Lawanna A. Manning

Lawanna A. Manning serves as a Contract Specialist responsible for managing the full lifecycle of federal acquisitions, from requirement development through contract award and administration. She plays a pivotal role in ensuring compliance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and supports her agency’s mission by executing timely, transparent, and legally sound procurements. Her portfolio primarily encompasses information technology services and educational support solutions, with a focus on complex, performance-based contracts requiring technical evaluation and risk mitigation. Manning’s expertise lies in structuring solicitations that balance operational needs with regulatory requirements, ensuring accountability and value for taxpayer dollars. While specific contractor names are not available, Manning maintains a broad network of vendors serving the IT and educational services sectors. Her contracting patterns reflect engagement with both large prime contractors and small business subcontractors, fostering competitive environments through open solicitations and strategic source selection. She routinely works with firms capable of delivering custom software development, systems integration, and technical support services, emphasizing vendor performance, past performance evaluations, and compliance with cybersecurity and data privacy standards. Manning demonstrates a strong preference for open competition, with 87.9% of her awards issued without set-aside restrictions. However, she consistently supports small business participation, allocating 12.1% of her acquisitions to Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5. This reflects a balanced approach—prioritizing competition while actively creating pathways for small businesses to compete for federal contracts without relying on socioeconomically targeted programs like 8(a) or HUBZone. Her primary procurement focus centers on NAICS 541519 (Other Computer Related Services) and 541511 (Custom Computer Programming Services), indicating deep expertise in software development, systems consulting, and IT modernization. She also regularly procures educational support services (NAICS 611710) and computer equipment distribution (NAICS 423430), showcasing a diverse technical portfolio that spans both digital infrastructure and institutional support services.