Derrick Riddle

Derrick Riddle serves as a key procurement professional within the USDA Rural Housing Service’s Strategic Acquisition Division, where he supports the modernization of digital infrastructure critical to rural housing programs. He manages the acquisition of technology solutions that enhance underwriting systems, loan servicing platforms, and applicant management tools, ensuring secure, scalable, and user-friendly digital services for rural communities. His work directly enables the agency’s mission to improve operational efficiency and accessibility in federal housing assistance delivery, with a focus on custom software development and strategic systems integration. Riddle collaborates closely with a diverse pool of vendors specializing in federal IT modernization, particularly those with expertise in legacy system migration and cloud-enabled housing platforms. While specific contractor names are not disclosed, his procurement patterns reflect consistent engagement with firms capable of delivering secure, compliant, and mission-aligned software solutions. He cultivates long-term vendor partnerships grounded in performance-based contracting and agile development methodologies, ensuring solutions meet evolving programmatic needs without compromising data integrity or regulatory compliance. His contracting approach strongly prioritizes socioeconomic inclusion, with nearly two-thirds of his acquisitions set aside for 8(a) certified small businesses. This reflects a deliberate strategy to foster innovation through underrepresented entrepreneurs while maintaining high standards for technical capability. The remaining third of awards are competed without set-aside, typically for specialized services requiring unique qualifications or urgent deployment. Riddle’s primary procurement focus lies in Custom Computer Programming Services (NAICS 541511), where he sources tailored applications for housing eligibility determination, automated underwriting, and borrower communication systems. He also procures Management Consulting Services (NAICS 541618) to support process reengineering and digital transformation initiatives. His domain expertise centers on federal housing IT ecosystems, with deep familiarity with HUD- and USDA-specific compliance frameworks, data interoperability standards, and secure cloud migration practices.