OPS Grant Office

The OPS Grant Office oversees the administration and execution of federal grant-related procurement activities, ensuring compliance with statutory and regulatory frameworks governing competitive acquisitions. While not a traditional contracting officer, this office plays a pivotal role in aligning grant-funded initiatives with federal acquisition regulations, particularly in the solicitation and award of service-based contracts that support programmatic objectives. It typically handles non-construction services tied to social science research, emergency relief operations, and specialized facility improvements, acting as a bridge between program stakeholders and procurement compliance teams to ensure transparent, equitable, and legally sound contract awards. Contractor relationships are primarily established through open competitions under FAR Part 15, with a diverse pool of vendors responding to solicitations across research, humanitarian services, and skilled trades. While no single contractor dominates the award landscape, the office engages a broad spectrum of firms—from academic research institutions and nonprofit service providers to niche construction and technical support contractors—emphasizing responsiveness, past performance, and capacity to deliver mission-critical outcomes under grant constraints. The office demonstrates a strong preference for small business participation, with over one-third of its awards structured as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, reflecting a deliberate commitment to expanding economic opportunity. There is no current use of 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB-specific set-asides, but the consistent allocation to small businesses broadly aligns with federal socioeconomic goals and promotes competitive diversity in the vendor base. Primary procurement activity centers on NAICS 541720 (Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities), reflecting a focus on policy analysis, behavioral studies, and community impact assessments. Additional activity includes emergency relief services under 624230 and finish carpentry under 238350, indicating a unique blend of social science and light construction needs tied to grant-funded infrastructure and program delivery. The office’s expertise lies in integrating technical requirements with socioeconomic objectives to achieve both programmatic and compliance outcomes.