Marilou Carandang

Marilou Carandang serves as a Purchasing and Supply Management Specialist, responsible for managing the full lifecycle of procurement activities to support operational requirements across diverse federal functions. She ensures compliance with federal acquisition regulations while optimizing supply chain efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Her role encompasses market research, solicitation development, source selection, contract administration, and vendor performance evaluation, with a focus on non-personal services and specialized manufactured goods. Carandang plays a critical part in aligning acquisition strategies with agency mission needs, emphasizing timely delivery, quality assurance, and regulatory adherence. While specific contractor names are not available, Carandang maintains relationships with a broad spectrum of vendors, including manufacturers of fabricated metal products, textile goods, and specialized equipment suppliers. Her procurement approach favors competitive bidding processes and emphasizes vendor reliability, technical capability, and compliance with quality standards. She engages with both large-capacity producers and small businesses, fostering a vendor ecosystem that supports innovation and consistent service delivery across multiple supply chains. Carandang’s contracting patterns reflect a strong preference for open, unrestricted competition, with 92.3% of acquisitions conducted without set-aside designations. Nevertheless, she actively supports small business participation, with 7.7% of awards directed toward 8(a) competed contracts. This balance demonstrates a commitment to socioeconomic goals while maintaining fiscal responsibility and market competitiveness. Her approach ensures that small business opportunities are pursued meaningfully without compromising acquisition efficiency or mission readiness. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 332999 (miscellaneous fabricated metal products), 532120 (truck, utility trailer, and RV rental and leasing), and related categories such as textile product mills and metal container manufacturing. She specializes in acquiring durable, mission-critical equipment and logistical assets, demonstrating technical expertise in industrial supply chains and asset management. Her domain knowledge enables effective evaluation of technical specifications, compliance with industry standards, and seamless integration of procured goods into operational environments.