Shelia Bender

Shelia Bender serves as a key procurement lead within the Harpers Ferry Center, part of the National Park Service under the Department of the Interior, where she manages acquisitions critical to the design and fabrication of immersive cultural and natural heritage exhibits. Her role centers on securing specialized goods and services that translate complex historical narratives into engaging physical and digital visitor experiences, including custom exhibit components, interpretive media, and signage systems. She oversees the full lifecycle of contract actions—from market research and solicitation to award and performance monitoring—ensuring alignment with the Center’s mission of heritage interpretation and conservation storytelling. While specific contractor names are not publicly available, Bender consistently engages with a diverse ecosystem of specialized manufacturers and creative service providers, particularly those with expertise in heritage-focused exhibit fabrication. Her procurement patterns reflect strong collaboration with niche vendors capable of delivering high-fidelity, museum-grade installations, often requiring technical precision and historical authenticity. She fosters long-term vendor partnerships built on quality, compliance, and adaptability to evolving interpretive standards. Bender demonstrates a pronounced commitment to small business participation, with nearly 70% of her acquisitions set aside for small businesses under FAR 19.5. This reflects a strategic emphasis on empowering economically disadvantaged and community-based enterprises, aligning with federal socioeconomic goals and enhancing regional economic development. Her contracting approach prioritizes inclusive sourcing while maintaining rigorous performance standards. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 337212 (custom architectural woodwork and millwork), supporting bespoke exhibit casework and display systems, followed by 339950 (sign manufacturing) for wayfinding and interpretive signage, and 334310 (audio/video equipment) for multimedia installations. She also procures specialized postproduction and graphic design services to support digital storytelling, demonstrating deep technical expertise in heritage interpretation technologies and experiential design systems.