Yolanda Rankin

Yolanda Rankin supports the Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Acquisition and Grant Services in executing mission-critical procurement activities that sustain the agency’s regulatory science infrastructure. She manages complex acquisitions for high-precision analytical instrumentation, laboratory services, and specialized scientific support, ensuring the FDA maintains the technical capabilities necessary to evaluate drug safety, efficacy, and medical device performance. Her work directly enables the agency’s scientific review processes by securing reliable, calibrated equipment and contracted expertise essential for compliance testing and bioanalytical research. Rankin maintains consistent working relationships with key contractors including Tranquil Clinical and Research Consulting Services LLC, Toxicologic Pathology Associates Inc, and Progenics Pharmaceuticals Inc, reflecting a focus on specialized scientific and clinical support vendors. These partnerships are typically formed through competitive sealed bidding and requirements-based solicitation strategies, emphasizing technical qualifications, regulatory compliance, and validated methodologies. Her procurement approach prioritizes vendors with demonstrated expertise in laboratory operations, toxicology services, and pharmaceutical development support, fostering long-term reliability in mission-critical supply chains. Her contracting portfolio reflects a strong preference for open competition, with nearly 80% of awards issued without set-aside designations, indicating a focus on technical merit over socioeconomic categorization. Nevertheless, she consistently facilitates approximately 20% of awards under Total Small Business Set-Asides, aligning with FAR 19.5 guidelines to promote participation from qualified small businesses in scientific and technical services. The majority of her acquisitions fall under NAICS 334516 (Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing), underscoring a deep specialization in procuring mass spectrometers, chromatography systems, and other high-end analytical tools. Additional focus areas include electronic equipment repair (NAICS 811210) and testing laboratory services (NAICS 541380), demonstrating expertise in sustaining the FDA’s scientific ecosystem through precision instrumentation, maintenance, and contracted analytical services critical to regulatory decision-making.