Nick A. Costides (Contracting Officer)

Nick A. Costides serves as a Contracting Officer within the FA8637 AFLCMC WID Attack Systems unit of the Department of the Air Force, where he plays a pivotal role in securing lifecycle support for light attack aircraft platforms, including the AT-6 and A-29 series. His procurement responsibilities encompass integrated acquisitions of aircraft systems, mission-critical avionics, spare parts, and flight training solutions to sustain combat readiness for both U.S. forces and international partners. Costides manages complex, performance-based contracts aligned with foreign military sales objectives, ensuring technical compliance and operational interoperability across global theater requirements. His contractor relationships are primarily with defense aerospace manufacturers and systems integrators specializing in light attack platforms, avionics modernization, and tactical training systems. While no single vendor dominates his portfolio, he consistently engages with firms capable of delivering end-to-end support—ranging from aircraft modifications to embedded software upgrades and simulation-based training environments. His contracting approach emphasizes technical rigor, rapid sustainment cycles, and seamless integration of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) components into military-grade systems. Costides maintains a strong preference for open competition, with 100% of his acquisitions classified as “No Set-Aside,” reflecting a mission-driven focus on technical capability and schedule fidelity over socioeconomic set-asides. This approach prioritizes mission-critical performance and rapid fielding over socioeconomic targeting, though he remains compliant with all federal small business regulations. His primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 511210 (Software Publishers), where he acquires mission systems software and data integration tools, followed by 336413 (Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing) for avionics and structural components. He also regularly procures flight training services under 611512 and electronic systems under 334111, demonstrating deep expertise in the integration of digital cockpits, sensor suites, and tactical data links into light attack aircraft fleets.