Marie Kutenbach

Marie Kutenbach serves as a key procurement professional within the Network Contract Office 23 (36C263) of the Department of Veterans Affairs, responsible for managing complex acquisitions of industrial gas systems and related infrastructure critical to VA healthcare operations. Her work directly supports the agency’s mission to ensure clinical readiness and facility integrity by securing specialized gas delivery systems, medical air, nitrogen, and oxygen supply infrastructure essential for surgical suites, respiratory therapy units, and laboratory environments. She handles full lifecycle contract actions—including requirements definition, source selection, and performance monitoring—for high-compliance, safety-sensitive procurements under federal acquisition regulations. Kutenbach maintains consistent working relationships with a core group of experienced contractors, including BZ Construction and Development LLC, Highlands Enterprises LLC, Abbott Laboratories Inc., Primary Care Solutions Inc., and Pedersen & Rangel. These vendors are selected for their technical proficiency in designing, installing, and maintaining medical gas systems compliant with NFPA 99 and ASME standards. Her procurement approach emphasizes vendor reliability, regulatory adherence, and long-term operational support, fostering stable, performance-based partnerships rather than transactional engagements. Her contracting activity shows a 100% preference for unrestricted, full and open competition, with no use of socioeconomic set-asides such as 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB programs. This reflects a strategic focus on technical capability and system interoperability over socioeconomic criteria, prioritizing mission-critical performance in life-safety environments. The office’s exclusive focus on NAICS 325120 (Industrial Gas Manufacturing) underscores Kutenbach’s deep specialization in medical and industrial gas systems procurement. She routinely manages acquisitions for bulk gas storage, piping networks, alarm systems, and point-of-use delivery equipment, requiring expertise in engineering specifications, hazardous material handling, and healthcare facility codes. Her domain knowledge ensures the VA’s clinical environments remain safe, compliant, and technologically current.