Loretta P. Shanks

Loretta P. Shanks serves as a Contract Specialist within the U.S. Coast Guard, under the Department of Homeland Security, where she plays a pivotal role in executing mission-critical construction acquisitions to sustain and modernize national infrastructure. Her responsibilities encompass the full lifecycle of contract management—from requirements development and solicitation to award and closeout—for facilities essential to operational readiness, including training centers, command hubs, and family housing. She ensures compliance with federal acquisition regulations while aligning procurements with the Coast Guard’s strategic priorities in infrastructure resilience and 24/7 maritime support. Shanks maintains established relationships with key construction contractors, including FIBER BUSINESS SOLUTIONS GROUP INC, RQ CONSTRUCTION, LLC, and WHITING-TURNER CONTRACTING COMPANY, THE, reflecting a preference for experienced, large-capacity firms capable of delivering complex commercial and industrial building projects. Her contracting patterns demonstrate a reliance on proven vendors with demonstrated expertise in facility modernization, utility systems integration, and mission-critical construction, fostering consistent performance and reliability across high-stakes projects. While the majority of her acquisitions are unrestricted, Shanks consistently allocates 25% of her portfolio to Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, demonstrating a structured commitment to small business participation. She does not prioritize specialized socioeconomic set-asides such as 8(a) or HUBZone, instead focusing on broad-based small business eligibility to encourage competition while maintaining project scalability. Her procurement focus is overwhelmingly centered on NAICS 236220 (Commercial and Institutional Building Construction), with secondary emphasis on NAICS 236210 (Industrial Building Construction). She specializes in procuring turnkey construction services involving structural, mechanical, and electrical systems essential to mission continuity, showcasing deep technical familiarity with facility design standards for federal operational environments.