Merlina Y. Rios

Merlina Y. Rios serves as a Purchasing Agent at Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton, where she plays a critical role in securing essential medical and operational supplies to sustain the health readiness of U.S. Navy and Marine Corps personnel. Responsible for executing solicitations and awarding contracts under the Department of Defense’s procurement framework, she specializes in acquiring electromedical equipment, diagnostic reagents, surgical instruments, and dental and ophthalmic supplies. Her work directly supports clinical operational continuity and combat-ready medical capabilities, ensuring timely access to mission-critical resources through compliant, efficient acquisition processes. While specific contractor names are not publicly disclosed, Rios maintains consistent partnerships with vendors capable of delivering specialized medical hardware, precision wire-fabricated components, and secure computing infrastructure services. She engages with a diverse pool of suppliers, including those with technical expertise in electromedical device maintenance, custom fabricated wire products, and data hosting solutions for clinical systems. Her procurement approach emphasizes reliability, regulatory compliance, and rapid turnaround to meet the dynamic needs of a high-tempo military medical environment. Rios demonstrates a strong commitment to small business participation, with approximately two-thirds of her acquisitions set aside for small businesses under FAR 19.5. This reflects a deliberate strategy to foster economic opportunity among small, disadvantaged, and service-disabled veteran-owned firms, aligning with DoD socioeconomic goals. Her contracting patterns prioritize inclusive competition, ensuring broad vendor access while maintaining rigorous quality and delivery standards. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 811411 for equipment maintenance services and 332618 for fabricated wire products, both vital to sustaining medical device functionality and clinical infrastructure. Additionally, she procures computing and data services under NAICS 518210 to support secure, HIPAA-compliant health information systems. This technical specialization underscores her expertise in bridging clinical needs with industrial and IT supply chains, ensuring seamless integration of medical technology across the battlefield and hospital floor.