Jeff Blackard

Jeff Blackard serves as a key procurement lead within the National CMOP Office of the Department of Veterans Affairs, overseeing the acquisition of critical pharmaceuticals, medical supplies, and specialized manufacturing capabilities essential to veteran healthcare security. His role centers on ensuring the sovereign domestic production of life-saving medications and medical consumables, aligning acquisitions with national supply chain resilience goals. He manages a diverse portfolio of contracts under FAR Part 15, primarily for complex manufacturing and logistics services, with a focus on maintaining uninterrupted access to essential therapeutics and diagnostic agents. His procurement activities directly support the agency’s mission to reduce foreign dependency and safeguard the pharmaceutical supply chain for the veteran population. Blackard maintains strategic relationships with a select group of primary contractors, including ALL IN SOLUTIONS LLC, ANSIBLE GOVERNMENT SOLUTIONS LLC, and INNOVATION ASSOCIATES, INC., each of which provides specialized manufacturing, regulatory compliance, or technical support services. His contracting patterns reflect a preference for established vendors with proven capabilities in cGMP environments and FDA-regulated production. While he engages with a broad base of 17 smaller vendors, the majority of high-impact acquisitions are awarded to a core group of trusted partners with demonstrated expertise in pharmaceutical formulation, sterile compounding, and medical device packaging. His procurement strategy prioritizes small business participation, with approximately one-third of awards structured as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, reflecting a deliberate commitment to expanding opportunities for qualified small manufacturers. While no other socioeconomic set-asides (8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB) dominate his portfolio, the consistent use of small business set-asides underscores a focus on building domestic manufacturing capacity through inclusive contracting. Blackard’s technical focus is concentrated in NAICS 325412 (Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing), followed by 339113 (Surgical Appliance and Supplies Manufacturing), 334111 (Electronic Computer Manufacturing), and 326111 (Plastics Bag and Pouch Manufacturing). This reflects expertise in procuring sterile injectables, diagnostic reagents, medical packaging, and integrated device systems—all vital to VA’s clinical operations and supply chain sovereignty.