Frank Parker

Kenton K. Raiford serves as Branch Chief of the Acquisition Operations Division within GSA’s Federal Acquisition Service, Region 9, where he leads the planning, execution, and oversight of mission-critical procurement activities supporting federal agencies across the western U.S. His role encompasses managing the full lifecycle of professional, scientific, and technical service contracts, ensuring alignment with FAR guidelines and GSA’s strategic priorities in digital transformation, infrastructure resilience, and workforce productivity. Raiford oversees the issuance of task orders under GSA schedules and IDIQs, with a focus on delivering high-integrity, compliant acquisitions that meet agency operational needs without compromising fiscal accountability or regulatory standards. Raiford maintains collaborative relationships with a diverse pool of contractors, primarily engaged in IT services, facility maintenance, and specialized technical support. While no single vendor dominates his portfolio, he consistently works with firms capable of delivering scalable, secure, and mission-aligned solutions across multiple domains. His contracting approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes, clear statement of work development, and rigorous vendor evaluation to ensure quality and compliance. He fosters long-term partnerships with contractors who demonstrate technical proficiency, past performance, and adherence to federal acquisition best practices. Raiford’s set-aside preferences reflect a strong commitment to broad market participation, with 90.9% of his acquisitions conducted as full and open competitions and 9.1% designated as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. He does not routinely utilize 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB set-asides, instead prioritizing open access while ensuring small businesses have equitable opportunity to compete. His approach supports GSA’s goal of maximizing competition while maintaining efficiency and transparency. His primary procurement focus centers on NAICS 541990 (other professional services), 238210 (electrical contracting), 541511 (custom computer programming), 811111 (automotive repair), and 519130 (web portals and digital services). These reflect a blend of IT modernization, facility infrastructure support, and operational maintenance services critical to sustaining federal operations. Raiford’s expertise lies in integrating technical requirements with acquisition strategy to deliver resilient, future-ready solutions.