Tina M. Gillespie-Lucas

Tina M. Gillespie-Lucas serves as a Contract Specialist within the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration, where she plays a pivotal role in executing procurements that sustain the nation’s strategic maritime infrastructure. She manages the full lifecycle of contracts supporting vessel maintenance, fleet readiness, and maritime training systems, ensuring alignment with federal acquisition regulations and the agency’s mission to preserve the National Defense Reserve Fleet and the U.S. Merchant Marine. Her acquisitions primarily involve shipbuilding, repair, and specialized maritime equipment, requiring deep technical understanding of naval engineering standards and defense logistics frameworks. Her primary contractor relationships center on CONNECTA SATELLITE SOLUTIONS LLC, reflecting a consistent engagement with vendors providing advanced maritime communication and satellite-based operational support. Gillespie-Lucas cultivates partnerships with firms capable of delivering integrated technical solutions for vessel monitoring, navigation, and fleet management systems, often requiring compliance with Department of Defense and Coast Guard interoperability standards. Her procurement approach emphasizes vendor reliability, technical specificity, and performance-based contracting methodologies. She demonstrates a strong commitment to small business participation, with over half of her acquisitions structured as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, reflecting a deliberate strategy to expand opportunities for small firms in the maritime sector. While the majority of contracts are set aside for small businesses, a significant portion remains open to all competitors, indicating a balanced approach that prioritizes both socioeconomic goals and mission-critical capability. Her procurement focus is heavily concentrated in NAICS 336611 (Ship Building and Repairing), underscoring her expertise in complex industrial maritime projects. She also regularly engages vendors in commercial machinery maintenance and business association services, demonstrating a nuanced understanding of the broader maritime ecosystem. Gillespie-Lucas brings specialized knowledge in procuring technical services critical to sustaining U.S. maritime sovereignty and readiness.