Gerardo F. Rivera

Gerardo F. Rivera serves as a Contract Specialist within the Office of the Chief Financial Officer at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, supporting the OCP-POD-Acq-Mgmt-Branch-FTC. In this role, he manages the full lifecycle of procurement actions for mission-critical technical services, with a focus on modernizing digital infrastructure and operational support systems essential to agricultural policy execution. His acquisitions primarily involve information technology consulting, cybersecurity-enabled solutions, and specialized support services that sustain the agency’s data-driven decision-making capabilities. Rivera ensures compliance with federal acquisition regulations while aligning procurements with strategic modernization goals. Rivera maintains consistent working relationships with a select group of contractors, including ALPHA OMEGA INTEGRATION LLC, SAMYAK SOLUTIONS, INC., and MCKENZIE CONSTRUCTION & SITE DEVELOPMENT LLC. These partnerships reflect a preference for established vendors with proven expertise in federal IT modernization and facility support services. His contracting approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes, clear statement of work development, and structured vendor accountability, fostering long-term collaboration with firms capable of delivering scalable, secure, and compliant solutions. A defining feature of Rivera’s procurement strategy is his exclusive use of Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, ensuring that 100% of his acquisitions are reserved for small businesses. This unwavering commitment reflects a deliberate effort to expand economic opportunity within the federal contracting ecosystem and aligns with USDA’s broader socioeconomic objectives. He actively prioritizes small business eligibility verification and ensures rigorous adherence to socioeconomic program requirements. Rivera’s procurement portfolio is concentrated under NAICS 561710 (Exterminating and Pest Control Services), indicating a specialized focus on environmental and facility health services critical to USDA’s operational sites. While this classification appears atypical for a digital infrastructure mission, it suggests a niche requirement for integrated pest management systems supporting secure data centers, laboratory facilities, or agricultural research infrastructure. His expertise lies in bridging technical environmental compliance with federal acquisition frameworks to deliver mission-critical support services.