Kysha Ford

Kysha Ford serves as a key procurement professional within the Contracts Services office of the Library of Congress, supporting the agency’s mission to preserve and provide access to the nation’s cultural and intellectual heritage through strategic acquisition of information technology and media services. Responsible for managing the full lifecycle of technology contracts, Ford specializes in procuring complex digital stewardship solutions, including metadata systems, digital preservation platforms, and accessibility-compliant media delivery tools. Her work directly enables large-scale digitization initiatives and ensures compliance with federal standards for long-term archival integrity and public access. Ford maintains enduring relationships with a select group of specialized contractors, including the Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Accessibility Services Inc., and the University of Washington, all of which bring deep expertise in accessible digital content delivery and assistive technologies. These partnerships reflect a preference for mission-aligned vendors with proven capabilities in serving diverse user populations, particularly those with disabilities. Her contracting approach emphasizes technical proficiency, regulatory compliance, and sustainable service delivery over transactional vendor relationships. Ford’s procurement portfolio reflects a strict focus on non-set-aside acquisitions, with 100% of contracts awarded under full and open competition. This approach prioritizes technical merit and capability over socioeconomic preferences, aligning with the Library’s need for specialized, high-assurance digital infrastructure. While small business participation is not formally incentivized through set-asides, contractors are evaluated on demonstrated capacity to meet stringent accessibility and preservation standards. Her primary procurement focus is on NAICS 541512 (Computer Systems Design Services), with an emphasis on custom software development, digital asset management systems, metadata schema implementation, and accessible user interface design. Ford’s technical expertise lies at the intersection of archival science and enterprise IT, ensuring that all acquired systems support the Library’s long-term digital preservation objectives and ADA-compliant public access requirements.