Shateara Gray

Shateara Gray supports the Forensic Sciences unit within the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Office of Forensic Sciences, playing a critical role in procuring specialized laboratory equipment and hazardous material management services essential to federal drug enforcement operations. Responsible for managing the acquisition lifecycle of high-precision analytical instrumentation and chemical waste disposal solutions, Gray ensures that all procurements align with federal standards for scientific integrity, safety compliance, and regulatory adherence. Her work directly enables the agency’s mission to maintain forensic accuracy and environmental safety in the handling of controlled substances and hazardous residues, making her a key liaison between technical laboratories and vendor communities delivering mission-critical scientific infrastructure. Gray maintains a consistent working relationship with Government Scientific Source Inc., a primary vendor providing advanced forensic instrumentation, calibration services, and hazardous waste handling systems. Her procurement approach emphasizes long-term vendor partnerships grounded in technical reliability, regulatory compliance, and adherence to federal laboratory accreditation standards. She engages vendors through competitive solicitation processes, often requiring demonstration of ISO/IEC 17025 compliance and hazardous materials handling certifications, ensuring that contracted solutions meet the stringent demands of forensic science operations. Her contracting patterns reflect a balanced commitment to socioeconomic goals, with approximately half of her acquisitions structured as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5, and the other half open to all competitors. This deliberate balance supports the growth of qualified small businesses while maintaining access to specialized technical capabilities only available through established providers. Gray actively prioritizes small business participation without compromising mission-critical performance requirements. Her procurement focus is exclusively aligned with NAICS 562211—Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal—reflecting a deep specialization in the safe containment, treatment, and disposal of controlled substance residues and chemical hazards generated in forensic laboratories. She procures turnkey solutions including decontamination systems, regulated waste transport services, and certified disposal facilities, demonstrating expert knowledge in environmental health and safety protocols critical to federal forensic operations.