Ms. Karen Riley

Karen Riley serves as a Contract Specialist at the Southeast Regional Maintenance Center (N40027), where she plays a pivotal role in executing procurement actions critical to sustaining the U.S. Navy’s surface fleet. Responsible for managing the full lifecycle of contracts under NAICS 336611, she oversees acquisitions for ship repair, dry-docking, structural overhauls, and machinery modernization. Her work directly supports the agency’s mission to extend the service life and combat readiness of naval vessels through timely, compliant, and technically sound contracting solutions. Riley routinely handles complex, performance-based contracts requiring deep naval engineering expertise and strict adherence to Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) requirements. While specific contractor names are not publicly disclosed, Riley maintains consistent working relationships with a diverse pool of qualified vendors specializing in naval shipyard services, marine engineering, and naval architecture. Her procurement patterns reflect a preference for partners with proven experience in dry-dock operations, hull integrity restoration, and propulsion system upgrades. She collaborates closely with industry to ensure technical compliance, schedule adherence, and quality control throughout contract performance, fostering transparent and accountable vendor relationships grounded in defense acquisition best practices. Riley demonstrates a strong commitment to socioeconomic contracting, with approximately two-thirds of her acquisitions structured as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5. Her portfolio consistently prioritizes small business participation, including firms certified under 8(a), HUBZone, and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) programs. This pattern underscores her dedication to broadening the defense industrial base and empowering small enterprises capable of delivering high-quality ship repair and maintenance services. Her technical focus is exclusively on NAICS 336611, Ship Building and Repairing, encompassing all phases of naval vessel maintenance—from structural repairs and tank recoating to electrical and mechanical system modernization. Riley’s expertise lies in procuring specialized marine services that meet stringent Navy technical specifications and safety standards, ensuring fleet readiness through precision contracting in a highly regulated maritime environment.