Gabriella McDonald

Gabriella I. McDonald 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. She manages the full lifecycle of professional services contracts, ensuring alignment with federal acquisition regulations and the agency’s mission to strengthen federal student aid systems and evidence-based decision-making. Her portfolio primarily encompasses consulting, educational support, and technology services that enhance data infrastructure and regulatory compliance across postsecondary institutions. McDonald maintains a consistent working relationship with LPE-STRATEGIES LLC, a key contractor providing administrative and management consulting services. Her procurement patterns reflect a preference for established vendors with demonstrated expertise in education policy and systems implementation, while also fostering competitive engagement with small businesses. She actively cultivates vendor partnerships that bring technical proficiency in educational research, data analytics, and compliance support, ensuring high-quality outcomes for federally funded initiatives. Her set-aside preferences reveal a strong orientation toward open competition, with 75% of acquisitions conducted without set-asides. Nevertheless, she demonstrates meaningful commitment to small business participation, awarding nearly 20% of contracts under Total Small Business Set-Asides (FAR 19.5) and approximately 3.6% to 8(a) certified firms, with modest but intentional engagement of HUBZone contractors. This balanced approach ensures both efficiency and socioeconomic equity in contracting. McDonald’s primary NAICS focus areas include Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services (541611) and Educational Support Services (611710), reflecting her specialization in policy analysis, institutional capacity building, and academic program support. She also routinely procures computer systems design and social science research services to modernize data collection systems and evaluate educational outcomes, positioning her at the intersection of education policy and federal IT modernization.