Mary E. Saunders

Mary E. Saunders serves as the primary contracting representative for the Department of the Air Force under FA4484, overseeing mission-critical infrastructure acquisitions to sustain operational readiness at military installations. She manages a diverse portfolio of construction, engineering, and facility services contracts aligned with the Air Force’s priorities in base modernization, environmental compliance, and infrastructure resilience. Her work ensures that air base facilities meet stringent safety and readiness standards through timely, compliant procurement of services that support aircraft operations and personnel welfare. She routinely handles complex, multi-year contracts requiring technical oversight and regulatory adherence under FAR and DFARS frameworks. Saunders maintains consistent working relationships with a core group of experienced contractors, including PAETZOLD CONSTRUCTION CO INC, RANCO CONSTRUCTION INC, SEQUOIA CONSTRUCTION INCORPORATED, THE PASSANANTE GROUP, LLC, and XENTURIS LLC. These partnerships reflect a preference for established firms with proven track records in military facility work, particularly in building construction, HVAC systems, and technical maintenance. Her procurement approach emphasizes reliability, performance history, and compliance with DoD-specific standards, fostering long-term vendor collaboration while maintaining rigorous oversight of contract execution and deliverables. A strong advocate for small business participation, Saunders consistently prioritizes Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, which account for nearly 70% of her acquisitions. She also actively utilizes 8(a) and HUBZone set-asides, demonstrating a deliberate commitment to socioeconomic contracting goals. Her patterns reflect a strategic effort to broaden vendor diversity while ensuring quality and capacity in mission-critical services, aligning with DoD directives to empower small, disadvantaged, and historically underutilized businesses. Her procurement focus centers on NAICS 236220 (Commercial and Institutional Building Construction), 541330 (Engineering Services), and 238220 (Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors), underscoring expertise in facility infrastructure and mechanical systems. She also procures specialized services including pest control and equipment rental, indicating a broad operational support scope. Saunders’ domain knowledge spans technical building systems, environmental compliance, and installation-wide sustainment, making her a key enabler of Air Force readiness through disciplined, mission-aligned contracting.