Kristen Balko

Kristen Balko serves as a key procurement professional within the Department of the Air Force’s FA4419 agency, responsible for managing acquisitions that sustain and modernize critical air base infrastructure and mission-critical support systems. Her work directly supports operational readiness by securing essential services and components for aircraft maintenance, facility utilities, and environmental systems. She handles a diverse portfolio of contract actions under FAR Part 12 and Part 13, focusing on service-based procurements that ensure continuous functionality of aerospace and base operations. Her acquisitions are strategically aligned with the agency’s priorities in infrastructure resilience and logistical support. Balko maintains a consistent working relationship with Coordinated Defense Supply Systems, Inc., a trusted vendor providing specialized logistical and maintenance support services. Her contracting patterns reflect a preference for established contractors with proven capability in defense-facing operations, often leveraging long-term service agreements and indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) vehicles. She engages with vendors who demonstrate technical proficiency in facility systems, maintenance logistics, and environmental compliance, fostering partnerships grounded in reliability and performance-based outcomes. Her procurement strategy prioritizes small business participation, with nearly half of her awards structured as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. While no other socioeconomic set-asides dominate her portfolio, her consistent use of small business set-asides signals a strong commitment to expanding opportunities for qualified small firms. She actively structures solicitations to maximize small business access while maintaining mission-critical performance standards. Balko’s primary NAICS focus includes Drycleaning and Laundry Services (812320), Electric Power Distribution (221122), Machine Shops (332710), Travel Trailer and Camper Manufacturing (336214), and Janitorial Services (561720). These reflect her role in procuring essential base support functions—from facility maintenance and utility infrastructure to specialized mechanical components and environmental services—ensuring air bases remain fully operational and compliant with DoD standards.