Qais A. Safi

Qais A. Safi serves as a key procurement professional within the U.S. Department of Labor’s San Francisco Job Corps Regional Procurement Office, where he supports the delivery of workforce development services through strategic contracting for vocational and technical training programs. Responsible for managing the full lifecycle of acquisitions, he ensures compliance with federal procurement regulations while aligning contract awards with the mission of expanding career-ready education for disadvantaged youth. His acquisitions primarily involve service contracts for residential, academic, and occupational training delivered at Job Corps centers, requiring deep coordination with educational providers and workforce development partners. While specific contractor names are not available, Safi maintains consistent engagement with a network of qualified service providers specializing in career and technical education. His procurement patterns reflect a preference for competitive, open-market solicitations, with a strong emphasis on ensuring vendor capacity to deliver high-quality, federally compliant training programs. He works closely with contractors who demonstrate proven experience in adolescent education, career counseling, and workforce alignment with regional labor market needs, fostering long-term partnerships built on performance accountability and program outcomes. Safi’s contracting activity shows a clear preference for open competition, with 80% of awards issued without set-aside designations. However, he actively incorporates 8(a) competed contracts, accounting for 20% of his portfolio, reflecting a deliberate commitment to small business participation and socioeconomic diversity in vendor selection. His approach balances broad market access with targeted opportunities for disadvantaged business enterprises, aligning with DOL’s broader goals of inclusive economic opportunity. His procurement focus is exclusively centered on NAICS 611519—Other Technical and Trade Schools—indicating deep specialization in contracting for non-degree vocational training, adult education, and career skills development services. He procures comprehensive educational programs that integrate classroom instruction, hands-on occupational training, and supportive services, requiring expertise in evaluating curriculum design, instructor qualifications, and program outcomes aligned with industry standards.