Taura Helms

Taura Helms serves as a key procurement professional within DLA Maritime – Puget Sound (SPMYM2), supporting the Department of Defense’s naval readiness through the acquisition of mission-critical mechanical, electrical, and industrial components. Responsible for managing complex contract actions for ship maintenance and repair systems, Helms specializes in sourcing precision hardware such as welding equipment, control systems, specialized hoses, fasteners, and fabricated metal products essential to sustaining naval platforms. Her work ensures uninterrupted operational capability across the fleet by aligning acquisition strategies with DLA’s broader logistics and supply chain resilience objectives. Helms maintains consistent contracting relationships with a core group of specialized vendors, including DRS NAVAL POWER SYSTEMS INC, COB INDUSTRIES, INC., AMD INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC, MACHINES & METHODS INC, and EHB SUPPLY. These partnerships reflect a preference for niche manufacturers with deep technical expertise in naval-grade components, often requiring custom engineering or military-specification compliance. Her contracting approach emphasizes long-term vendor collaboration, technical validation, and performance-based delivery to meet the stringent demands of maritime maintenance environments. Helms demonstrates an unwavering commitment to small business participation, directing 100% of her acquisitions toward total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. This strategic focus ensures that small, capable manufacturers—many of which are HUBZone or SDVOSB certified—have equitable access to defense procurement opportunities. Her contracting patterns actively foster economic inclusion while maintaining the high standards of quality and reliability required for naval operations. Her procurement portfolio is heavily concentrated in NAICS categories related to welding and soldering equipment manufacturing, miscellaneous fabricated metal products, and specialized tooling. She regularly acquires precision valves, rolled steel shapes, communication wire, and handtools critical to shipboard systems, demonstrating technical fluency in industrial manufacturing domains. Helms’ expertise lies in bridging complex engineering requirements with agile, responsive supply chains to sustain the Navy’s operational tempo.