Tara Brandt

Tara Brandt serves as a Procuring Contracting Officer at the Naval Air Warfare Center (N68936), where she manages complex acquisitions critical to advancing naval aviation systems. Her portfolio encompasses research, development, testing, and evaluation contracts for mission-critical technologies including avionics, sensor systems, electronic warfare components, and mission planning software. She plays a pivotal role in ensuring the Navy’s next-generation air and maritime capabilities are delivered through compliant, performance-based contracting methods aligned with DoD acquisition regulations and strategic modernization goals. Her work directly supports the integration of cutting-edge electronics and software solutions into operational platforms. Brandt maintains sustained relationships with leading defense and engineering contractors, including Lockheed Martin Corporation, Jacobs Technology Inc., and Science Applications International Corporation, alongside specialized small businesses such as Kranze Technology Solutions Inc. and Teya Support Services LLC. Her contracting approach emphasizes long-term vendor partnerships grounded in technical excellence, past performance, and adherence to stringent military specifications. She frequently engages contractors in collaborative acquisition planning, leveraging firm-fixed-price and cost-reimbursement structures to balance innovation with fiscal accountability. Her procurement strategy reflects a balanced commitment to socioeconomic goals, with approximately half of her acquisitions structured as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5, while the remainder remain open to full and open competition. This dual approach ensures robust market participation while actively promoting opportunities for small disadvantaged, service-disabled veteran-owned, and other qualified small businesses. Her consistent use of small business set-asides underscores a deliberate effort to cultivate a diverse, resilient supplier base aligned with Navy innovation objectives. Brandt’s primary NAICS focus areas include engineering services, analytical laboratory instrument manufacturing, electroplating and surface finishing, and specialized metal fabrication—reflecting deep technical expertise in advanced materials, precision instrumentation, and electronics integration. She routinely procures high-reliability components and test equipment essential to avionics validation, sensor calibration, and systems engineering, demonstrating a nuanced understanding of the technical domains underpinning naval air warfare readiness.