Chara Collins

Chara Collins serves as a Contracting Officer within the Network Contract Office 23 (36C263) of the Department of Veterans Affairs, responsible for managing the acquisition of critical medical equipment, surgical supplies, and facility infrastructure essential to VA healthcare delivery. She plays a pivotal role in ensuring operational readiness across VA medical centers by executing full and open competitions for high-priority clinical and facility-related procurements. Her portfolio primarily includes complex acquisitions under FAR Part 13 and Part 14, ranging from diagnostic laboratory systems to skilled nursing facility upgrades, with a strong emphasis on compliance, risk mitigation, and timely contract performance to support veteran care outcomes. Chara Collins maintains consistent working relationships with key vendors including BZ Construction and Development LLC, Highlands Enterprises LLC, Abbott Laboratories Inc., Primary Care Solutions Inc., and Pedersen & Rangel. These partnerships reflect a mix of large-capacity medical suppliers and specialized service providers with proven capabilities in delivering clinical infrastructure, diagnostic reagents, and healthcare support services. Her contracting approach prioritizes performance history, technical compliance, and supply chain reliability, fostering long-term vendor collaboration grounded in transparent evaluation and contract administration. Her procurement activity is exclusively conducted under full and open competition, with no set-asides designated for 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, or other socioeconomic categories. This reflects a strategic focus on maximizing competition among qualified vendors to secure the highest quality medical and facility solutions, rather than prioritizing socioeconomic preferences. Chara’s technical expertise centers on NAICS 621511 (Medical Laboratories) and 623110 (Nursing Care Facilities), where she procures advanced laboratory testing systems, diagnostic kits, sterile surgical supplies, and infrastructure upgrades for long-term care environments. Her domain knowledge spans clinical laboratory operations, infection control protocols, and healthcare facility modernization, ensuring acquisitions align with VA clinical standards and regulatory requirements.