Merlinda M Labaco

Merlinda M. Labaco serves as a Contract Specialist at Naval Medical Center San Diego (N00259), where she plays a pivotal role in executing procurement actions that support the facility’s mission of sustaining combat-ready medical forces. She manages the full lifecycle of acquisitions for critical electromedical, surgical, and diagnostic equipment, ensuring compliance with federal acquisition regulations and Navy-specific procurement policies. Her portfolio primarily encompasses contracts for surgical appliances, medical instruments, and specialized laboratory technologies, aligning closely with the center’s strategic priorities in modernizing clinical infrastructure and enhancing operational readiness. While specific contractor names are not publicly disclosed, Labaco maintains consistent relationships with manufacturers and suppliers specializing in FDA-regulated medical devices and electromedical systems. She engages with both large-scale OEMs and niche vendors capable of delivering high-precision, military-grade equipment that meets stringent DoD performance and interoperability standards. Her contracting approach emphasizes technical validation, lifecycle support, and post-award performance monitoring to ensure mission-critical systems remain operational under demanding field conditions. Labaco’s procurement patterns reflect a strong preference for open competition, with approximately 87.8% of awards issued without set-aside restrictions. However, she actively supports small business participation, consistently awarding contracts under Total Small Business Set-Asides (FAR 19.5), demonstrating a balanced commitment to both efficiency and socioeconomic goals. Her approach ensures robust vendor competition while fostering opportunities for qualified small businesses in the medical technology sector. Her primary NAICS focus areas include Surgical Appliance and Supplies Manufacturing (339113) and Surgical and Medical Instrument Manufacturing (339112), underscoring her technical expertise in procuring sterile trays, surgical kits, diagnostic sensors, and precision instruments. She also manages acquisitions in Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing and specialized equipment leasing, reflecting a broad yet targeted domain knowledge in clinical support technologies essential to naval healthcare operations.