Gerardo F. Rivera

Gerardo F. Rivera serves as a Contract Specialist within the OCP-POD-Acq-Mgmt-Branch-FTC of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of the Chief Financial Officer, where he plays a pivotal role in executing mission-critical acquisitions that support modernization of digital infrastructure and operational systems. His responsibilities encompass the full lifecycle of procurement—from market research and solicitation development to contract award and administration—focusing on technical services that enhance cybersecurity, data analytics, and IT modernization for agricultural policy implementation. Rivera specializes in complex service-based contracts requiring stringent compliance with federal acquisition regulations, particularly in the domains of engineering, training, and specialty construction. He maintains consistent working relationships with key contractors including ALPHA OMEGA INTEGRATION LLC and SAMYAK SOLUTIONS, INC., both of which provide advanced computing and systems integration services, as well as MCKENZIE CONSTRUCTION & SITE DEVELOPMENT LLC for facility-related technical support. His procurement approach emphasizes collaboration with vendors possessing deep domain expertise in federal IT environments, fostering long-term partnerships grounded in performance accountability and regulatory adherence. Rivera demonstrates a strong commitment to socioeconomic contracting, with approximately half of his awards structured as 8(a) competed set-asides, complemented by a quarter allocated to HUBZone and another quarter to total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. This pattern reflects a deliberate strategy to expand opportunities for disadvantaged and geographically underserved small businesses while ensuring competitive rigor. His procurement portfolio is evenly distributed across four NAICS categories: 238990 and 238320 for specialty trade contracting, 541330 for engineering services, and 611430 for professional and management development training. This blend underscores his expertise in acquiring both technical infrastructure and workforce capacity-building solutions critical to sustaining the agency’s digital transformation initiatives.