cheryl Y. caldwell

Cheryl Caldwell serves as a key procurement professional within the Office of Acq Grants Management at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, where she plays a central role in securing critical operational and analytical services that support the integrity of Medicare and Medicaid programs. Her responsibilities encompass the full lifecycle of contract actions—from market research and solicitation development to award and performance oversight—focusing on acquisitions that enable data collection, claims processing, and beneficiary support systems. She ensures alignment with federal acquisition regulations and strategic goals to maintain program efficiency and fiscal accountability. While specific contractor names are not publicly disclosed, Caldwell maintains a broad network of vendors specializing in health insurance operations, market research, and administrative consulting services. Her procurement approach emphasizes performance-based contracting and outcome-driven deliverables, fostering long-term partnerships with firms capable of delivering scalable, compliant, and data-rich solutions. She engages both large industry leaders and agile small businesses, prioritizing contract clarity, risk mitigation, and service reliability across the acquisition lifecycle. Caldwell’s contracting patterns reflect a strong preference for open competition, with 80% of awards issued without set-aside restrictions. However, she actively supports socioeconomic objectives by allocating 20% of opportunities to Women-Owned Small Businesses, demonstrating a balanced commitment to both efficiency and equitable access. Her approach to small business participation is deliberate and structured, ensuring compliance with federal goals while maintaining high standards for service quality and program impact. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 524114 (Direct Health and Medical Insurance Carriers) and 541910 (Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling), each accounting for 40% of her portfolio, with an additional 20% in 541611 (Administrative Management Consulting). She routinely acquires services related to claims analytics, beneficiary outreach, program evaluation, and operational process optimization, leveraging technical expertise in health policy data systems and evidence-based program management.