LaChelle P. Johnson

LaChelle P. Johnson serves as a Contracts 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 federal education policy and institutional capacity. She manages the full lifecycle of professional services acquisitions, with a focus on research, data systems, and management consulting contracts that support evidence-based decision-making in postsecondary education. Her work directly enables the modernization of federal student aid infrastructure and regulatory compliance frameworks, ensuring that procurement activities align with mission-critical priorities in education research and data governance. Johnson maintains a consistent working relationship with LPE-STRATEGIES LLC, a primary contractor providing specialized research and analytical services. Her procurement patterns reflect a collaborative, performance-based approach to vendor engagement, emphasizing long-term partnerships with firms capable of delivering high-quality, policy-relevant deliverables. She frequently engages contractors with deep expertise in social science research and education analytics, fostering accountability and outcomes-driven service delivery. Her contracting portfolio demonstrates a strong commitment to small business participation, with nearly half of her awards structured as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5. While the majority of her acquisitions are open to all competitors, her consistent use of small business set-asides underscores her dedication to expanding economic opportunity among qualified small firms in the education services sector. Johnson’s primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 541720 (Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities), reflecting her specialization in securing academic, policy, and demographic research services. She also regularly procures management consulting (541618) and computer-related technical services (541519), supporting data modernization and institutional evaluation initiatives. Her domain expertise centers on the intersection of education policy, federal compliance, and analytical research, making her a key steward of mission-aligned contracting within the Department.