Andrew J. Richard

Andrew Richard supports the Department of the Army’s W6QK Acc-apg Natick office in executing mission-critical procurement activities aligned with soldier systems modernization. He manages acquisitions for advanced protective gear, life-sustaining medical devices, and specialized battlefield instrumentation, ensuring warfighters receive technologically superior equipment through compliant, performance-based contracting. His role centers on translating operational requirements into solicitation strategies that prioritize technical innovation, rapid prototyping, and field-ready solutions within the defense ecosystem. He maintains consistent working relationships with EPERNAY DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION LLC and TEVET LLC, both of which deliver specialized engineering, apparel manufacturing, and technical support services critical to soldier system development. These partnerships reflect a preference for vendors with proven expertise in high-performance textiles, ruggedized instrumentation, and integrated logistics support, often requiring stringent compliance with military specifications and environmental durability standards. Andrew’s contracting portfolio exhibits a strong emphasis on open competition, with 82.8% of awards issued without set-asides, reflecting the technical complexity and limited vendor base in specialized soldier systems domains. However, he actively supports small business participation, with 17.2% of awards structured as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, demonstrating a balanced approach that prioritizes capability while fostering competitive small business engagement. His procurement focus is concentrated in NAICS 541611 (management consulting), 315210 (cut and sew apparel contracting), 541715 (R&D in physical sciences), and 541330 (engineering services), underscoring expertise in performance-driven development of flame-resistant uniforms, wearable sensor systems, and soldier-integrated electronics. He routinely engages contractors capable of meeting DoD standards for survivability, ergonomics, and interoperability across austere operational environments.