Carolyn L. Cooper

Carolyn L. Cooper is a procurement professional responsible for managing acquisition strategies centered on workforce development and technical training services. She plays a critical role in advancing the agency’s mission to build institutional capacity through targeted contracting for professional education, management training, and technical instruction. Her portfolio primarily encompasses service-based acquisitions under the NAICS codes for professional and management development training, as well as specialized technical and trade instruction. Cooper ensures compliance with federal acquisition regulations while aligning procurements with strategic workforce modernization goals, frequently engaging vendors capable of delivering customized learning solutions and performance-based training programs. Her contractor relationships are characterized by a balanced engagement with both large professional services firms and small businesses specializing in instructional design, adult learning methodologies, and technical upskilling. While no single contractor dominates her portfolio, she consistently collaborates with vendors offering scalable, outcomes-driven training platforms and consulting services in areas such as systems design and technical education delivery. Her approach emphasizes performance metrics, quality assurance, and long-term partnership development to ensure sustained program effectiveness. Cooper demonstrates a strong commitment to socioeconomic contracting, with nearly half of her awards designated as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. Her procurement patterns reflect a deliberate focus on empowering small businesses without reliance on specialized set-asides like 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB, indicating a preference for broad-based small business inclusion across general service categories. This approach supports a diverse vendor base while maintaining competitive rigor in sourcing. Her primary industry focus lies in professional development and technical education services, with a dominant emphasis on NAICS 611430 for management and leadership training. She also regularly procures services under related codes for miscellaneous instruction and technical consulting, indicating expertise in designing learning ecosystems that integrate behavioral, operational, and technological competencies. Cooper’s work supports mission-critical workforce readiness through high-quality, accredited, and performance-aligned training solutions.