Heather Bunnell

Heather Bunnell serves as a key procurement lead within the FA7000 10 Cons Lgc unit of the Department of the Air Force, supporting the U.S. Air Force Academy’s mission to advance aerospace research and cadet technical training. She manages the acquisition of precision instrumentation, laboratory equipment, and specialized technical systems critical to maintaining operational readiness and scientific integrity across training and research facilities. Her portfolio centers on high-accuracy measurement devices, data acquisition systems, and engineering support services that directly enable cadet experiential learning and cutting-edge aerospace experimentation. Bunnell’s acquisitions are strategically aligned with modernization goals, ensuring the integration of next-generation analytical tools into the Academy’s educational and R&D infrastructure. She maintains consistent working relationships with a core group of specialized vendors including SAWASAWA LLC, BERNARD CAP, LLC, TEAL DRONES INC, BRANSCOME OPERATING, LLC, and LAVISION, INC., all of which provide niche technical solutions in instrumentation, unmanned systems, and high-resolution data collection. These partnerships reflect a preference for established niche suppliers with proven capabilities in aerospace-grade equipment and scientific support services, rather than broad commercial vendors. Her contracting approach emphasizes technical specificity, performance validation, and long-term system interoperability. Bunnell’s procurement patterns show a strong orientation toward open competition, with 80% of awards issued under no set-aside conditions. However, she actively incorporates 8(a) competed contracts, accounting for 20% of her portfolio, demonstrating a deliberate commitment to small business participation within the bounds of technical exigency. Her socioeconomic strategy balances mission-critical performance requirements with meaningful opportunities for certified small disadvantaged businesses. Her primary NAICS focus areas include 541990 (Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services) and 541715 (R&D in Physical and Engineering Sciences), reflecting her central role in procuring technical services for advanced instrumentation and experimental systems. She also routinely acquires educational support services under 611710 and electronic computer manufacturing under 334111, underscoring her expertise in integrating hardware, software, and instructional systems to support STEM education and aerospace research at the Academy.