Darrell A. Cooper

Darrell A. Cooper serves as Director of the Office of Acquisition Management within the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, where he leads the strategic planning and execution of all acquisition activities critical to advancing commercial motor vehicle safety and regulatory compliance. In this role, he oversees the full lifecycle of professional services contracts, ensuring alignment with agency priorities in data-driven safety oversight, transportation system modernization, and technical consulting. His portfolio is exclusively focused on high-complexity, non-product-based acquisitions that support the development and integration of advanced information systems, analytics platforms, and regulatory compliance tools essential to the nation’s freight and passenger safety infrastructure. Mr. Cooper maintains a primary contracting relationship with the National Institute for Safety Research Inc., a trusted provider of specialized safety analytics, regulatory research, and technical advisory services. His procurement patterns reflect a preference for long-term, performance-based partnerships with firms possessing deep domain expertise in transportation safety science, data modeling, and federal regulatory support. These relationships are characterized by sustained engagement, technical collaboration, and a focus on outcomes-driven deliverables rather than transactional procurement. Mr. Cooper’s acquisition strategy reflects a consistent 100% preference for non-set-aside procurements, indicating a deliberate focus on technical merit and capability over socioeconomic categorization. While small business participation is not structurally prioritized through set-asides, his office evaluates all vendors based on demonstrated technical proficiency and mission alignment, ensuring competitive, high-quality outcomes. The Office of Acquisition Management under Mr. Cooper’s leadership exclusively procures services under NAICS 541990—All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services—emphasizing expert consulting in transportation safety analytics, regulatory compliance automation, and systems integration for federal motor carrier oversight. His technical domain centers on data infrastructure, real-time monitoring systems, and evidence-based policy support tools critical to modernizing the FMCSA’s regulatory framework.