Andrea Howard

Andrea Howard serves as the primary procurement lead within the FDA Office of Acquisition and Grant Services, responsible for managing complex acquisitions that support the agency’s mission to safeguard public health through scientific and regulatory infrastructure. She oversees the procurement of specialized laboratory equipment, analytical instrumentation, and technical services critical to FDA’s regulatory science activities, including contract management for research support, maintenance of high-precision instruments, and compliance-driven consulting services. Her work directly enables the agency’s ability to conduct rigorous product evaluations and ensure the safety and efficacy of medical products. Howard maintains strategic relationships with key contractors including Tranquil Clinical and Research Consulting Services LLC, Toxicologic Pathology Associates Inc., and Progenics Pharmaceuticals Inc., partnering primarily with niche firms offering specialized scientific, toxicological, and laboratory support services. These vendor relationships reflect a preference for subject-matter experts capable of delivering high-compliance, mission-critical deliverables under strict regulatory frameworks, often involving validated methodologies and Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) adherence. Her contracting patterns show a strong orientation toward open competition, with 80% of awards issued without set-asides, while maintaining a consistent 20% commitment to total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. This balance reflects a pragmatic approach to ensuring technical capability while actively fostering participation from qualified small businesses across the scientific services sector. Her procurement focus centers on NAICS 811210 (electronic and precision equipment repair and maintenance) and 811310 (commercial and industrial machinery maintenance), underscoring deep expertise in sustaining laboratory infrastructure. She also procures industrial gas manufacturing, administrative management consulting, and specialized warehousing services, demonstrating a multidisciplinary command of technical domains essential to FDA’s operational continuity and scientific integrity.