Ricardo Soto

Ricardo Soto serves as a key procurement lead within the Division of Engineering Services – Seattle, operating under the Indian Health Service, where he manages federal acquisitions critical to infrastructure resilience in tribal communities. His role centers on planning, soliciting, and awarding contracts for the construction and modernization of essential public health facilities, including water and sewer systems, sanitation infrastructure, and related utility networks. He ensures alignment with federal contracting regulations and tribal health priorities, facilitating timely delivery of mission-critical infrastructure that supports safe drinking water, wastewater management, and community health outcomes across Native American and Alaska Native populations. Soto maintains consistent working relationships with a core group of specialized contractors, including JAYNES CORPORATION, LACREEK DEVELOPMENT CORP, SWERN JV, SEH - TEPA ES JV LLC, and WBK ENGINEERING LLC. These partnerships reflect a preference for firms with demonstrated expertise in water and sewer line construction, environmental compliance, and culturally sensitive project delivery in remote or underserved regions. His procurement approach emphasizes collaboration with contractors who possess regional experience and a proven track record in executing complex civil works under challenging logistical conditions. All of Soto’s acquisitions are structured as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5, reflecting an unwavering commitment to socioeconomic equity and tribal economic development. He consistently directs contract opportunities to small businesses, including those certified under 8(a), HUBZone, and WOSB programs, ensuring that contracting dollars directly benefit disadvantaged entrepreneurs and foster long-term capacity building within Native communities. His procurement focus is exclusively centered on NAICS 237110—Water and Sewer Line and Related Structures Construction—encompassing the design-build and construction management of pipelines, pumping stations, treatment facilities, and associated civil works. This specialization underscores his technical expertise in hydraulic infrastructure, stormwater management, and compliance with EPA and tribal environmental standards, ensuring that every project advances both public health and environmental sustainability.