Margaret Whearty

Margaret Whearty serves as a Contract Specialist responsible for managing the full lifecycle of federal acquisitions, from requirements validation and market research through solicitation, evaluation, award, and contract administration. She plays a critical role in ensuring compliance with federal procurement regulations while supporting the agency’s mission to secure essential food products for federal programs. Her portfolio primarily involves competitive sealed bidding and negotiated procurements under the Federal Acquisition Regulation, with a focus on commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) goods in the food manufacturing sector. Whearty works closely with program stakeholders to translate operational needs into clear, enforceable contract statements of work and performance specifications. While no specific contractor relationships are identifiable in the available data, Whearty routinely engages with a broad base of vendors, including large-scale food manufacturers and regional suppliers, to ensure reliable, consistent delivery of perishable and shelf-stable products. Her procurement approach emphasizes fair and open competition, with a strong emphasis on evaluating technical capability, past performance, and compliance with food safety standards such as those outlined by the FDA and USDA. Whearty demonstrates a strong preference for unrestricted acquisitions, with 98.2% of her awards issued under full and open competition. However, she consistently supports small business participation, with HUBZone set-asides accounting for 1.9% of her awards, reflecting a targeted commitment to economic development in historically underutilized business zones. Her contracting patterns indicate a measured but deliberate effort to integrate socioeconomic programs without compromising operational efficiency or supply chain reliability. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 311511 (Fluid Milk Manufacturing) and 311812 (Commercial Bakeries), indicating deep expertise in the procurement of dairy and baked goods for federal feeding programs. She possesses specialized knowledge of food safety protocols, packaging requirements, cold chain logistics, and quality control standards critical to ensuring compliance with federal nutrition guidelines. Her technical domain expertise ensures that contracted products meet both regulatory and nutritional benchmarks for federal use.