Shawn E. Kerkes

Shawn E. Kerkes serves as a Contracting Officer within the OCP-POD-Acq-Mgmt-Branch-FTC at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, where he leads the acquisition of mission-critical digital infrastructure and operational support services. His role is central to modernizing the agency’s information systems, ensuring compliance with federal procurement regulations, and delivering secure, scalable technology solutions that enable data-driven agricultural policy execution. He routinely manages complex contracts for software development, cybersecurity enhancements, and technical consulting services, aligning acquisitions with strategic objectives to strengthen federal IT resilience and operational efficiency. Kerkes maintains consistent partnerships with a core group of contractors, including ALPHA OMEGA INTEGRATION LLC, SAMYAK SOLUTIONS, INC., and MCKENZIE CONSTRUCTION & SITE DEVELOPMENT LLC, reflecting a balanced approach between specialized IT service providers and facilities support vendors. His contracting patterns indicate a preference for established contractors with proven expertise in federal systems integration and mission-critical support, fostering long-term, performance-based relationships grounded in competitive solicitation and rigorous contract administration. His procurement portfolio demonstrates a strong emphasis on open competition, with 71.4% of awards issued without set-asides, while actively supporting socioeconomic programs through 14.3% allocated to Total Small Business Set-Asides and another 14.3% to 8(a) competed contracts. This balanced approach ensures market competitiveness while fulfilling statutory obligations to promote small business participation and equitable access to federal opportunities. Kerkes primarily procures under NAICS 921190 (Other General Government Support), reflecting his focus on administrative and technical support services essential to federal operations. He also frequently engages NAICS 541611 for administrative management consulting and NAICS 561210 for facilities support, indicating expertise in integrated service delivery that bridges IT modernization with physical and operational infrastructure needs across USDA mission environments.