Chiara A. McDowell

Chiara A. McDowell serves as a Contracting Officer within the Federal Acquisition Service’s GSA FAS AAS Fedsim, where she leads the acquisition of mission-critical professional and technical services that underpin national infrastructure and defense readiness. Her portfolio centers on IT modernization, systems integration, and logistics support contracts essential to federal operational continuity. She manages full lifecycle procurements—from market research and solicitation development to award and contract administration—ensuring compliance with FAR regulations and alignment with GSA’s strategic goals for secure, scalable, and efficient government services. McDowell specializes in complex, performance-based acquisitions requiring technical rigor and risk mitigation in high-stakes environments. McDowell cultivates collaborative relationships with a diverse range of contractors, primarily large and mid-tier firms with proven expertise in federal IT and systems management. She engages with vendors capable of delivering integrated solutions in computer systems design, facilities management, and custom programming, often requiring cybersecurity compliance, cloud migration capabilities, and legacy system modernization. Her contracting approach emphasizes vendor performance accountability, clear statement of work development, and post-award oversight to ensure deliverables meet stringent federal standards. McDowell’s procurement patterns reflect a strong preference for open competition, with 100% of her acquisitions conducted without set-aside designations. While she does not currently prioritize 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB set-asides, her process remains fully transparent and accessible to all qualified vendors, ensuring fair and equitable competition under full and open competition authorities. Her focus is on selecting the most technically capable and cost-effective solutions, regardless of business size, while maintaining strict adherence to statutory procurement frameworks. Her primary technical focus lies in NAICS 541512 (Computer Systems Design Services), 541513 (Computer Facilities Management Services), and 541519 (Other Computer Related Services), each accounting for 25% of her portfolio. She also regularly procures custom programming (541511) and environmental consulting services (541620), demonstrating expertise in both IT infrastructure and mission-support domains requiring interdisciplinary technical integration.