Ms. Makarim Abdul-Jabbar

Makarim Abdul-Jabbar serves as a Contracting Officer with the 257-NETWORK Contract Office 17 (36C257) under the Department of Veterans Affairs, where he plays a pivotal role in securing critical medical infrastructure and healthcare support services for VA medical campuses. His portfolio encompasses the procurement of advanced electromedical devices, in-vitro diagnostic systems, surgical instrumentation, and facility maintenance contracts essential to sustaining operational readiness and veteran care delivery. He executes full lifecycle acquisitions under FAR and VA-specific guidelines, ensuring compliance with federal mandates while prioritizing mission-critical timelines and technical specifications for high-acuity clinical environments. Abdul-Jabbar maintains enduring relationships with key contractors including PRIMARY CARE SOLUTIONS INC, QUEST DIAGNOSTICS INCORPORATED, VETPRIDE SERVICES, INC., MCKENZIE CONSTRUCTION & SITE DEVELOPMENT LLC, and OPTUM INFUSION SERVICES 308, LLC. These partnerships reflect a balanced approach between large-capacity service providers and specialized vendors capable of delivering complex clinical, construction, and operational support. His contracting patterns emphasize reliability, technical proficiency, and performance-based outcomes, often leveraging indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) and blanket purchase agreement (BPA) mechanisms to streamline recurring needs across VA facilities. His socioeconomic contracting strategy prioritizes Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) set-asides at 37.5%, demonstrating a strong commitment to veteran-led enterprise development. While the majority of his acquisitions remain open to full and open competition (62.5%), he consistently structures opportunities to maximize SDVOSB participation, aligning with VA’s statutory goals to empower veteran entrepreneurs and foster inclusive supply chains. Abdul-Jabbar’s primary technical focus lies in NAICS 236220 (Commercial and Institutional Building Construction) and 623110 (Nursing Care Facilities), reflecting his expertise in facility modernization and long-term care infrastructure. He also routinely procures temporary healthcare staffing (561320), specialized building exterior work (238190), and related construction services to support VA’s evolving campus needs. His domain expertise spans clinical equipment integration, healthcare facility lifecycle management, and mission-critical service delivery in regulated medical environments.