Suzanne Rippenbaum

Suzanne Rippenbaum serves as a Contracting Officer responsible for managing the acquisition lifecycle for complex technical services and specialized equipment. She plays a critical role in ensuring compliance with federal procurement regulations while advancing mission-critical capabilities through competitive, transparent, and efficient contracting practices. Her portfolio primarily encompasses information technology services, communications infrastructure, and transit systems procurement, with a strong emphasis on delivering solutions that support operational readiness and modernization goals. She routinely oversees solicitations under FAR Part 12 and Part 15, utilizing both sealed bidding and negotiated procedures depending on the complexity and urgency of requirements. While specific contractor names are not available, her contracting patterns reflect consistent engagement with a diverse pool of vendors, including both large prime contractors and small businesses capable of delivering custom software, communications hardware, and transit technology solutions. Her approach emphasizes performance-based contracting, clear statement of work development, and rigorous source selection criteria to ensure value and accountability. She fosters collaborative relationships with industry partners through pre-solicitation outreach and post-award performance evaluations to enhance contract execution and innovation. Suzanne demonstrates a strong commitment to socioeconomic contracting, with 75% of her awards issued under full and open competition and 25% designated as Total Small Business Set-Asides in accordance with FAR 19.5. She prioritizes opportunities for small businesses without imposing additional socioeconomic set-asides, indicating a preference for broad-based small business inclusion over targeted programs like 8(a) or HUBZone, while still ensuring fair access and competition. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 541511 (Custom Computer Programming Services), reflecting deep expertise in software development, systems integration, and IT modernization. She also frequently procures under NAICS 334290 (Other Communications Equipment Manufacturing) and NAICS 485111 (Mixed Mode Transit Systems), indicating specialized knowledge in telecommunications hardware and public transportation technology infrastructure. Her technical domain expertise spans mission-critical software platforms, secure communications systems, and transit automation solutions.