Karen Rooney

Karen Rooney serves as a Contracting Officer at Washington Headquarters Services (WHS), a critical support agency within the Department of Defense responsible for delivering enterprise-wide administrative, operational, and technical services. In this role, she manages the full lifecycle of complex procurements aligned with WHS’s mission to modernize defense infrastructure and optimize institutional management systems. Her portfolio primarily consists of professional services contracts, including management consulting, research, and technical support initiatives that enhance decision-making across DoD components. She ensures compliance with federal acquisition regulations while advancing strategic priorities in digital transformation and institutional efficiency. Karen maintains consistent working relationships with a core group of established contractors, including CLARITY INNOVATIONS LLC, CYNERGY PROFESSIONAL SYSTEMS LLC, SIGNATURE RENOVATIONS LLC, AMD INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC, and GUIDEHOUSE INC. These partnerships reflect a preference for experienced, non-traditional defense contractors with proven capabilities in administrative modernization, policy analysis, and operational consulting. Her contracting approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes, task order flexibility, and long-term vendor collaboration to ensure sustained service quality and mission alignment. Her procurement activity reflects a strong preference for open competition, with 96.4% of awards issued under no set-aside provisions. While small business participation is limited, she consistently awards approximately 3.6% of contracts under Total Small Business Set-Asides in accordance with FAR 19.5, demonstrating measured but intentional support for small business involvement without compromising mission-critical delivery timelines or technical requirements. Karen’s primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 541611 (Administrative Management Consulting), 541990 (Other Professional Services), and 541720 (Social Sciences and Humanities Research), reflecting deep expertise in institutional operations, policy development, and organizational efficiency services. She regularly procures analytical, strategic planning, and technical advisory services that support DoD-wide governance, process improvement, and digital modernization initiatives.