Rita Shi

Rita Shi serves as a key procurement professional within the Headquarters Contract Operations (CG-912) unit of the U.S. Coast Guard, supporting the agency’s mission to enhance maritime security and operational readiness through strategic acquisitions. She manages complex contracts for aerospace, maritime, and technical services critical to modernizing the Coast Guard’s fleet and surveillance systems. Her work centers on procuring specialized vessel construction, maritime domain awareness technologies, and mission-critical support services that sustain coastal and riverine patrol capabilities. Rita operates within a high-stakes operational environment where acquisition decisions directly impact national security and force readiness, requiring deep familiarity with defense procurement regulations and technical specifications for naval platforms. Rita maintains longstanding relationships with a select group of prime contractors, including Bollinger Shipyards Lockport, L.L.C., Davie Defense Inc., Rauma Marine Constructions Oy, and Rozema’s Boat Works, Inc., all of which specialize in shipbuilding, vessel modernization, and maritime system integration. These partnerships are characterized by sustained, multi-year contract execution cycles focused on new construction, refit, and lifecycle support of specialized coast guard assets. Her contracting approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes and technical compliance, fostering collaborative, long-term vendor engagements grounded in reliability and mission alignment. Rita’s procurement portfolio reflects a strict preference for full and open competition, with 100% of awards issued under no set-aside classifications. This indicates a deliberate focus on selecting the most capable and technically qualified vendors regardless of socioeconomic status, prioritizing mission effectiveness over socioeconomic targeting. While small business participation is not formally incentivized in her portfolio, the structure of her contracts often enables subcontracting opportunities through prime contractor obligations. Her primary procurement focus lies within NAICS 541990—All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services—encompassing engineering, technical advisory, systems integration, and specialized maritime support services. She routinely acquires advanced sensor systems, navigation technologies, and operational maintenance solutions tailored to the Coast Guard’s unique maritime environment, demonstrating deep expertise in technical procurement for high-reliability, mission-critical domains.