Carl Rodriguez

Carl A. Rodriguez serves as a Contract Specialist and Team Leader within the 693JJ3 Acquisition and Grants Management unit of the Federal Highway Administration, where he leads the procurement of critical engineering, research, and technical services that support the nation’s transportation infrastructure modernization. He manages the full lifecycle of complex acquisitions—from market research and solicitation development to contract award and administration—ensuring compliance with FAR regulations and alignment with FHWA’s mission of advancing safe, resilient, and data-driven highway systems. His portfolio primarily consists of professional services contracts for transportation research, engineering design, and operational consulting, frequently supporting federally funded state and local infrastructure initiatives. Rodriguez maintains longstanding relationships with key contractors including K & M Transportation Services LLC and the University of California, Los Angeles, reflecting a blend of private-sector engineering expertise and academic research collaboration. He routinely engages with firms providing specialized technical services such as traffic modeling, pavement analysis, and transportation systems evaluation, fostering partnerships that integrate innovation into federal highway programs. His procurement approach emphasizes performance-based contracting and clear statement of work development to ensure deliverables meet rigorous technical and safety standards. His contracting patterns reflect a strong preference for open competition, with 95% of awards issued without set-aside restrictions, underscoring a focus on technical merit and value over socioeconomic categorization. While small business participation remains a secondary priority, he consistently supports Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, particularly for niche technical services where qualified small firms demonstrate unique capabilities. Rodriguez’s procurement focus centers on NAICS 541330 (Engineering Services) and 541712 (Research and Development in Physical Sciences), with significant activity in testing laboratories (541380) and technical consulting (541690). He specializes in acquiring advanced analytical services, infrastructure performance metrics, and safety research that directly inform FHWA’s evidence-based policy and investment decisions.