Andrew J. Richard

Andrew J. Richard serves as a Contract Specialist within the W6QK Acc-apg Natick facility under the Department of the Army’s Defense Research and Engineering Directorate. He manages the full lifecycle of complex acquisitions supporting soldier systems, including protective gear, battlefield medical devices, and mission-critical instrumentation. His work directly enables the agency’s mission to enhance warfighter readiness through advanced technical solutions, with a focus on engineering services, specialized manufacturing, and technical support contracts. Richard ensures compliance with federal acquisition regulations while aligning procurements with the Army’s modernization priorities for next-generation combat systems. He maintains consistent contracting relationships with EPERNAY DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION LLC and TEVET LLC, both of which provide specialized engineering, technical integration, and facility support services critical to the agency’s R&D and prototyping efforts. These partnerships reflect a pattern of sustained collaboration with niche vendors capable of delivering high-precision, low-volume solutions under tight technical and schedule constraints. Richard prioritizes vendors with proven expertise in military-grade systems development and maintains rigorous oversight to ensure performance alignment with operational requirements. Richard demonstrates a strong commitment to socioeconomic contracting, with approximately 50% of his awards designated as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5, and an additional 10% awarded through 8(a) competed procedures. His contracting patterns reflect a deliberate effort to foster innovation through small business participation, particularly among firms with specialized technical capabilities in defense-relevant domains. He strategically leverages set-aside authorities to expand the industrial base while maintaining mission-critical performance standards. His primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 611512 (Flight Training) and 541330 (Engineering Services), with significant activity in 336212 (Truck Trailer Manufacturing) and 334210 (Telephone Apparatus Manufacturing). These reflect the agency’s need for specialized training platforms, ruggedized communications hardware, and integrated vehicle systems. Richard’s expertise spans technical domains including soldier-worn electronics, chemical protection systems, and field-deployable instrumentation, ensuring acquisitions meet the rigorous demands of expeditionary warfare environments.