Raelynn Hermanyhorses

Raelynn Hermanyhorses serves as a key procurement professional within the Indian Education Acquisition Office, operating under the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education. In this role, she manages acquisition strategies aligned with the agency’s mission to advance culturally responsive education and safe learning environments for Native American students. Her responsibilities include overseeing the solicitation, evaluation, and award of contracts for educational support services, infrastructure improvements, and behavioral health programs. She specializes in complex, mission-driven acquisitions that require deep coordination with tribal stakeholders and adherence to federal Indian education policy, ensuring procurements reflect community needs and federal compliance standards. Her primary contractor relationships include RJS Construction Inc. for facility upgrades, Laura Edwards for specialized educational consulting, Lane Travel Inc. for student transportation logistics, Maguire Iron, Inc. for structural and safety-related installations, and Tami Jollie-Trottier PhD PLLC for professional development and behavioral health training. These partnerships reflect a pattern of engaging both established vendors and niche service providers with proven expertise in tribal education contexts, emphasizing reliability, cultural competency, and long-term operational support. Raelynn demonstrates a strong commitment to socioeconomic equity in procurement, with approximately 22.2% of her acquisitions set aside for Indian Small Business Economic Enterprise (ISBEE) concerns—a unique Department of the Interior designation supporting Native-owned enterprises. While the majority of her contracts are open competition, her consistent use of ISBEE set-asides underscores a deliberate strategy to empower Indigenous small businesses and foster economic self-determination within tribal communities. Her procurement focus centers on NAICS 541512 (Computer Systems Design Services) for digital learning platforms and 611430 (Professional and Management Development Training) for educator capacity building. She also manages infrastructure-related contracts under 238210 and 238290, ensuring school facilities meet safety and accessibility standards. Her technical expertise lies at the intersection of education technology, behavioral health services, and culturally grounded infrastructure development, making her a vital conduit between federal procurement policy and tribal educational outcomes.