Zenaida Palmer

Zenaida Palmer serves as a Contract Specialist within the U.S. Coast Guard’s Headquarters Contract Operations (CG-912), where she plays a pivotal role in executing strategic acquisitions that support national maritime security and operational readiness. She manages the full lifecycle of procurement actions for specialized technical services critical to modernizing the Coast Guard’s fleet and enhancing maritime domain awareness systems. Her portfolio primarily encompasses engineering services tied to vessel design, systems integration, and technical support for coastal and riverine patrol platforms, ensuring alignment with mission-critical requirements for search, detection, and surveillance capabilities. Palmer maintains long-standing relationships with key industry partners including Bollinger Shipyards Lockport, L.L.C., Davie Defense Inc., Rauma Marine Constructions Oy, and Rozema’s Boat Works, Inc., all of which are recognized for their expertise in naval architecture, shipbuilding, and maritime systems engineering. Her contracting approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes and technical compliance, fostering collaborative partnerships with vendors capable of delivering complex, high-integrity solutions under stringent Coast Guard standards. These relationships reflect a preference for established contractors with proven track records in defense and maritime engineering. Palmer’s contracting activity reflects a 100% no set-aside orientation, indicating a focus on full and open competition to ensure access to the broadest pool of technically qualified providers. While socioeconomic set-asides are not utilized in her portfolio, her approach prioritizes capability over certification, ensuring mission needs are met through the most qualified sources regardless of business size or status. Her primary procurement focus is on NAICS 541330 (Engineering Services), with an emphasis on naval systems engineering, maritime platform modernization, and technical support for advanced detection and surveillance technologies. She specializes in procuring design, analysis, and integration services that enable the Coast Guard to sustain and enhance its fleet’s operational effectiveness in dynamic maritime environments.