Mark Merrifield

Mark Merrifield serves as a Contract Negotiator within the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Propulsion Directorate (FA8650), where he plays a pivotal role in securing advanced aerospace technologies critical to U.S. air and space dominance. He specializes in negotiating complex research and development contracts for next-generation propulsion systems, hypersonic flight technologies, and high-performance functional materials. His work directly supports the agency’s mission to accelerate the transition of foundational science into operational capabilities, overseeing acquisitions that bridge laboratory innovation with real-world military applications. Merrifield typically handles cost-reimbursement and fixed-price incentive contracts under FAR Part 35 and 36, with a strong emphasis on technical performance and intellectual property alignment. He maintains long-standing partnerships with leading aerospace and defense contractors including UES INC, General Electric Company, DCS Corporation, Spirit Aerosystems Inc, and Advanced Thermoplastic Composites LLC. These relationships are built on technical rigor and iterative collaboration, often involving joint development efforts, prototype validation, and technology maturation under SBIR/STTR frameworks. His negotiation style emphasizes performance-based outcomes, technical risk mitigation, and clear statement of work definitions tailored to high-complexity R&D environments. Merrifield’s procurement portfolio reflects a strong preference for full and open competition, with 100% of awards issued without set-aside designations. This indicates a focus on accessing the broadest possible pool of technical expertise rather than socioeconomic targeting, aligning with the highly specialized nature of propulsion and materials research requiring advanced engineering capabilities not typically available in small business ecosystems. His primary contracting focus lies in NAICS 541712 and 541715, encompassing physical and engineering research in propulsion systems, adaptive flight controls, and advanced composite materials. He routinely procures services related to computational fluid dynamics, high-temperature material testing, and propulsion system integration, demonstrating deep familiarity with aerospace engineering domains and the regulatory frameworks governing defense R&D acquisitions.