Rafael Castro Montes de Oca Arquitectos (RCMdO), an 8(a) and HUBZone certified full-service design practice, has demonstrated a remarkable ability to identify and provide critical resources to government agencies, particularly in times of need. Following Hurricane María, RCMdO recognized an opportunity to support Puerto Rico's recovery efforts by assisting FEMA. This commitment to service continued with a significant success story involving the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The USDA needed a specialized type of trailer to serve as an office, but their initial market research efforts yielded no suitable vendors.

The urgency of the agency's need, coupled with specific requirements and delivery restrictions, resulted in an unsuccessful initial Request for Proposals (RFP). This is where Isabel Garcia-Luengo, leading the effort for RCMdO, played a pivotal role. Recognizing the challenge, Isabel proactively engaged with the Puerto Rico Federal Contracting Center (FeCC). Within an impressive 48-hour timeframe, FeCC facilitated a meeting between USDA and RCMdO. Thanks to Isabel's diligent work and RCMdO’s capabilities, the company successfully met the contract requirements and delivered the trailer as scheduled, providing a much-needed solution for the USDA. This rapid response and effective delivery were instrumental in establishing RCMdO as a reliable partner for the USDA.

Since this initial success, RCMdO has continued to provide similar solutions to the agency for requirements in both Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. This ongoing collaboration has resulted in RCMdO securing over $400,000 in contracts, a testament to their ability to meet critical needs and the effectiveness of Isabel's leadership and the FeCC’s rapid response in connecting them with this key opportunity.

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