DeShonjla a Blount

DeShonjla A. Blount serves as a Contract Specialist within the Contracts and Acquisitions Management unit of the U.S. Department of Education, where she plays a pivotal role in executing strategic procurements that advance educational policy, research, and institutional capacity. Her responsibilities include managing the full lifecycle of professional services contracts—from requirements definition and market research to solicitation, evaluation, award, and contract administration—ensuring alignment with federal acquisition regulations and the agency’s mission to strengthen federal student aid systems and data infrastructure. She primarily handles complex service-based acquisitions supporting evidence-based decision-making, regulatory compliance, and modernization initiatives in postsecondary education. Blount maintains a consistent working relationship with LPE-STRATEGIES LLC, a key contractor providing specialized support in educational policy analysis and program evaluation. Her procurement patterns reflect a preference for established vendors with demonstrated expertise in federal education programs, fostering long-term, performance-based partnerships that prioritize quality, compliance, and measurable outcomes. She collaborates closely with technical stakeholders to ensure contractor deliverables align with agency priorities and statutory obligations. Her contracting approach prioritizes broad market access, with 71.4% of awards issued without set-asides and 28.6% designated as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5. While she does not routinely utilize 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB set-asides, her consistent use of small business set-asides demonstrates a deliberate commitment to expanding opportunities for qualified small businesses in the education services sector. Blount’s portfolio is heavily concentrated in NAICS 511210 (Software Publishers) and 541720 (Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities), reflecting her specialization in procuring data analytics, policy research, and educational technology services. She also frequently engages contractors in 561990 (All Other Support Services) and 541618 (Other Management Consulting Services), underscoring her expertise in securing advisory, implementation, and operational support services critical to the Department’s mission-critical systems.