Nicholas Swanson

Nicholas Swanson serves as a primary procurement lead at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division, where he manages complex acquisitions supporting the modernization and sustainment of U.S. Navy surface ship systems. His responsibilities encompass the full lifecycle contracting for mission-critical engineering and industrial infrastructure, including propulsion controls, damage control systems, ballast management, and shipboard industrial control networks. He plays a central role in executing the agency’s strategic objective to maintain naval operational readiness through advanced technological integration and reliable maintenance solutions, frequently handling sole-source and competitive procurements under FAR Part 15 for high-technical-risk systems. Swanson maintains longstanding relationships with key industrial partners including Fairbanks Morse, LLC, Leidos, Inc., Rolls-Royce Corporation, G.S.E. Dynamics, Inc., and Kampi Components Co. Inc., reflecting a preference for established defense contractors with proven expertise in marine mechanical and electronic systems. His contracting patterns emphasize technical capability over price alone, often resulting in long-term partnerships with vendors possessing deep domain knowledge in naval propulsion, control systems, and ruggedized industrial components. These relationships are characterized by collaborative engineering support and sustained contract performance, ensuring seamless integration of hardware and software across legacy and next-generation platforms. While the majority of his acquisitions—76.5%—are conducted without set-asides, Swanson consistently allocates 23.5% of his portfolio to Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, demonstrating a deliberate commitment to expanding small business participation in complex naval engineering contracts. He prioritizes small firms with specialized technical certifications and proven performance in niche manufacturing sectors, fostering a resilient supply base without compromising mission-critical requirements. His procurement focus is concentrated in NAICS 333517 (Machine Tool Manufacturing) and 333998 (Miscellaneous General Purpose Machinery), with significant activity in welding and soldering equipment (333992) and specialized chemical processes (325180). These reflect a technical domain centered on mechanical subsystems, precision fabrication, and industrial process controls essential to naval platform integrity and long-term sustainment.