Kalli Bates

Kalli Bates supports critical acquisition initiatives for the W6QK Acc-Dta under the U.S. Army Contracting Command – Detroit Arsenal, where they facilitate the procurement of advanced ground combat systems and enabling technologies essential to modernizing Army tactical forces. Their work centers on securing armored vehicles, small arms, and integrated ordnance systems that enhance soldier lethality and battlefield mobility, with a focus on rapid prototyping and fielding of next-generation capabilities. They manage full lifecycle contracting actions—from market research and solicitation to award and administration—ensuring compliance with Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) and Army-specific acquisition policies. Bates maintains established working relationships with key defense contractors including BAE SYSTEMS LAND & ARMAMENTS L.P., MURTECH, INC., and BAY SHIP & YACHT CO, among others, reflecting a mix of prime vendor engagement with both large defense primes and specialized niche suppliers. These partnerships are typically structured through competitive sealed bidding and negotiated contracts, with an emphasis on technical performance, delivery timelines, and sustainment support for complex military platforms. Their contracting portfolio exhibits a strong preference for small business participation, with over 42% of awards structured as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, indicating a deliberate strategy to foster innovation and capacity within the small business industrial base. While no specific socioeconomic set-asides dominate, the consistent use of small business set-asides underscores a commitment to broadening vendor diversity and strengthening supply chain resilience. Notably, the NAICS codes associated with their portfolio—particularly 712110 (Museums) and 711510 (Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers)—suggest potential misclassifications or anomalies in data reporting, as these do not align with the agency’s core mission. However, the presence of 334210 (Telephone Apparatus Manufacturing) and 561621 (Security Systems Services) indicates some procurement activity in communications and protective systems, suggesting a broader, though possibly misaligned, technical scope that warrants further validation.