Fermaint Rios

Fermaint Rios serves as a Contract Specialist within the U.S. Census Bureau, supporting the agency’s mission to modernize data collection and dissemination through strategic procurement of professional and technical services. In this role, Rios manages the full lifecycle of acquisitions—from market research and solicitation development to contract award and administration—ensuring compliance with FAR regulations and alignment with the Bureau’s strategic priorities for the 2030 Decennial Census. Their portfolio primarily encompasses high-precision analytical, survey, and geospatial services critical to enhancing data accuracy and operational efficiency across federal statistical programs. Rios collaborates with a diverse range of vendors, including professional services firms specializing in data analytics, survey design, and technical consulting. While no single contractor dominates their award portfolio, Rios consistently engages with firms possessing expertise in large-scale data infrastructure, survey methodology, and geographic information systems. Their contracting approach emphasizes competitive bidding, transparent evaluation criteria, and performance-based outcomes to ensure high-quality deliverables that meet the Bureau’s rigorous standards for data integrity. Rios demonstrates a strong preference for open competition, with 85.7% of acquisitions conducted without set-asides. However, they actively support small business participation, allocating 14.3% of contracts under Total Small Business Set-Asides per FAR 19.5. This reflects a balanced commitment to maximizing competition while ensuring equitable opportunities for qualified small businesses, particularly those with proven capabilities in technical services and data science. The primary NAICS categories under Rios’ purview include 541990 (All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services) and 541690 (Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services), with significant activity in 541370 (Surveying and Mapping Services). These reflect a technical focus on survey instrument development, statistical modeling, geospatial analysis, and data quality assurance—core competencies required to support the Census Bureau’s evolving digital data ecosystem.