Bridget R. Hamel

Bridget R. Hamel serves as a Contracting Officer within the Office of Acquisition and Grants at the Social Security Administration, where she plays a pivotal role in securing mission-critical goods and services that underpin the agency’s operational infrastructure. She manages a diverse portfolio of acquisitions centered on IT modernization, systems integration, cybersecurity, and administrative support services, ensuring compliance with federal procurement regulations while advancing SSA’s goals of secure, efficient, and reliable benefit delivery. Her work directly supports the agency’s priority to maintain and upgrade the technological and physical systems essential to public trust and program integrity. Ms. Hamel maintains established working relationships with key contractors including CA, Inc. and ColorID, LLC, with whom she collaborates on complex, multi-year contracts involving software development, identity management solutions, and technical services. Her procurement approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes, risk mitigation, and vendor accountability, fostering long-term partnerships grounded in transparency and regulatory adherence. She routinely engages with vendors capable of delivering scalable, secure, and interoperable solutions aligned with federal IT standards. Her contracting patterns reflect a strong preference for open competition, with approximately 68% of awards issued without set-asides. Nevertheless, she consistently supports small business participation, allocating roughly 25% of awards to total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5 and approximately 7% to HUBZone-certified firms, demonstrating a balanced commitment to both efficiency and socioeconomic objectives. Ms. Hamel’s primary procurement focus lies in NAICS categories including 561612 (Security Guards and Patrol Services), 541990 (Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services), and 541611 (Administrative Management Consulting), reflecting her expertise in procuring a blend of physical security, technical consulting, and operational support services. She regularly sources specialized services in facility maintenance, administrative systems, and technical advisory support, ensuring SSA’s infrastructure remains resilient and responsive to evolving program demands.