Melissa A Connell

Melissa (Lisa) A. Connell serves as a key procurement professional within Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Southeast (NAVFACSE) under agency code N69450, supporting the Department of the Navy’s mission to deliver resilient, mission-critical infrastructure across the Southeastern U.S. and overseas operational areas. She manages complex acquisition programs centered on engineering services and facilities support, ensuring compliance with federal contracting regulations while aligning procurement outcomes with naval readiness objectives. Her portfolio includes design-build, professional services, and base operations support contracts, often requiring technical oversight of architectural, civil, and utility systems to sustain operational infrastructure. Connell maintains longstanding relationships with a core group of prime contractors, including BL Harbert International LLC, Walsh Federal LLC, Sauer Construction, LLC, McKenzie Construction & Site Development LLC, and Kira Aviation Services LLC. These partnerships reflect a preference for established firms with proven capabilities in commercial and institutional construction, aviation support, and integrated facilities management. Her contracting approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes, risk mitigation, and contractor accountability, fostering collaborative relationships that prioritize quality, schedule adherence, and compliance with naval standards. Her procurement strategy reflects a balanced commitment to socioeconomic goals, with nearly 43% of her awards directed toward small business set-asides—primarily Total Small Business and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) categories. While the majority of contracts remain open to all competitors, she consistently prioritizes opportunities for certified small businesses, demonstrating a deliberate effort to expand vendor diversity and enhance competition within the defense infrastructure sector. Her technical focus is overwhelmingly on NAICS 541330 (Engineering Services), encompassing design, planning, and construction management for military facilities, with a secondary emphasis on NAICS 561210 (Facilities Support Services) for maintenance, utilities, and operational sustainment. She specializes in procuring high-complexity engineering solutions and integrated facility services that support naval base modernization, energy resilience, and mission-critical infrastructure lifecycle management.