Linda K. Riley

Linda K. Riley serves as a Contracting Officer within the Contracts and Acquisitions Management unit of the Department of Education, where she oversees the procurement of professional services critical to advancing federal education policy, regulatory compliance, and institutional capacity. Her portfolio centers on strategic acquisitions that support evidence-based decision-making, data infrastructure modernization, and the operational integrity of federal student aid systems. She routinely manages complex service-based contracts under FAR Part 12 and Part 15, emphasizing performance-based outcomes, risk mitigation, and compliance with federal acquisition regulations. Ms. Riley maintains a consistent working relationship with LPE-STRATEGIES LLC, a primary vendor delivering analytical, technical, and policy support services. Her contracting patterns reflect a preference for established contractors with demonstrated expertise in education data systems and compliance frameworks, while also fostering long-term, performance-driven partnerships grounded in transparency and accountability. She engages vendors through competitive solicitations, including indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) mechanisms, to ensure sustained access to specialized technical capabilities. Her set-aside preferences are heavily weighted toward open competition, with 90% of acquisitions conducted without socioeconomic set-asides. Nevertheless, she maintains a deliberate 10% commitment to total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5, demonstrating a balanced approach that prioritizes market competition while ensuring opportunities for qualified small businesses. She does not routinely utilize 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB set-asides, reflecting a focus on capability-driven sourcing over socioeconomic targeting. Ms. Riley’s procurement activity is concentrated in NAICS categories related to computer systems design services (541512), other computer-related services (541519), and merchant wholesaling of computer equipment (423430), with additional focus on document preparation (561410) and office furniture manufacturing (337214). Her technical domain expertise lies in procuring IT modernization services, data analytics platforms, and administrative support systems that underpin federal education reporting and compliance infrastructure.