Richard Hicks

Richard Hicks serves as a Contract Specialist within the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, where he plays a pivotal role in executing procurements that support the agency’s mission to deliver equitable access to nutrition assistance programs such as SNAP, WIC, and the National School Lunch Program. He manages the full lifecycle of acquisition actions, from requirements definition and market research to contract award and administration, ensuring compliance with federal procurement regulations and alignment with FNS’s strategic priorities in program modernization and data-driven operations. His portfolio primarily encompasses professional services, IT modernization, and technical support contracts critical to operational efficiency and program integrity. While no specific contractor relationships are identified, Hicks routinely engages with a diverse pool of vendors, including small businesses and professional service providers delivering custom software development, data processing, and management consulting services. His contracting patterns reflect a preference for collaborative, performance-based partnerships that emphasize innovation, scalability, and compliance with federal nutrition program standards. He works closely with contractors to ensure deliverables align with FNS’s mission-critical goals, particularly in digital infrastructure and analytical support systems. Hicks demonstrates a strong commitment to socioeconomic contracting, with nearly half of his acquisitions structured as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5. His procurement strategy prioritizes opportunities for small businesses, consistently leveraging set-aside authorities to foster market participation and enhance competition among qualified vendors, without a significant reliance on other socioeconomic categories such as 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB. His primary NAICS focus areas include All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (541990), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), and Computing Infrastructure Providers (518210), reflecting a technical emphasis on software development, cloud-based data systems, and IT modernization. He procures services that enhance program analytics, digital enrollment platforms, and backend infrastructure supporting federal nutrition assistance operations, demonstrating deep expertise in the intersection of public health policy and information technology procurement.