Lahkeisha M. Leach

Lahkeisha M. Leach serves as a Contract Specialist within the SFLC Procurement Branch 3 (00040) of the U.S. Coast Guard, where she plays a pivotal role in executing acquisition strategies that sustain and modernize the Coast Guard’s maritime fleet. Her responsibilities encompass the full lifecycle of procurement activities—from market research and solicitation development to contract award and administration—for shipbuilding, vessel repair, and critical infrastructure support services. She ensures compliance with federal acquisition regulations while aligning contracts with the Coast Guard’s operational readiness goals, particularly in maintaining cutter fleet endurance and safety. Leach specializes in complex, mission-critical acquisitions involving marine systems, engineering services, and environmental remediation. Leach maintains consistent working relationships with a core group of established contractors, including Philadelphia Electrical Equipment Co., JDCI Enterprises, Inc., ALS Services USA, Corp., Cabras Marine Corporation, and Bay Marine Boatworks, Inc. These partnerships reflect a preference for vendors with proven expertise in naval architecture, marine fabrication, and vessel maintenance. Her contracting patterns indicate a reliance on experienced, technically capable firms capable of delivering high-integrity marine systems under stringent Coast Guard standards, often requiring specialized certifications and quality assurance protocols. Her procurement approach prioritizes broad market access, with 69.2% of her awards issued under open competition and 30.8% designated as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5. While she does not routinely employ 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB set-asides, her consistent use of small business set-asides demonstrates a strong commitment to fostering competition among qualified small entities in the maritime industrial base. Leach’s primary technical focus lies in NAICS 336611 (Ship Building and Repairing) and 336612 (Boat Building), with significant activity in related areas such as metal coating, engineering services, and remediation. She procures specialized marine hardware, structural repairs, electrical systems integration, and environmental compliance services essential to sustaining Coast Guard vessels across diverse operational environments.