Mihaela Zouak

Mihaela Zouak serves as a primary procurement lead for DLA Maritime – Portsmouth, where she plays a critical role in securing essential mechanical, electrical, and industrial components that sustain U.S. Navy fleet readiness. Her responsibilities encompass the full lifecycle of contract actions for mission-critical parts including fasteners, valves, piping systems, and specialized metal fabrications, ensuring timely delivery under demanding operational conditions. She manages acquisitions governed by FAR Part 13 and Part 15, frequently utilizing sealed bidding and negotiated contracting methods to meet urgent maritime logistics requirements while maintaining strict compliance with defense procurement standards. Zouak maintains consistent working relationships with key contractors including Huntington Ingalls Inc., Advanced Structures Corporation, McKenzie Construction & Site Development LLC, Aerospace & Commercial Technologies, LLC, and Polytech Defense Spares LLC. These partnerships reflect a balanced mix of large industry primes and specialized suppliers with deep domain expertise in naval-grade components. Her procurement approach emphasizes reliability, technical compliance, and supply chain resilience, often engaging vendors with proven track records in marine-grade materials and military specification manufacturing. A strong advocate for small business participation, Zouak consistently prioritizes Total Small Business Set-Aside contracts under FAR 19.5, directing approximately 60% of her acquisition portfolio to small businesses. This reflects a deliberate strategy to foster competition and expand access for qualified vendors across socioeconomic categories, including SBA-certified small businesses, without favoring specific set-aside programs like 8(a) or HUBZone as primary mechanisms. Her technical focus centers on five core NAICS categories: Industrial Valve Manufacturing, Plastics Material and Resin Manufacturing, Fabricated Pipe and Pipe Fitting Manufacturing, Bolt and Fastener Manufacturing, and Other Aluminum Rolling and Extruding. She specializes in procuring high-integrity components for shipboard systems, demonstrating deep familiarity with MIL-SPEC standards, corrosion-resistant alloys, and precision-engineered maritime hardware critical to naval vessel operability.