Justin G. Higginbotham

Justin Higginbotham serves as a Contract Specialist within the U.S. Coast Guard’s Headquarters Contract Operations (CG-912), where he plays a pivotal role in executing strategic acquisitions that support national maritime security and operational readiness. He manages the full lifecycle of contracts for aerospace, maritime, and technical services, with a primary focus on vessel construction, modernization, and maritime domain awareness systems. His work directly enables the Coast Guard’s mission to sustain and enhance its fleet of patrol vessels, search and detection platforms, and specialized watercraft through compliant, efficient, and mission-driven procurement practices. Higginbotham maintains consistent contracting relationships with key shipbuilders and maritime specialists, including Bollinger Shipyards Lockport, L.L.C., Davie Defense Inc., Rauma Marine Constructions Oy, and Rozema’s Boat Works, Inc. These partnerships reflect a preference for established industry leaders with proven expertise in naval architecture and small-craft fabrication. His procurement approach emphasizes long-term vendor collaboration, technical diligence, and performance-based contract management to ensure delivery of high-integrity maritime assets aligned with Coast Guard operational requirements. He demonstrates a balanced commitment to socioeconomic contracting, with equal portions of awards designated for Total Small Business Set-Asides and non-set-aside competitions, supplemented by a dedicated 20% allocation to HUBZone firms. This pattern underscores a deliberate strategy to foster competition while expanding opportunities for qualified small businesses in the maritime industrial base. His contracting decisions consistently align with FAR 19.5 guidelines and prioritize broad-based small business participation without compromising mission-critical capabilities. His procurement portfolio is heavily concentrated in NAICS 336612 (Boat Building), reflecting deep expertise in vessel acquisition and shipyard management. He also routinely procures services under NAICS 339920 (Sporting and Athletic Goods Manufacturing) for specialized maritime equipment and NAICS 541611 (Management Consulting) for program oversight and logistics integration. This technical focus positions him as a subject matter expert in naval procurement, with a nuanced understanding of the unique engineering, compliance, and sustainment demands of Coast Guard maritime systems.