Is it possible to nest an HLOOKUP in a VLOOKUP equation?

Here's what I have: =VLOOKUP(C27,A2:B5,(HLOOKUP(D27+1,INDIRECT(A2),21)

Each VLOOKUP lookup value is the start of a range that I would like to be
the first row of an HLOOKUP range. I might be going about this the wrong
way, so if you have suggestions, I'm definitely open to it!!

The objective is to provide Excel with two associated values (i.e.,
department and production value in a given range) and have Excel produce the
production value ranking. I have a ton of departments each with a range of
production values but only one specified ranking (1 - 20).

Thanks in advance!!