Tara Randolph

Tara Randolph serves as a secondary procurement specialist within the Naval Air Warfare Center, supporting the acquisition of advanced aviation technologies critical to naval air and maritime dominance. She plays a key role in executing research and development contracts aligned with the agency’s mission to modernize airborne command and control, avionics systems, and mission simulation platforms. Her work centers on technical acquisitions requiring deep engineering and systems integration expertise, particularly in electronics, sensor development, and communication architectures. She collaborates closely with program managers and technical evaluators to ensure contract requirements reflect cutting-edge operational needs and comply with federal acquisition regulations. Randolph maintains consistent working relationships with leading defense and aerospace contractors including Lockheed Martin Corporation, Jacobs Technology Inc., and Science Applications International Corporation, as well as specialized small businesses such as Teya Support Services LLC and Kranze Technology Solutions Inc. Her procurement approach emphasizes long-term technical partnerships with vendors capable of delivering complex, high-reliability systems under stringent military standards. She routinely engages with contractors across the full lifecycle—from concept development through test and evaluation—to ensure performance, interoperability, and sustainment readiness. A strong advocate for small business inclusion, Randolph consistently prioritizes Total Small Business Set-Aside contracts under FAR 19.5, with nearly 59% of her portfolio allocated to small businesses. This reflects a deliberate strategy to foster innovation through agile, niche providers while maintaining compliance with socioeconomic contracting goals. Her pattern of awarding to small firms underscores a commitment to diversifying the supplier base and leveraging specialized capabilities unavailable from large primes alone. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 541715, reflecting heavy investment in physical and engineering research for naval aviation systems, complemented by engineering services under NAICS 541330. She routinely procures mission-critical technologies including airborne communication hardware, analytical instrumentation, and electronic connectors, demonstrating deep expertise in avionics, sensor integration, and systems engineering domains.