Mary M. McGeein

Mary M. McGeein serves as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, providing strategic leadership in the formulation and execution of federal acquisition policy for research and development initiatives. In this capacity, she oversees the planning, evaluation, and implementation of high-priority scientific and technical procurements, ensuring alignment with national innovation goals and regulatory compliance. Her role is central to shaping acquisition strategies that prioritize technical excellence, mission readiness, and efficient resource allocation across the federal research enterprise. She typically handles complex, performance-based contracts for advanced scientific services, including experimental design, laboratory operations, and engineering analysis. While specific contractor relationships are not publicly enumerated, her procurement portfolio is characterized by engagement with leading research institutions, private-sector R&D firms, and specialized technical service providers with demonstrated expertise in physical, engineering, and life sciences. Her working relationships reflect a preference for long-term, mission-critical partnerships grounded in technical capability rather than socioeconomic status, emphasizing performance outcomes and innovation delivery over transactional vendor interactions. McGeein’s contracting patterns show a consistent preference for full and open competition, with 100% of her acquisitions designated as “No Set-Aside.” This reflects a strategic focus on selecting the most technically qualified offerors regardless of business size or certification, prioritizing scientific merit and capability over socioeconomic set-asides such as 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB programs. Her approach underscores a commitment to mission effectiveness through unrestricted competition. Her primary procurement focus is exclusively on NAICS 541712—Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology). This specialization involves procuring advanced scientific services including materials testing, computational modeling, instrumentation development, and applied engineering research. Her domain expertise lies in managing complex, multi-year R&D contracts requiring deep technical oversight and rigorous performance metrics, ensuring federal investments yield high-impact scientific and technological outcomes.