Catherine Shade

Catherine Shade supports the 693JJ3 Acquisition and Grants Management unit within the Federal Highway Administration, where she plays a pivotal role in managing procurement activities that advance the nation’s transportation infrastructure through technical and research-driven solutions. She oversees the acquisition of engineering services, transportation research, and operational consulting contracts that inform highway design, safety improvements, and data-informed policy decisions. Her work directly enables the agency’s mission by ensuring that procurement processes align with federal regulations and deliver high-impact, innovation-focused outcomes for federal highway programs. Shade maintains consistent contracting relationships with key vendors including K & M Transportation Services LLC and the University of California, Los Angeles, reflecting a balanced portfolio of small business and academic partnerships. She frequently engages with firms providing specialized transportation analytics, systems engineering, and policy advisory services, fostering long-term collaborations grounded in technical excellence and compliance with federal acquisition standards. Her approach emphasizes performance-based contracting and outcome-driven deliverables, ensuring that contractor efforts directly support FHWA’s strategic objectives in infrastructure resilience and innovation. Her procurement patterns reveal an equal split between total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5 and open competitions, demonstrating a strong commitment to socioeconomic opportunities without compromising competitive integrity. She actively promotes participation from small businesses across multiple categories, ensuring equitable access to federal contracting opportunities while maintaining rigorous standards for technical capability and delivery. Shade’s primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 541519 (Other Computer Related Services) and 541611 (Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services), reflecting her specialization in data analytics, systems integration, and strategic planning support for transportation programs. She procures services ranging from traffic modeling software development to operational efficiency consulting, underscoring her expertise in leveraging technology and management science to enhance the safety and performance of the national highway system.