Richard L Marino

Richard L. Marino serves as a Contract Specialist within the Procurement Directorate Contracting Division of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, where he plays a pivotal role in executing mission-critical acquisitions that sustain border security operations and canine enforcement capabilities. He manages the full lifecycle of contracts for specialized services and equipment, including facility construction, analytical instrumentation, and technical support systems essential to operational readiness. His work directly supports the agency’s strategic imperatives by ensuring timely, compliant, and cost-effective procurement of resources that enable frontline detection and security missions. Marino collaborates with a diverse range of contractors, including firms specializing in construction, equipment leasing, and educational support services, often engaging both large-capacity vendors and small business concerns through competed procurements. His working relationships emphasize performance-based contracting, clear statement of work development, and rigorous source selection processes to ensure technical alignment with CBP’s operational needs. He maintains a collaborative but disciplined approach to vendor engagement, prioritizing accountability, compliance, and mission alignment over transactional interactions. His contracting patterns reflect a strong preference for open competition, with 66.7% of awards issued without set-aside designations, while 33.3% are awarded through the 8(a) Business Development Program. This balance demonstrates a commitment to maximizing competition while intentionally advancing socioeconomic goals by engaging certified small disadvantaged businesses in high-impact categories. Marino actively leverages 8(a) capabilities to foster innovation and capacity building among qualified small businesses aligned with CBP’s technical requirements. His primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 611710 (Educational Support Services), 532412 (Construction, Mining, and Forestry Machinery and Equipment Rental and Leasing), and 236220 (Commercial and Institutional Building Construction). He routinely procures training support for K9 handlers, specialized equipment leasing for detection units, and infrastructure upgrades for border facilities, demonstrating deep technical familiarity with the intersection of operational logistics, facility modernization, and workforce development in a high-stakes security environment.