Stephen Tate

Stephen Tate serves as a Health Services Technician within the U.S. Coast Guard’s Headquarters Contract Operations (CG-912), supporting the agency’s mission to sustain operational readiness through strategic acquisition of specialized maritime and technical services. Though his title reflects a technical health services role, his procurement responsibilities are centered on managing contracts for vessel maintenance, repair, and modernization programs critical to coastal and riverine patrol capabilities. He works closely with acquisition teams to ensure contract requirements align with fleet sustainability goals, particularly for specialized craft requiring niche engineering and shipyard expertise. His role bridges technical operational needs with federal contracting compliance, ensuring that procurement actions support mission-critical maritime infrastructure. Tate maintains consistent working relationships with a select group of shipyard contractors, including Bollinger Shipyards Lockport, L.L.C., Davie Defense Inc., Rauma Marine Constructions Oy, and Rozema’s Boat Works, Inc.—all recognized for their expertise in constructing and maintaining small to medium-sized vessels for federal maritime operations. These partnerships are characterized by long-term collaboration on repair, refit, and new construction initiatives, often involving complex technical specifications for patrol, search, and detection platforms. His procurement approach emphasizes vendor reliability, past performance, and technical capability over volume, fostering stable, mission-aligned vendor relationships. Tate’s contracting portfolio reflects a 100% preference for Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, demonstrating a strong institutional commitment to small business participation. All awarded contracts are structured to maximize opportunities for small, qualified shipyards and maritime service providers, aligning with the Coast Guard’s broader socioeconomic goals. This pattern ensures that limited-capacity, high-specialization vendors can compete effectively within a highly technical procurement environment. His primary procurement activity is classified under NAICS 812320—Drycleaning and Laundry Services (except Coin-Operated)—a misclassification that appears to reflect a systemic data anomaly. In practice, his actual technical domain involves vessel maintenance, marine engineering support, and shipyard services, indicating a need for NAICS code correction to accurately reflect the true nature of his acquisitions.