Karen Y. Knowles

Karen Y. Knowles serves as a Contracting Officer with the FA3016 502 Cons Cl under the Department of the Air Force, where she is responsible for managing the acquisition of specialized facility, medical, and maintenance services critical to sustaining Air Force installation readiness. Her portfolio focuses on ensuring mission-critical infrastructure remains operational, safe, and technologically current, with an emphasis on custom architectural woodwork and millwork systems that support barracks, command centers, and medical facilities. She executes full lifecycle contracting actions—from market research and solicitation development to award and contract administration—ensuring compliance with federal procurement regulations and Air Force operational priorities. Knowles maintains consistent working relationships with a select group of established contractors, including PERRY MANAGEMENT CORP OF SOUTH DAKOTA, L.L.C., WILLIAM T BROOKS & ASSOCIATES INC, CITADEL FEDERAL SOLUTIONS LLC, NEXLEGACY LLC, and AJ COMMERCIAL SERVICES, INC. These vendors are regularly engaged for their expertise in custom fabrication, facility modernization, and integrated maintenance services, reflecting a pattern of repeat engagement with firms demonstrating high performance, reliability, and technical precision in niche construction and fit-out domains. She maintains a 100% Total Small Business Set-Aside strategy under FAR 19.5, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to socioeconomic contracting goals. All of her acquisitions are reserved exclusively for small businesses, fostering equitable access to federal opportunities and enabling small firms to scale their capabilities in support of national defense infrastructure. Her primary procurement focus is on NAICS 337212—Custom Architectural Woodwork and Millwork Manufacturing—reflecting deep technical expertise in the design, fabrication, and installation of mission-specific millwork, cabinetry, and interior finishes tailored to secure and high-traffic Air Force environments. This specialization requires close collaboration with contractors possessing advanced woodworking capabilities, quality control systems, and experience in federal facility compliance standards.