Maria J. Ashby

Maria J. Ashby serves as a Contract Specialist within the Headquarters Contract Operations (CG-912) unit of the U.S. Coast Guard, part of the Department of Homeland Security. In this role, she manages the full lifecycle of acquisitions critical to maritime operational readiness, focusing on the procurement of specialized vessel construction, modernization, and related technical services that enhance coastal and riverine patrol capabilities. Her work directly supports the Coast Guard’s mission to strengthen maritime domain awareness and sustain a modernized fleet through strategic sourcing aligned with federal acquisition regulations. Ashby routinely handles complex, high-stakes contracts for custom-built maritime platforms and integrated detection systems, ensuring compliance with statutory requirements and mission-driven performance standards. Ashby maintains enduring partnerships with a select group of prime contractors specializing in naval architecture and shipbuilding, including Bollinger Shipyards Lockport, L.L.C., Davie Defense Inc., Rauma Marine Constructions Oy, and Rozema’s Boat Works, Inc. These relationships are characterized by long-term collaboration on technically demanding projects requiring adherence to rigorous U.S. Navy and Coast Guard maritime standards. Her contracting approach emphasizes vendor reliability, technical innovation, and delivery of mission-critical assets, fostering a procurement environment grounded in trust and performance accountability. A staunch advocate for small business participation, Ashby exclusively utilizes Total Small Business Set-Aside authority under FAR 19.5, ensuring all of her procurements are reserved for small business concerns. This consistent application reflects a deliberate strategy to cultivate a robust, resilient supplier base capable of meeting the Coast Guard’s specialized maritime needs while promoting equitable economic opportunity across the defense industrial base. Her procurement focus is narrowly concentrated under NAICS 339920, which encompasses the manufacturing of sporting and athletic goods—specifically interpreted here to include custom-built, non-military-unique vessels and maritime equipment used for patrol, search, and rescue operations. This specialization underscores her expertise in acquiring highly engineered, low-volume, mission-specific watercraft systems that blend commercial off-the-shelf components with tailored maritime technologies.