Mercedes Blanton

Mercedes Blanton serves as a Contracting Officer for the Department of Veterans Affairs under agency code 36C776, where she leads the acquisition of critical infrastructure and operational support services essential to modernizing veteran healthcare facilities. Her portfolio centers on facility modernization, engineering services, and logistical consulting that directly enable the delivery of safe, technologically advanced medical care nationwide. She manages complex procurements under FAR and VA-specific acquisition guidelines, with a focus on construction support, environmental services, and management consulting contracts that align with the VA’s strategic infrastructure goals. Blanton maintains consistent working relationships with a core group of established contractors, including RWH Capital LLC, Bridger Richard JV LLC, and Hurley JV, LLP, which frequently deliver integrated construction and engineering solutions. She also collaborates regularly with Veterans Contracting Group, Inc., and The Trevino Group, Inc., indicating a preference for experienced joint ventures and veteran-owned firms with proven capacity in federal facility programs. Her contracting patterns reflect a reliance on repeat performers with demonstrated performance history, fostering long-term vendor partnerships grounded in compliance and operational reliability. While the majority of her acquisitions—82.3%—are conducted without set-asides, Blanton demonstrates a strong commitment to socioeconomic programs, with nearly 17.6% of her awards directed to Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs). This reflects a deliberate alignment with VA mandates to prioritize veteran-owned enterprises, even within largely open competitions, ensuring meaningful small business participation without compromising mission-critical delivery timelines. Her primary NAICS focus includes hazardous and solid waste collection (562112 and 562111), reflecting the agency’s environmental compliance needs, alongside process and logistics consulting (541614) and general management consulting (541611). These categories underscore her technical expertise in procuring services that support facility sustainability, regulatory adherence, and operational efficiency across VA medical centers.