Sara S. West

Sara S. West serves as a Senior Analyst responsible for overseeing complex acquisitions within the aerospace and defense sector, with a primary focus on aircraft components and auxiliary systems. In this capacity, she plays a critical role in translating operational requirements into compliant solicitation strategies, ensuring alignment with federal acquisition regulations and technical specifications. Her work supports the procurement of mission-critical aviation hardware, including avionics, flight control systems, and non-propulsion aircraft subsystems, often requiring rigorous engineering validation and supply chain traceability. She collaborates closely with technical stakeholders to define performance-based requirements and evaluates vendor proposals for technical merit, compliance, and risk mitigation. While specific contractor names are not available, her procurement patterns indicate consistent engagement with Tier 1 and Tier 2 manufacturers specializing in aerospace components, particularly those with expertise in precision machining, certification compliance, and defense-grade quality systems. Her working relationships emphasize long-term vendor collaboration, performance monitoring, and adherence to FAR Part 12 commercial item acquisition procedures, with a preference for suppliers possessing AS9100 certification and established track records in government aerospace programs. Sara demonstrates a strong commitment to small business participation, with nearly 25% of her acquisitions structured as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. While no other socioeconomic categories are prominent in her portfolio, her reliance on small business set-asides reflects a deliberate strategy to foster innovation and capacity-building within the niche aerospace supply base. Her contracting approach prioritizes competition among qualified small manufacturers capable of meeting stringent technical standards. Her primary procurement focus is on NAICS 336413—Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing—indicating deep expertise in non-airframe subsystems such as landing gear components, hydraulic actuators, and electrical distribution units. She also engages with NAICS 336411 for complete aircraft systems and, to a lesser extent, NAICS 336320 for embedded vehicle electronics. Her domain expertise centers on high-reliability, safety-critical aviation hardware requiring certification under FAA and DoD standards.