Phillip Tinsley

Phillip Tinsley serves as a key procurement lead within the Contracts and Acquisitions Management office of the U.S. Department of Education, overseeing strategic acquisitions that advance educational equity and institutional effectiveness. He manages the full lifecycle of contracts for analytical, research, and technology-enabled services designed to evaluate postsecondary access, student success outcomes, and policy implementation. His portfolio centers on data-driven consulting and digital infrastructure solutions that support evidence-based decision-making across federal education programs. Tinsley ensures acquisitions align with the agency’s mission to improve educational outcomes through innovative, transparent, and accountable contracting practices. Tinsley collaborates with a diverse ecosystem of vendors specializing in management consulting, information services, and technical analysis. He maintains strong working relationships with firms delivering administrative and policy research services, as well as those providing web-based data platforms and analytical tools. His procurement approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes, clear statement of work development, and rigorous contractor accountability. While no single contractor dominates his portfolio, he consistently engages both large-cap firms and small businesses to ensure competitive, high-quality service delivery. Tinsley demonstrates a clear preference for open competition, with 80% of acquisitions conducted without set-aside restrictions. However, he actively supports small business participation, allocating 20% of opportunities as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5. His contracting patterns reflect a balanced commitment to socioeconomic goals, prioritizing small business eligibility without favoring specific categories like 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB, thereby maintaining broad market access while encouraging small business growth in education-related services. His primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 541611 (administrative management consulting) and 541690 (scientific and technical consulting), with significant emphasis on 519290 (information services and web portals). He regularly procures services including policy evaluation frameworks, student outcome analytics, digital dashboards, and research synthesis platforms—all aimed at strengthening the evidentiary base for federal education initiatives.