her primary contractor relationships center on TRIMBLE INC, a leading provider of precision positioning and geospatial technologies, reflecting a strong alignment with high-performance navigation and communication equipment. She engages with a focused group of defense and aerospace contractors capable of delivering integrated C5I solutions, emphasizing technical rigor, compliance with federal standards, and timely delivery of mission-essential systems. Her contracting patterns indicate a preference for established industry partners with proven expertise in ruggedized, field-deployable hardware and secure communications platforms. Heather maintains a strict focus on full and open competition, with 100% of her acquisitions conducted without set-asides, indicating a procurement strategy prioritized for technical capability, performance reliability, and mission readiness over socioeconomic classifications. While she does not currently utilize 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB set-asides, her approach ensures that all vendors compete on an equal footing based on technical merit and system interoperability. Her procurement activities are concentrated in NAICS 334220 (Radio and Television Broadcasting and Wireless Communications Equipment Manufacturing) and 334511 (Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing), reflecting deep expertise in procuring maritime-grade radar, GPS-denied navigation systems, secure data links, and integrated sensor platforms. She specializes in acquiring hardware and subsystems that enable real-time situational awareness and resilient command networks for Coast Guard assets at sea and ashore.