Darlene Pope

Darlene Pope serves as a Contract Specialist within the Office of the Chief Procurement Officer at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, where she plays a pivotal role in executing acquisitions that advance equitable housing access and regulatory compliance. She manages the full lifecycle of professional services contracts, from requirement development and market research to solicitation, evaluation, and award, ensuring alignment with HUD’s mission to strengthen housing programs through data-driven policy analysis and administrative modernization. Her portfolio primarily supports technical consulting, financial oversight, and communications services critical to housing program integrity and community development initiatives. Darlene cultivates strategic partnerships with a diverse range of vendors, including certified public accounting firms, management consultants, and graphic design providers, often engaging firms with deep expertise in housing finance and public sector compliance. While no single contractor dominates her portfolio, she consistently works with mid-sized and small businesses capable of delivering specialized analytical and administrative support. Her contracting patterns reflect a preference for collaborative, performance-based engagements that emphasize transparency, accountability, and measurable outcomes. A strong advocate for socioeconomic inclusion, Darlene prioritizes small business participation, with over 36% of her acquisitions set aside for small businesses—22.7% as total small business set-asides and 13.6% competed under the 8(a) program. Her contracting practices demonstrate a deliberate effort to expand opportunities for disadvantaged businesses while maintaining rigorous standards for technical capability and fiscal responsibility. Her primary procurement focus centers on NAICS 519130 (Other Information Services), 541211 (Certified Public Accounting), and 541611 (Management Consulting), reflecting her specialization in housing policy analysis, financial auditing, and operational efficiency consulting. She routinely procures services related to underwriting framework development, housing insecurity research, and digital system modernization, ensuring HUD’s programs remain compliant, data-rich, and responsive to evolving community needs.