Katriena R. Ver Straete

Katriena R. Ver Straete serves as a Contract Specialist within the W071 Endist Omaha office under the Department of the Army, where she plays a pivotal role in executing mission-critical acquisitions to sustain and modernize military infrastructure. Her responsibilities encompass the full lifecycle of procurement for heavy civil engineering, environmental services, and base readiness projects, ensuring compliance with federal acquisition regulations and strategic defense priorities. She manages complex contracts supporting hardened facility construction, utility corridor development, and integrated training environments essential to national deterrence posture. Her work directly enables the Army’s operational readiness by delivering robust, resilient infrastructure across the continental United States. Ver Straete maintains consistent working relationships with a core group of established contractors including JOHN BOWMAN, INC., PAF ELECTRICAL, INC., HENDRICKSON TRANSPORTATION LLC, PERINI MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC., and WASHINGTON EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC. These partnerships reflect a preference for experienced firms capable of delivering high-complexity construction and engineering services under stringent military standards. Her contracting approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes, rigorous oversight, and long-term vendor reliability, fostering stable, results-driven collaborations that align with the agency’s mission-critical timelines. She exhibits a balanced commitment to socioeconomic contracting, with approximately half of her acquisitions set aside for small businesses under FAR 19.5, while the remainder remain open to full and open competition. This pattern demonstrates a deliberate strategy to promote small business participation without compromising mission requirements. Her procurement portfolio reflects a strong emphasis on 237310 (Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction), 237990 (Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction), and 541620 (Environmental Consulting Services), underscoring her technical expertise in civil infrastructure, site remediation, and utility systems integration. She routinely procures services related to poured concrete structures, landscaping, and environmental compliance, ensuring defense installations meet both operational and regulatory standards.