Wendell V. Crowder

Wendell V. Crowder serves as a Contract Specialist within the NHTSA Office of Acquisition, where he plays a pivotal role in executing procurements that advance the agency’s mission to reduce traffic-related fatalities and injuries through evidence-based safety initiatives. He manages the full lifecycle of acquisitions for research, technical services, and policy support contracts, with a focus on social science research, behavioral analysis, and engineering studies that inform federal motor vehicle safety standards. His work directly supports the development of regulatory frameworks grounded in data-driven insights and public safety outcomes. Crowder maintains consistent contracting relationships with key vendors including AMD International Technologies LLC, Aerospace & Commercial Technologies, LLC, and the National Association of ESEA State Program Administrators. These partnerships reflect a pattern of engaging specialized firms capable of delivering complex technical services, including data analytics, public communication strategy, and behavioral research. His procurement approach emphasizes collaboration with contractors possessing deep domain expertise in transportation safety, regulatory compliance, and public engagement. His contracting patterns demonstrate a strong commitment to socioeconomic diversity, with equal emphasis on total small business set-asides and 8(a) competed contracts, each accounting for 35.7% and 28.6% of his portfolio, respectively. This balanced approach ensures meaningful opportunities for small, disadvantaged businesses while maintaining competitive rigor. He actively leverages FAR 19.5 set-asides to foster vendor diversity and strengthen the pipeline of qualified small business participants in public safety contracting. Crowder’s primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 541720 (Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities), reflecting his specialization in behavioral and policy research. He also routinely procures management consulting services (541618), public relations support (541820), and computing infrastructure services (518210) to enable data collection, public awareness campaigns, and analytical modeling. His technical domain expertise centers on transportation safety research, regulatory impact analysis, and evidence-based policy development.