Deborah A. Vaughan

Deborah A. Vaughan serves as a Contract Specialist responsible for managing the full lifecycle of federal acquisitions, from requirements development through contract award and administration. Her work supports the agency’s mission to procure essential food and agricultural products in compliance with federal procurement regulations, particularly the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). She routinely handles competitive and set-aside procurements for perishable and prepared food items, ensuring timely delivery, regulatory adherence, and value for taxpayer dollars. Her expertise spans solicitation drafting, source selection, contract negotiation, and post-award oversight for complex supply chain requirements. While specific contractor names are not available, Vaughan maintains a balanced procurement ecosystem that includes both large-scale food manufacturers and small business suppliers. She engages with vendors across the food production spectrum, fostering partnerships with firms capable of meeting stringent safety, labeling, and delivery standards. Her contracting patterns reflect a preference for open competition, yet she actively cultivates relationships with small businesses to ensure market diversity and resilience in the supply chain. Vaughan demonstrates a strong commitment to socioeconomic contracting, with 40% of her acquisitions designated as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5. She consistently prioritizes small business participation, aligning with federal goals to expand economic opportunity for small enterprises. Though no other set-aside categories are currently prominent in her portfolio, her focus on small business eligibility and certification compliance reflects a deliberate strategy to enhance vendor inclusivity and competition. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 311991 (Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing) and 311999 (All Other Miscellaneous Food Manufacturing), each accounting for 25% of her activity, alongside 111998 (All Other Miscellaneous Crop Farming). She specializes in acquiring ready-to-eat meals, value-added agricultural products, and specialty crop inputs, requiring deep technical knowledge of food safety protocols, shelf-life management, and cold-chain logistics. Her domain expertise ensures acquisitions meet nutritional, regulatory, and operational needs within federal food service programs.