Ted Araya

Ted Araya serves as a secondary contracting professional within the C5I Division 3 Portsmouth of the U.S. Coast Guard, supporting the acquisition of critical command, control, communications, computers, cyber, and intelligence (C5I) systems that enhance maritime domain awareness and national security operations. He contributes to the planning, solicitation, and award of contracts for advanced telecommunications, engineering services, and electronic equipment maintenance, ensuring alignment with the Coast Guard’s mission to modernize surveillance, navigation, and secure communication infrastructure. While not the lead contracting officer, his role involves coordination across technical and acquisition teams to validate requirements, assess vendor capabilities, and facilitate compliance with federal procurement regulations. Araya’s procurement activities frequently involve collaboration with Trimble Inc., a key contractor providing precision positioning, navigation, and timing solutions critical to maritime operations. His working relationships reflect a preference for established technology vendors with proven capabilities in integrated C5I systems, though he also engages with specialized small businesses for niche technical services. His pattern of engagement suggests a focus on long-term vendor partnerships grounded in technical reliability and system interoperability across Coast Guard platforms. His contracting portfolio shows a strong preference for open, unrestricted acquisitions, with 81.8% of awards issued without set-asides. The remaining 18.2% are evenly split between 8(a) competed and total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5, indicating a measured but intentional commitment to socioeconomic programs without compromising mission-critical performance requirements. Araya’s primary NAICS focus areas include engineering services (541330), wireless communications equipment manufacturing (334220), and telecommunications (517810 and 517919), reflecting deep involvement in the procurement of radio systems, cybersecurity-enabled networks, and precision electronic maintenance. His expertise centers on acquiring hardened, mission-critical hardware and software systems that support real-time data fusion, secure comms, and resilient maritime infrastructure.