Cherokee Federal is a tribally owned 8(a) contractor delivering comprehensive mission support and intelligence solutions to federal agencies both domestically and internationally [9]. The organization combines decades of active-duty service expertise with advanced technical capabilities, integrating small business agility with large corporation resources to ensure mission success [7].
Under the guidance of an experienced leadership team including Brad Barnhart (VP, Intelligence Practice), Beth Inglis and Cliff Prether (Executive and Operations General Managers, Intelligence Practice), and Karl Gaskins and Dirk Catron (Executive General Managers for Small Businesses and Full & Open respectively), the company delivers a comprehensive service portfolio encompassing:
- Program Management Office Support
- Administrative and Case Management Services
- Professional Services Delivery
- Technical & Advisory Services
- Training & Development
As a Tribal 8(a) contractor, Cherokee Federal offers significant contracting advantages to government partners:
- Direct awards up to $25 million for civilian agencies without J&A
- Direct awards up to $100 million for DoD agencies without J&A
- Unlimited award potential with J&A
- Non-protestable direct awards
The company maintains a robust federal contracting presence through multiple subsidiary companies, including Cherokee Nation Technologies, Strategic Programs, Management & Consulting, and Security & Defense [3]. These subsidiaries hold prime positions on major government-wide acquisition contracts and GSA Schedules, with particular strength in:
- GSA Schedule 70 IT contracts with specialized SINs for:
- Professional Services Schedule (PSS) contracts covering:
Cherokee Federal's commitment to excellence is demonstrated through comprehensive quality management systems and security frameworks. Their operational infrastructure includes:
- Multiple OASIS+ contract vehicles across diverse domains
- Facility security clearances supporting DoD and civilian agency work
- FedRAMP and NIST compliance for IT service delivery
The organization has established itself as an innovation leader, operating the Cherokee Innovation Lab in Tysons Corner for cloud-based testing and solution validation [4]. Recent achievements include:
- AWS Select Partner certification
- SAFe Bronze Partner designation
- CMMI certification through Criterion Systems
- Successful delivery of the Air Force Civil Engineer Center GEITA11 program
- Critical support for U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research
- Comprehensive support for USGS research initiatives
Cherokee Federal continues to expand its capabilities through strategic developments in Zero Trust Architecture security frameworks and advanced data science applications [4], while maintaining a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion in talent recruitment [8].