Karen Newlander

Karen Newlander serves as a Contracting Officer at the Defense Media Activity (DMA) Riverside, HQ0028, where she manages the acquisition of multimedia systems, broadcast infrastructure, and digital content solutions critical to Department of Defense communications and public affairs missions. She oversees full lifecycle contracting for complex technical procurements, including hardware, software development, and training services that support operational media production and secure distribution networks. Her portfolio emphasizes mission-critical technology modernization, ensuring compliance with DoD cybersecurity standards and interoperability requirements across military and public-facing platforms. Newlander cultivates strategic partnerships with vendors specializing in broadcast equipment, audiovisual systems, and custom software development. While no single contractor dominates her portfolio, she regularly engages with firms possessing expertise in military-grade media systems, secure streaming platforms, and integrated content management solutions. Her contracting approach prioritizes technical capability, past performance, and compliance with federal acquisition regulations, fostering collaborative relationships with both established defense contractors and innovative small businesses capable of rapid prototyping and agile delivery. A strong advocate for small business participation, Newlander consistently structures solicitations to maximize opportunities under the Total Small Business Set-Aside program (FAR 19.5), with nearly half of her awards reserved for small businesses. Her socioeconomic contracting patterns reflect a deliberate effort to broaden vendor diversity, particularly in technical domains where small firms offer niche capabilities in media production and digital infrastructure. She does not routinely utilize 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB set-asides, instead focusing on broad-based small business eligibility to encourage competition and innovation. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 334220 for radio and television broadcasting equipment, reflecting her emphasis on broadcast transmitters, studio systems, and wireless transmission technologies. She also frequently procures audio/video equipment (334310) and custom computer programming services (541511), demonstrating deep expertise in the integration of media production systems with secure, scalable digital architectures for DoD-wide deployment.