Richard E. Fries

Richard E. Fries serves as a Contract Specialist within the FA8601 Aflcmc Pzio unit of the Department of the Air Force, where he plays a pivotal role in acquiring mission-critical aerospace and defense instrumentation. His responsibilities encompass the full lifecycle management of contracts for high-precision analytical equipment, electromedical devices, and industrial measurement systems essential to flight testing, environmental monitoring, and fuel analysis. Fries ensures compliance with federal acquisition regulations while aligning procurements with the agency’s mission to sustain airpower readiness through technically rigorous and timely acquisitions of laboratory-grade and field-deployable systems. Fries maintains a consistent working relationship with C MARTIN CO INC, a key vendor specializing in precision instrumentation and calibration services. His contracting patterns reflect a preference for established industry partners with proven technical expertise in aerospace-grade equipment, though he actively engages with a diverse pool of suppliers capable of meeting stringent military specifications. His approach emphasizes performance-based contracting, technical validation, and post-award oversight to ensure deliverables meet operational requirements. Fries’s procurement portfolio is overwhelmingly non-set-aside, with 93.5% of awards issued under full and open competition, reflecting the specialized nature of the equipment and services procured. Nevertheless, he consistently supports small business participation through Total Small Business Set-Asides, demonstrating a measured commitment to socioeconomic goals without compromising technical integrity or mission readiness. His primary NAICS focus areas include 334510 for electromedical and electrotherapeutic apparatus, 334516 for analytical laboratory instrument manufacturing, and 811219 for repair and maintenance of commercial and industrial machinery. He also regularly procures engineering services under 541330 and other measuring devices under 334519, underscoring his technical expertise in precision instrumentation, calibration systems, and mission-critical diagnostic equipment used in aerospace testing environments.