Ira Hedgepeth

Ira Hedgepeth serves as the primary procurement lead at the DDSP New Cumberland Facility, a critical logistics hub under the Department of Defense’s DLA Distribution. Responsible for managing mission-critical acquisitions, Hedgepeth oversees the sourcing of precision industrial components essential to military equipment maintenance and operational readiness. Their portfolio centers on specialized hardware including cutting tools, welding systems, industrial valves, and aircraft ancillary equipment—items vital to field repair and sustainment operations across the defense enterprise. Hedgepeth ensures timely delivery of these high-reliability components through compliant, performance-based contracting methods aligned with DLA Distribution’s strategic objectives. Hedgepeth maintains a diverse supplier base, engaging both large-tier industrial manufacturers and niche specialty vendors capable of meeting stringent military specifications. While no single contractor dominates their award profile, relationships are built on technical capability, quality assurance compliance, and on-time delivery performance. The procurement approach prioritizes vendors with proven experience in defense-grade manufacturing, particularly those certified to AS9100 and ISO 9001 standards, fostering partnerships grounded in reliability and regulatory adherence. Hedgepeth’s contracting patterns reflect a strong preference for open competition, with approximately 82% of acquisitions issued without set-aside restrictions. Nevertheless, they consistently allocate nearly 18% of opportunities to total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5, demonstrating active support for small business participation. While no specific socioeconomic categories like 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB dominate their awards, the consistent use of small business set-asides underscores a deliberate effort to broaden vendor diversity and enhance supply chain resilience. The procurement focus is heavily concentrated in NAICS 333992 (welding and soldering equipment manufacturing) and 333515 (cutting tool and machine tool accessory manufacturing), reflecting deep technical expertise in industrial machining and fabrication systems. Additional activity includes procurement of electroplating services and metal stamping components, indicating proficiency in surface treatment and precision metalforming domains critical to aerospace and ground vehicle sustainment. Hedgepeth’s work ensures the availability of mission-essential hardware that directly supports the readiness of deployed military platforms.