Deedra Carter

Deedra Carter serves as a key procurement professional within the Indian Health Service, supporting the agency’s mission to deliver culturally competent health care to American Indian and Alaska Native communities through strategic acquisition of infrastructure and support services. She manages a portfolio focused on construction, facility maintenance, and operational support contracts, ensuring compliance with federal procurement regulations while prioritizing tribal sovereignty and community needs. Her work directly enables the modernization of clinical facilities and the delivery of essential health services in underserved tribal regions. Carter maintains strong, long-term relationships with a select group of contractors deeply embedded in tribal economies, including McKesson Corporation for medical supply logistics, Flintco, LLC for infrastructure construction, and tribal-led entities such as The Native American Rehabilitation Association of the Northwest and Tribal Health, LLC. These partnerships reflect a deliberate alignment with culturally competent service providers who understand the unique operational and geographic challenges of delivering care in remote tribal communities. Her contracting approach emphasizes trust-based collaboration and sustained vendor engagement. Her procurement strategy is heavily weighted toward socioeconomic set-asides, with over 68% of contracts reserved for Indian Economic Enterprises and Indian Small Business Economic Enterprises—specialized designations unique to the Indian Health Service and Department of the Interior. This reflects a robust commitment to empowering tribal-owned businesses and fostering economic self-determination. An additional 25.5% of awards are set aside under general small business programs, reinforcing a comprehensive approach to inclusive contracting. The vast majority of her acquisitions fall under NAICS 237110 for water and sewer line construction, underscoring a critical focus on improving environmental health infrastructure in tribal communities. Supporting categories include facilities support services and security systems, indicating a holistic approach to maintaining safe, functional health care environments. Her technical expertise lies at the intersection of public health infrastructure and tribal self-governance, ensuring procurement decisions advance both clinical outcomes and community resilience.