Valerie C Gaines

Valerie C. Gaines serves as a Contract Specialist within the Department of the Air Force at FA2860 316 Cons Pk, where she plays a pivotal role in executing acquisitions that sustain critical infrastructure and operational readiness at Joint Base Andrews. Her responsibilities include managing the full lifecycle of contracts for security systems, communications hardware, and facility maintenance services essential to command, control, and communications (C3) capabilities. She ensures compliance with federal acquisition regulations while aligning procurements with the agency’s mission to support air operations through reliable, integrated technical systems. Gaines routinely handles complex solicitations for integrated services, requiring coordination across technical, logistics, and security stakeholders to deliver mission-critical solutions. She maintains consistent working relationships with key contractors including ZERO WASTE SOLUTIONS, INC, SENECA MINERAL COMPANY, and PELICAN CHEMICALS INC., primarily engaging them for specialized environmental, infrastructure, and chemical support services. Her procurement approach emphasizes vendor reliability, regulatory compliance, and performance-based outcomes, fostering long-term partnerships with firms capable of delivering niche technical solutions under stringent operational constraints. These collaborations reflect a pattern of selecting contractors with proven expertise in hazardous material handling, facility sustainment, and mission-aligned environmental compliance. Gaines demonstrates a strong commitment to socioeconomic contracting, with 78.6% of her awards designated as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5. She actively prioritizes small business participation, leveraging HUBZone and other set-aside programs to expand opportunities for underserved vendors. Her contracting patterns reflect a deliberate strategy to enhance diversity in the supplier base while maintaining rigorous performance standards. Her primary NAICS focus includes Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Musical Instrument Manufacturing (339992), and Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (713940), indicating a unique blend of technical and recreational support acquisitions. While seemingly diverse, these categories align with the base’s broader quality-of-life and operational support needs, including audiovisual systems, communication software development, and facility amenities that sustain personnel readiness.