Karen A. Tindley

Karen A. Tinley serves as a Contract Specialist at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head Division (N00174), where she plays a critical role in executing complex acquisitions for ordnance systems, explosives, and precision instrumentation essential to naval warfare readiness. She manages the full lifecycle of contracts—from solicitation and evaluation to award and closeout—ensuring compliance with federal acquisition regulations and mission-critical technical requirements. Her portfolio primarily supports the development, testing, and sustainment of munitions manufacturing capabilities, detection systems, and specialized engineering services that enhance the reliability and safety of naval ordnance. Tinley maintains consistent working relationships with a select group of specialized contractors, including TOTAL CONCEPTS OF DESIGN INC, Boh Environmental, L.L.C., CHUCKING MACHINE PRODUCTS, INC., CANADIAN COMMERCIAL CORP, and DEVAL LIFE CYCLE SUPPORT LLC. These partnerships reflect a focus on niche technical capabilities in ordnance handling, environmental compliance, precision machining, and life cycle support. Her procurement approach emphasizes long-term vendor collaboration, technical vetting, and performance-based contract structures to ensure mission continuity and operational safety. Her contracting patterns show a strong preference for open competition, with 75% of awards issued without set-asides, while maintaining a meaningful commitment to small business participation—16.7% of awards are total small business set-asides, and 8.3% are designated for women-owned small businesses. This balance supports both operational urgency and socioeconomic goals under FAR Part 19. Tinley’s technical focus centers on NAICS 334519 (Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing), 325920 (Explosives Manufacturing), and 332994 (Small Arms and Ordnance Accessories Manufacturing), reflecting deep expertise in procuring high-hazard, precision-engineered components for military ordnance systems. She routinely acquires specialized electronic connectors, ammunition components, and control instrumentation critical to modern naval weapons development and sustainment.