Gail A. Vendel

Gail A. Vendel serves as a Contracting Officer within the FA3300 42 Cons Cc, a unit of the Department of the Air Force responsible for sustaining Air University’s educational and operational readiness infrastructure. In this role, she manages the full lifecycle of acquisitions for mission-critical services that support professional training, command communication systems, and facility operations. Her portfolio primarily encompasses procurement of educational support services, professional development training, and food service contracts, ensuring alignment with Air Force doctrine and the modernization of learning environments through immersive simulation and AV technologies. Vendel exercises full contracting authority under FAR Part 15, conducting competitive negotiations and ensuring compliance with federal acquisition regulations. While specific contractor names are not publicly disclosed, Vendel maintains a diverse vendor ecosystem comprising both large institutional providers and small businesses capable of delivering specialized educational and operational support. Her contracting patterns reflect a balanced approach to vendor engagement, favoring responsive, technically proficient firms with proven experience in military training environments and institutional food service operations. She actively cultivates long-term partnerships with vendors who demonstrate agility, compliance, and a deep understanding of Air Force educational standards. Vendel’s set-aside preferences reveal a strong commitment to small business participation, with approximately one-third of her awards structured as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5. While the majority of her acquisitions remain open to all competitors, she consistently prioritizes socioeconomic programs that enhance market access for small businesses, aligning with Department of Defense goals to broaden supplier diversity and foster innovation. Her primary NAICS focus areas—611430 (Professional and Management Development Training), 611710 (Educational Support Services), and 722310 (Food Service Contractors)—reflect her specialization in human capital development and institutional sustainment. She procures curriculum design, simulation-based training systems, instructional technology integration, and mess facility management services, demonstrating deep expertise in the intersection of education, operational readiness, and mission support within the Air Force’s academic enterprise.