Wanda Owens

Wanda D. Owens serves as a Contract Specialist within the Office of Acquisition and Grants at the Social Security Administration, where she plays a pivotal role in executing mission-critical procurements that support the agency’s core functions in benefit delivery and operational modernization. She manages the full lifecycle of acquisitions for IT systems, administrative services, and specialized support solutions, ensuring compliance with federal contracting regulations and alignment with SSA’s strategic priorities in cybersecurity, systems integration, and infrastructure resilience. Her portfolio primarily encompasses complex, performance-based contracts requiring technical evaluation and risk mitigation across software development and service delivery domains. Wanda maintains established working relationships with key contractors including CA, Inc. and COLORID, LLC, partnering with vendors that demonstrate proven expertise in enterprise software solutions, data modernization, and mission-critical support services. Her contracting approach emphasizes long-term vendor collaboration, performance accountability, and adherence to performance metrics defined in performance work statements. She engages with contractors who possess deep domain knowledge in federal systems environments, ensuring seamless integration with SSA’s legacy and emerging platforms. Her procurement patterns reflect a strong preference for unrestricted competition, with 94.3% of awards issued under full and open competition, indicating a focus on technical merit and value over socioeconomic set-asides. While small business participation is present, it remains limited at 5.7%, primarily through Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, suggesting a prioritization of capability and scale over socioeconomic targeting. Wanda’s primary NAICS focus areas include Other Computer Related Services (541519) and Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), reflecting her specialization in IT modernization and beneficiary-focused administrative support. She also routinely procures administrative management and human resources consulting services (541611, 541612), underscoring her role in enabling SSA’s workforce and operational efficiency through expert advisory and systems support.