Thomas Ritz

Thomas Ritz serves as a secondary procurement liaison within the National Cemetery Administration, supporting the stewardship of national cemeteries through the acquisition of heavy civil engineering services. Though not a primary contracting officer, he plays a critical role in facilitating the planning, solicitation, and execution of construction and infrastructure projects essential to maintaining the dignity and permanence of veterans’ final resting places. His work centers on complex, mission-critical acquisitions involving site development, landscaping, monument installation, and cemetery expansion—ensuring compliance with federal construction standards and VA preservation guidelines. Ritz regularly collaborates with a core group of specialized contractors, including MCKENZIE CONSTRUCTION & SITE DEVELOPMENT LLC, LAUBACKER ENTERPRISES, INC., and HAMILTON PACIFIC CHAMBERLAIN LLC, all of which possess proven expertise in heavy civil works for federal cemeteries. These partnerships are characterized by long-term, repeat engagement, reflecting a preference for vendors with demonstrated experience in navigating the unique logistical, environmental, and historical constraints of national cemetery sites. His procurement approach prioritizes reliability, technical precision, and adherence to federal monument and landscaping standards. Ritz’s contracting patterns reflect a steadfast commitment to socioeconomic goals, with 100% of his supported acquisitions structured as Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) set-asides. This unwavering focus ensures that contracting opportunities directly benefit veterans who have established construction enterprises capable of delivering high-quality, mission-aligned services. His work reinforces the VA’s broader mission of honoring veterans through economic empowerment as well as physical memorialization. His primary technical domain is NAICS 237990—Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction—encompassing cemetery infrastructure, grading, drainage systems, roadways, and monumental stonework. He specializes in procurements requiring expertise in earthmoving, concrete foundations for headstones, irrigation systems, and sustainable landscaping tailored to perpetual care requirements. His expertise lies in bridging engineering precision with the solemn, historical integrity of national burial grounds.