Melissa Hodgson

Melissa Hodgson serves as a Contract Specialist within the Contracts and Acquisitions Management unit of the Department of Education, where she plays a pivotal role in executing strategic procurements that support federal education policy, research initiatives, and institutional capacity building. She manages the full lifecycle of professional services contracts, ensuring alignment with federal acquisition regulations and the agency’s mission to advance evidence-based decision-making in postsecondary education. Her portfolio primarily encompasses procurement of technical, analytical, and training services critical to modernizing federal student aid systems and strengthening data infrastructure. Hodgson maintains a consistent working relationship with LPE-STRATEGIES LLC, a key contractor providing specialized advisory and implementation services. Her procurement patterns reflect a preference for established vendors with demonstrated expertise in education policy and systems modernization, though she actively engages a diverse vendor base across multiple NAICS categories. She fosters collaborative, performance-driven partnerships grounded in compliance, transparency, and measurable outcomes. Her contracting approach prioritizes open competition, with 83.3% of her awards issued under no set-aside authority, reflecting a focus on best-value acquisitions rather than socioeconomic preferences. Nevertheless, she consistently reserves 16.7% of opportunities for Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, demonstrating a measured commitment to small business participation without compromising procurement integrity or mission needs. Hodgson’s procurement focus spans five primary NAICS categories, each representing critical support functions: Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Advertising Agencies (541810), Computer and Peripheral Equipment and Software Merchant Wholesalers (423430), Credit Bureaus (561450), and Parking Lots and Garages (812930). This diverse technical scope underscores her ability to manage complex, cross-functional acquisitions—from workforce development programs to IT infrastructure and administrative support services—ensuring the Department’s operational and strategic objectives are met through compliant, high-performing contracts.