Helen Zaldana

Helen Zaldana serves as a Contract Specialist for the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), where she plays a pivotal role in executing procurement actions that support the agency’s mission of delivering high-quality K-12 education to military-connected students worldwide. She manages the full lifecycle of acquisitions under FAR Part 12 and Part 19, with a primary focus on educational support services, including curriculum development, instructional technology, student support systems, and school infrastructure enhancements. Her work ensures timely and compliant delivery of essential services across DoDEA’s globally dispersed school network, aligning procurement outcomes with educational priorities and operational requirements. Zaldana maintains consistent working relationships with a core group of contractors, including AMD International Technologies LLC, CoreTech Consulting Inc., Effective Communication Strategies LLC, Residential Enhancements, Inc., and FGI Solutions LLC. These partnerships are centered on specialized educational support services, such as curriculum design, professional development, communications, and facility improvements tailored to military school environments. Her contracting approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes, clear statement of work development, and vendor accountability to ensure alignment with DoDEA’s academic standards. Her procurement portfolio reflects a strong commitment to small business participation, with approximately one-third of her awards structured as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5. While the majority of her acquisitions remain open to all competitors, she actively prioritizes small business eligibility and fosters equitable access for firms capable of delivering specialized educational services. Her socioeconomic contracting patterns demonstrate a balanced approach that supports both competitive market engagement and targeted small business growth. Zaldana’s expertise is concentrated in NAICS 611710—Educational Support Services—where she procures a range of non-instructional, mission-critical services including tutoring programs, student engagement tools, administrative support systems, and school-based technical infrastructure. Her domain knowledge encompasses the unique logistical and pedagogical needs of DoDEA’s overseas and domestic installations, ensuring that all acquisitions directly enhance student learning environments.