Kelly Hess

Kelly Hess serves as a Contract Specialist within the Department of the Air Force under FA4484, responsible for managing the acquisition of mission-critical infrastructure and facility support services at military installations. She plays a pivotal role in ensuring operational readiness by procuring construction, maintenance, and technical services that sustain air base infrastructure, enforce safety and environmental compliance, and support aircraft and personnel readiness. Her portfolio primarily includes design-build, renovation, and service contracts under FAR Part 36 and Part 19, with a strong emphasis on timely execution and regulatory adherence in high-stakes defense environments. Kelly maintains consistent working relationships with a core group of contractors including PAETZOLD CONSTRUCTION CO INC, SEQUOIA CONSTRUCTION INCORPORATED, RANCO CONSTRUCTION INC, THE PASSANANTE GROUP, LLC, and XENTURIS LLC. These partnerships reflect a preference for experienced, reliable vendors with demonstrated capability in complex military facility projects. Her procurement approach emphasizes performance-based contracting, clear scope definition, and rigorous contractor oversight to ensure deliverables meet stringent Air Force standards. A staunch advocate for small business participation, Kelly consistently prioritizes socioeconomic set-asides, with 81.1% of her acquisitions designated as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5. She actively promotes opportunities for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned and HUBZone small businesses, reflecting a deliberate strategy to foster economic resilience within the defense industrial base while ensuring competitive, qualified vendor participation. Her technical focus centers on NAICS 238210 (electrical systems), 238220 (HVAC and plumbing), and supporting services under 488190 (air transportation support). She routinely procures facility modernization, mechanical system upgrades, and operational support services critical to sustaining airfield and base infrastructure, demonstrating deep expertise in construction and facility lifecycle management within the defense sector.