Melanie S Bateman

Melanie S. Bateman serves as a Contract Specialist within the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), where she plays a critical role in executing the acquisition lifecycle for naval aviation systems. She manages complex contract actions for the research, development, testing, and sustainment of advanced aircraft platforms, avionics, and mission-critical support systems. Her work directly supports NAVAIR’s mission to maintain air superiority through the lifecycle management of carrier-based and expeditionary aviation assets. Bateman typically handles full-and-open and competitively awarded contracts under FAR Part 15, with a focus on technical and logistics-driven procurements requiring rigorous performance-based specifications and systems engineering oversight. Bateman maintains consistent contracting relationships with industry leaders including Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, Lockheed Martin Corporation, and General Atomics, partnering with prime contractors who deliver high-integrity aerospace systems and integrated solutions. Her procurement patterns reflect deep collaboration with defense aerospace primes with proven track records in delivering advanced platforms such as rotary-wing aircraft, unmanned aerial systems, and precision-guided munitions. She frequently engages contractors with DoD clearance, AS9100 certification, and systems integration capabilities to ensure operational readiness and technical compliance. Her set-aside preferences are overwhelmingly aligned with full-and-open competition, with only 5.6% of her awards designated as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. While she rarely utilizes socioeconomic set-asides such as 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB programs, she ensures small business participation through subcontracting plans and supplier diversity initiatives embedded in large prime contracts. Bateman’s procurement focus centers on NAICS 336413 (Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing), NAICS 334511 (Aeronautical System and Instrument Manufacturing), and NAICS 336411 (Aircraft Manufacturing), reflecting her specialization in avionics, flight control systems, propulsion components, and mission-critical support equipment. Her technical domain expertise spans airborne sensor integration, flight systems modernization, and sustainment of naval aviation infrastructure, ensuring acquisitions align with fleet readiness and technological advancement priorities.