Keith Benson

Keith Benson serves as a procurement specialist within the SFLC Procurement Branch 1 (70Z080) of the U.S. Coast Guard, operating under the Department of Homeland Security. He is responsible for managing the acquisition of critical marine systems and environmental control equipment essential to the sustainment and modernization of the Coast Guard’s cutter fleet. His portfolio centers on shipboard air-conditioning, heating, and industrial refrigeration systems that ensure operational readiness across coastal and open-ocean missions. Benson plays a pivotal role in executing long-term maintenance contracts, dry dock overhauls, and vessel modernization initiatives aligned with the Coast Guard’s strategic lifecycle management goals. He maintains consistent, long-term relationships with key industrial contractors including Fairbanks Morse, LLC, Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors, L.L.C., Bay Ship & Yacht Co., Automatic Coating Limited USA, and Technico Corporation. These partnerships reflect a preference for established shipyard and marine systems vendors with proven expertise in naval vessel integration, corrosion protection, and propulsion auxiliary systems. His contracting approach emphasizes technical compliance, lifecycle support, and performance-based outcomes, fostering collaborative vendor engagement on complex, mission-critical maritime upgrades. Benson’s procurement activity is exclusively non-set-aside, with 100% of awards issued under full and open competition. This reflects a strategic focus on technical capability and operational interoperability over socioeconomic preferences, prioritizing vendor qualifications and proven maritime system performance over certification-based set-asides. His primary procurement focus is NAICS 333415—Air-Conditioning and Warm Air Heating Equipment and Commercial and Industrial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing—indicating deep specialization in shipboard environmental control systems. He procures mission-critical components such as marine-grade HVAC units, refrigeration loops, heat exchangers, and integrated climate control systems engineered for high-humidity, saltwater-exposed environments, demonstrating technical expertise in naval engineering standards and marine environmental compliance.