Terry Mest

Terry Mest serves as the primary contracting representative for the Grand Coulee Power Office within the Bureau of Reclamation, overseeing the acquisition of critical infrastructure components essential to the operation and modernization of large-scale hydropower facilities. Responsible for managing complex procurements of mechanical, electrical, and control systems, Mest ensures alignment with federal water resource objectives and grid resilience goals. Their role involves end-to-end contract lifecycle management for maintenance, repair, and upgrade projects supporting industrial machinery, crane systems, and hydroelectric plant operations, with a focus on mission-critical reliability and regulatory compliance. Mest maintains consistent working relationships with a select group of specialized contractors, including BLACKSTAR DIVERSIFIED ENTERPRISES LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, FEDERAL PRISON INDUSTRIES, INC., and BOCA WIRE CORP, among others. These partnerships reflect a preference for vendors with proven expertise in industrial equipment repair, heavy machinery manufacturing, and heritage preservation services for federal infrastructure. The contracting patterns indicate a reliance on niche suppliers capable of delivering customized, high-integrity components and services tailored to the unique demands of aging hydroelectric facilities, often requiring specialized certifications and on-site technical support. A strong emphasis on small business participation is evident in Mest’s procurement patterns, with over 58% of awards designated as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. Additional support is extended to service-disabled veteran-owned and Indian Small Business Economic Enterprise (ISBEE) firms, reflecting the Department of the Interior’s socioeconomic priorities. This commitment ensures broad vendor diversity while maintaining access to specialized capabilities often found in smaller, regionally rooted contractors. The primary NAICS focus areas center on industrial machinery repair and maintenance (811310), with significant activity in the manufacturing of overhead cranes, hoists, and industrial material handling systems (333923, 333924). Mest’s portfolio reflects deep technical expertise in procuring heavy-duty equipment for hydropower plant operations, including machine tools and construction machinery, underscoring a specialization in mission-critical industrial systems that sustain federal energy infrastructure.