Rodneyta Thomas-Clayborne

Rodneyta Thomas-Clayborne serves as a key procurement professional within the Contracts and Acquisitions Management unit of the U.S. Department of Education, where she oversees the strategic acquisition of professional services critical to advancing federal education policy and institutional capacity. Her work centers on securing consulting and research services that inform evidence-based decision-making in postsecondary education, support regulatory compliance, and strengthen federal student aid and data infrastructure. She primarily manages task orders and indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contracts under the Federal Acquisition Regulation, with a focus on high-impact, non-construction services that align with national educational priorities. She maintains a consistent working relationship with LPE-STRATEGIES LLC, a trusted contractor delivering administrative management and policy analysis services. Her procurement patterns reflect a preference for established small business partners with demonstrated expertise in education policy and research, fostering long-term, performance-based vendor relationships grounded in compliance and outcomes-driven deliverables. Thomas-Clayborne exhibits a balanced yet deliberate commitment to socioeconomic contracting, with nearly equal portions of acquisitions set aside for total small businesses and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses, while maintaining a significant portion as open competition. This reflects a strategic approach to broadening vendor participation without compromising mission-critical expertise. Her contracting practices prioritize equitable access for qualified small businesses while ensuring robust competition and accountability. Her procurement portfolio is overwhelmingly concentrated in NAICS 541611, reflecting a deep specialization in administrative management and general management consulting services tailored to education systems. She also regularly procures research and development services under NAICS 541720, particularly studies analyzing higher education equity, institutional effectiveness, and federal program impact. Her technical domain expertise lies at the intersection of education policy, data governance, and federal compliance frameworks, ensuring that acquired services directly enhance the Department’s operational and strategic objectives.