Marlecia Ocheni

Marlecia Ocheni supports the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) in executing mission-critical procurement activities aligned with the agency’s mandate to strengthen child welfare systems and family economic stability. While her formal title is not specified, her procurement role centers on acquiring services that enhance the delivery of child and family support programs, including residential care, youth development, and community-based social services. She manages a diverse portfolio of acquisitions governed by Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) standards, emphasizing performance-based contracting, outcome-driven deliverables, and modernization of service platforms to improve data-informed decision-making across state and local partners. Ocheni collaborates with a broad spectrum of vendors, including nonprofit service providers, behavioral health organizations, and real estate and facility management firms that support ACF’s operational infrastructure. Her contracting patterns reflect a preference for partnerships with organizations capable of delivering integrated, culturally competent services to vulnerable populations. She maintains consistent engagement with both large service contractors and small businesses, fostering collaborative relationships grounded in compliance, transparency, and programmatic alignment with ACF’s strategic goals. Her procurement strategy prioritizes small business participation, with 25% of acquisitions designated as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5, reflecting a deliberate commitment to socioeconomic equity in contracting. While no specific set-aside categories like 8(a) or HUBZone are dominant, her portfolio consistently channels opportunities to small businesses capable of meeting the nuanced demands of child and family service delivery. Ocheni’s primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 624110 (Child and Youth Services) and 623990 (Other Residential Care Facilities), which together account for two-thirds of her activity, alongside 531320 (Real Estate Appraisers) to support facility acquisition and management. She specializes in securing comprehensive social service solutions, including foster care support, group home operations, and family stabilization programs, demonstrating deep technical expertise in human services contracting and performance-based outcomes.