Desandre Woodard

Desandre E. Woodard serves as a Contracting Officer within the Contracts and Acquisitions Management unit of the U.S. Department of Education, where they oversee the procurement of professional services critical to advancing postsecondary education policy, regulatory compliance, and federal student aid infrastructure. Their portfolio centers on strategic acquisitions that support evidence-based decision-making, data system modernization, and institutional capacity building across the higher education sector. Woodard manages a diverse range of contract actions under FAR Part 12 and Part 15, primarily utilizing indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) and requirements-based contracts to secure expert consulting, training, and operational support services. Woodard maintains a consistent working relationship with LPE-STRATEGIES LLC, a key vendor providing specialized analytical and policy support services. Their contracting patterns reflect a preference for established, high-performing contractors with proven expertise in educational research and compliance frameworks, while also fostering competitive environments that encourage innovation and accountability. Vendor partnerships are typically performance-based, emphasizing deliverables tied to measurable outcomes in education data systems and program evaluation. While the majority of Woodard’s acquisitions—74.4%—are conducted without set-asides, they demonstrate a meaningful commitment to socioeconomic programs, with 15.4% of awards designated as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5 and 10.3% awarded through 8(a) competed processes. This reflects a balanced approach that prioritizes market efficiency while actively promoting opportunities for small and disadvantaged businesses in the education services sector. Woodard’s primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 812930 (Parking Lots and Garages), which constitutes over one-third of their portfolio, indicating a unique emphasis on facility-related support services for educational institutions. Additional specializations include professional training (611430), security systems (561621), and translation services (541930), underscoring a broad technical domain spanning operational logistics, compliance, and accessibility infrastructure in federally funded education environments.