VCS  ·  2026 Practice

Strategic Clarity for Federal Contracting Certifications.

Vanguard Contracting Solutions is a specialized consulting firm providing end-to-end management of federal certifications, registration, and contract positioning, helping companies enter and grow within the government contracting space with precision and intent.

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SERVING PUERTO RICO AND THE MAINLAND U.S.
Certifications We Support
8(a) Women Owned Small Business HUBZone Veteran Owned DBE SAM
Why Strategy Matters

Entering federal contracting requires more than completing applications. It requires alignment.

At VCS, we focus on ensuring every step is structured, compliant, and intentionally positioned from the start, in alignment with your business model, regulatory requirements, and long-term growth strategy.

Our process integrates seamlessly with your operations, allowing your team to remain focused on the business while we guide the strategic direction. We do not process paperwork. We design strategy.

Alignment

Business model meets certification strategy

Every recommendation begins with a careful read of how your company actually operates and where it can credibly compete.

Accuracy

SAM, NAICS, and supporting documentation

From registration through documentation, the details are handled with the precision the federal marketplace requires.

Compliance

SBA and FAR requirements

We translate the regulatory landscape into clear, defensible decisions that protect your standing as you grow.

Viability

Recommendations grounded in reality

Strategy is built on real opportunity, not assumptions, so your time, capital, and reputation are protected.

Who We Serve

Built for companies ready to grow with intention.

We work with companies across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, including English- and Spanish-speaking business owners, whose operational structure is in place and whose ambitions extend into the federal and federally funded marketplace.

The Mindset

Ready to pursue federal contracting and federally funded opportunities.

Companies stepping into the federal marketplace with real intent to compete.
The Discipline

Intentional about growth and committed to doing this right from the start.

Strategy before submission. Structure before paperwork.
The Standard

Looking for a trusted partner to guide you through the certification process.

The Programs

Pursuing 8(a), Women Owned Small Business, HUBZone, DBE, or similar pathways.

The Foundation

An established business with a defined operational structure.

Corporations · LLCs · Structured DBAs
Services

A complete strategic practice.

From certification through ongoing positioning, VCS provides the strategic infrastructure required to enter and grow within the federal contracting marketplace, with the consistency that long-term success demands.

Federal Certifications

Strategic preparation, submission, and management for 8(a), Women Owned Small Business, HUBZone, Veteran Owned, and DBE.

SAM Registration & Optimization

Accurate SAM.gov registration with NAICS alignment that reflects your real capabilities and posture.

Capability Statement Development

Editorial, executive-grade documents built to communicate authority and credibility on first read.

Opportunity Identification & Positioning

Targeted identification of viable contracts, set-asides, and adjacencies, informed by where the market is moving.

Ongoing Strategic Guidance

A continuing engagement supporting evolving federal contracting objectives over months and years.

A complete overview of services, designed for review with your team.
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Leadership

A practice grounded in experience.

VCS is led by Ruth Claudio and Tristana Vásquez, bringing more than forty years of combined experience in business growth, strategy, and opportunity development. A thoughtful, high-touch approach to certification strategy and long-term positioning.

CO-FOUNDER

Ruth M. Claudio

A career grounded in business development, federal positioning, and disciplined execution that allows companies to keep operating while strengthening their place in the federal marketplace.

Ruth's expertise encompasses federal registrations and compliance, SAM.gov registrations and renewals, federal certification processes, including extensive experience with HUBZone certification, as well as business positioning, NAICS alignment, and Capability Statement development. Her knowledge allows her to guide businesses through complex federal requirements with a practical understanding of the processes necessary to strengthen their readiness to compete in the government marketplace.

With more than 35 years of professional experience, Ruth has built a diverse career spanning business development, government service, international trade, and initiatives supporting the growth and competitiveness of businesses. This broad professional background brings an added perspective to her work at VCS, combining a strong business foundation with firsthand knowledge of the federal marketplace.

Her background also includes years of collaboration with the Puerto Rico Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Business Center, where she supported businesses in their development and growth. This work further strengthened her understanding of the challenges businesses face and the importance of aligning their capabilities, operations, and positioning with contracting opportunities.

At VCS, Ruth brings together her extensive professional background and knowledge of federal processes to provide clients with practical, results-oriented support. Her commitment is clear: to manage each process comprehensively and with attention to detail, so clients can remain focused on what matters most—the growth and operation of their businesses.

Education Master's in International Business, University of Phoenix B.B.A., Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico
Co-Founder

Tristana I. Vásquez-Torres

A structured, analytical, and practical approach to federal contracting, helping businesses navigate complex regulatory requirements with clarity while aligning certification strategy with real operations and long-term objectives.

With a background in engineering studies from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, she brings a structured, analytical, and practical approach to the federal contracting space. Her work centers on helping businesses navigate complex regulatory requirements with clarity, while aligning certification strategy with each company's actual operations, capabilities, and long-term objectives.

Her professional experience began at the Federal Contracting Center at the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company (PRIDCO), where she gained foundational exposure to federal procurement processes, certification frameworks, and government contracting initiatives. She later expanded this experience through work in collaboration with the Puerto Rico Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Business Center, supporting minority-owned businesses in certification readiness, documentation, and strategic alignment within federal, state, and municipal contracting environments.

Tristana has extensive experience guiding businesses through certification pathways, including SAM registration, NAICS alignment, and programs such as DBE, as well as SBA certifications, including 8(a), Women Owned Small Business, and HUBZone. In addition, she supports clients in capability statement development, opportunity identification, and overall positioning, helping them focus on opportunities that are viable and aligned with their current stage of growth.

At VCS, Tristana is known for her clear communication, structured thinking, and ability to bring order and direction to complex processes, helping clients move forward with confidence and a well-defined strategy.

Education Engineering Studies, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez
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Our work is grounded in strategic thinking, regulatory understanding, and a direct commitment to helping companies pursue growth with greater clarity, structure, and confidence.

VCS Leadership
A Direct Invitation

We work with companies that are intentional about their growth.

A strategic assessment is a focused conversation about your operational structure, certification fit, and the path most likely to produce real federal opportunity.
Request a Strategic Assessment
Strategic Assessment

Begin with a conversation.

Share a few details about your business and federal contracting goals. We'll review your information and recommend a clear path forward based on your unique needs and objectives.

CONTACT info@thevcsgroup.com
By submitting, you agree to be contacted by Vanguard Contracting Solutions regarding your assessment request.

Federal certification programs, eligibility requirements, government regulations, and agency policies are subject to change at any time based on legislative, regulatory, or administrative actions.

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"Empowering your way to contracting success."

Vanguard Contracting Solutions