Cara Woodring

Cara J. Fowler serves as a Contract Specialist within the 255-NETWORK Contract Office 15 (36C255) of the Department of Veterans Affairs, where she plays a critical role in executing procurements that sustain and modernize VA healthcare infrastructure. She manages complex acquisitions for surgical and medical instrumentation, diagnostic equipment, and technical support systems essential to operational readiness in VA medical facilities. Her work ensures timely delivery of mission-critical clinical assets, aligning with the agency’s strategic priorities to enhance veteran care through advanced medical technology and facility upgrades. Fowler routinely handles competitive sealed bidding, negotiated procurements, and performance-based service contracts under FAR Part 12 and Part 36. Fowler maintains consistent contracting relationships with a select group of specialized vendors, including Jett’s Specialty Contracting, LLC, McKenzie Construction & Site Development LLC, and Medicone Medical Response of Tennessee, Inc. These partnerships reflect a focus on niche providers capable of delivering high-compliance medical equipment installation, facility retrofitting, and emergency medical response systems. Her contracting patterns demonstrate a preference for vendors with proven expertise in healthcare environments, emphasizing quality assurance, regulatory compliance, and rapid deployment capabilities. She cultivates long-term vendor relationships grounded in performance accountability and technical proficiency. Fowler’s procurement portfolio is overwhelmingly non-set-aside, with 96% of awards issued under full and open competition. Only 4% are designated as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, indicating a primary emphasis on technical capability over socioeconomic preferences. While she occasionally supports small business participation, her focus remains on securing the most qualified suppliers to meet stringent VA clinical standards, rather than prioritizing specific socioeconomic categories like 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 339112 (Surgical and Medical Instrument Manufacturing) and 339113 (Surgical Appliance and Supplies Manufacturing), reflecting deep expertise in procuring sterile surgical tools, diagnostic devices, and electromedical equipment. She also manages acquisitions under 811219 for specialized maintenance services and 334510 for electrotherapeutic systems, demonstrating technical fluency in medical device lifecycle management and facility-integrated clinical technology.