Rachel A. Woods

Rachel A. Woods serves as a key procurement professional within the W07V Endist New Orleans office of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, overseeing the acquisition of critical civil infrastructure projects aimed at enhancing flood risk reduction and coastal resilience across the Gulf Coast. She manages a portfolio of complex construction and engineering contracts under the Department of the Army, specializing in large-scale hydraulic works, dredging, and water resource management systems. Her acquisitions primarily support the design, construction, and maintenance of levees, floodwalls, shore protection structures, and sediment management initiatives essential to protecting vulnerable Louisiana communities from storm surge and erosion. Woods maintains consistent working relationships with a core group of specialized contractors, including WEEKS MARINE, INC., M.R. PITTMAN GROUP, L.L.C., and MUDDY WATER DREDGING, LP, all of which possess proven expertise in heavy civil construction and aquatic environmental remediation. Her procurement approach favors established vendors with demonstrated capability in navigating complex permitting environments and executing technically demanding projects in sensitive coastal ecosystems. These partnerships reflect a pattern of long-term, performance-based engagement rather than transactional contracting. Her contracting portfolio reflects a strong preference for open competition, with 70.8% of awards issued without set-aside designations. However, she actively supports socioeconomic goals, regularly awarding contracts under HUBZone and Total Small Business Set-Aside programs, demonstrating a balanced commitment to both efficiency and broad-based small business inclusion. Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business set-asides are also utilized strategically to promote veteran entrepreneurship. The agency’s procurement focus is overwhelmingly centered on NAICS 237990 (Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction), reflecting her deep expertise in managing large earthmoving, dredging, and structural civil works. She also procures supporting services in engineering design and site preparation, ensuring integrated delivery of mission-critical infrastructure that meets federal standards for durability, environmental compliance, and long-term sustainability.