Michele W. Jennings

Michele W. Jennings serves as a Contracting Officer within the Contracts and Acquisitions Management unit of the Department of Education, where she oversees the procurement of professional services critical to advancing federal education policy, regulatory compliance, and institutional capacity. Her portfolio centers on strategic acquisitions that support evidence-based decision-making, data infrastructure modernization, and the operational integrity of federal student aid systems. She routinely manages complex service contracts under FAR Part 12 and Part 37, with a focus on performance-based acquisition methods that emphasize outcomes, deliverables, and contractor accountability. Jennings maintains a consistent working relationship with LPE-STRATEGIES LLC, a primary contractor providing administrative and management consulting services tailored to educational institutions and federal programs. Her procurement patterns reflect a preference for established vendors with demonstrated expertise in education policy implementation, though she actively cultivates relationships with emerging small businesses to ensure diverse participation in the acquisition lifecycle. Her contracting approach emphasizes transparency, compliance, and long-term vendor performance evaluation. She exhibits a balanced commitment to socioeconomic programs, allocating 20% of her awards to Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5 and another 20% to HUBZone firms, while the majority of her contracts remain open competition. This pattern underscores her dedication to fostering equitable access for small and underserved businesses without compromising mission-critical capabilities. Her approach aligns with Department of Education goals to expand opportunity and inclusion in federal contracting. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 541611 (Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services), followed by NAICS 611710 (Educational Support Services) and 541511 (Custom Computer Programming Services). She specializes in acquiring strategic consulting, data systems development, credit reporting infrastructure support, and educational program evaluation services—domains essential to modernizing federal education data ecosystems and strengthening institutional accountability.