Akela Long

Akela Long serves as a key procurement professional within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, a critical component of the Department of Health and Human Services focused on national health emergency readiness. In this role, Long manages the acquisition of medical countermeasures, personal protective equipment, and specialized diagnostic and logistical infrastructure essential to sustaining rapid-response capabilities during bioterrorism, pandemics, and large-scale disasters. Their procurement activities center on ensuring timely access to mission-critical supplies through competitive contracting mechanisms, with a strong emphasis on supply chain resilience and operational readiness. Long’s contracting patterns reflect a preference for open competition, with approximately 95.8% of acquisitions conducted without set-asides, indicating a focus on broad market access to meet urgent, high-volume demand. While small business participation is limited to about 4.2% of awards, primarily under Total Small Business Set-Asides (FAR 19.5), the approach prioritizes scalability and vendor capacity over socioeconomic preferences, aligning with the agency’s emergency response imperatives. The procurement portfolio is heavily concentrated in medical supply chain and diagnostic equipment sectors, with primary NAICS codes including 423450 (Medical, Dental, and Hospital Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers) and 339112 (Surgical and Medical Instrument Manufacturing). These reflect a technical focus on procuring FDA-regulated devices, laboratory analyzers, and high-throughput diagnostic systems. Additional activity in 488490 (Road Transportation Support) underscores the need for secure, temperature-controlled logistics infrastructure. Long’s expertise lies in navigating complex regulatory environments to acquire mission-essential medical and logistical assets under time-sensitive conditions, ensuring the nation’s preparedness posture remains robust and responsive.