Martha Bello

Martha Bello serves as a key procurement professional within the Headquarters Contract Operations (CG-912) unit of the U.S. Coast Guard, supporting the agency’s mission to enhance maritime security, operational readiness, and fleet modernization through strategic acquisition of specialized maritime and aerospace services. She manages complex contract actions for vessel construction, repair, and technical system integration, ensuring alignment with national defense priorities and Coast Guard operational requirements. Her portfolio centers on high-priority programs involving patrol boats, search and detection systems, and mission-critical marine infrastructure, requiring deep technical understanding of naval architecture and maritime engineering standards. Bello maintains consistent working relationships with a core group of specialized shipbuilders and marine contractors, including Bollinger Shipyards Lockport, L.L.C., Davie Defense Inc., Rauma Marine Constructions Oy, and Rozema’s Boat Works, Inc. These partnerships reflect a reliance on Tier-1 vendors with proven expertise in naval vessel fabrication, retrofitting, and systems integration. Her procurement approach emphasizes long-term vendor collaboration, performance-based contracting, and rigorous compliance with U.S. Coast Guard technical specifications for durability, safety, and operational endurance in austere maritime environments. Her contracting patterns show a strong preference for open competition, with 85.7% of awards issued without set-aside designations, reflecting the specialized nature of the procurements and limited qualified vendor base. However, she consistently allocates 14.3% of awards to Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, demonstrating a measured but active commitment to small business participation where capabilities align with mission needs. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 336611 (Ship Building and Repairing), which accounts for over 70% of her activity, underscoring deep expertise in naval shipyard operations, hull fabrication, and propulsion system integration. Secondary focus areas include engine equipment manufacturing and, notably, hotel and motel services—likely supporting transient personnel housing for remote Coast Guard stations, indicating a nuanced understanding of mission-enabling infrastructure beyond core defense systems.