Sherese A. Gray

Sherese A. Gray serves as a Contract Specialist within the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Acquisition, where she plays a pivotal role in executing procurements that advance the agency’s mission to reduce traffic-related fatalities and injuries through evidence-based safety initiatives. She manages a diverse portfolio of acquisitions centered on research, engineering analysis, and behavioral science services, ensuring compliance with federal procurement regulations and alignment with NHTSA’s data-driven policy objectives. Her work supports critical programs in vehicle safety technology, fuel efficiency standards, and public safety communication campaigns, primarily through competitive solicitation processes under the FAR. Gray maintains established relationships with key contractors including AMD International Technologies LLC, Aerospace & Commercial Technologies, LLC, and the National Association of ESEA State Program Administrators, reflecting her focus on partnerships with firms capable of delivering technical research, engineering support, and program management services. Her contracting patterns demonstrate a preference for experienced vendors with demonstrated expertise in social science research, administrative consulting, and independent testing services, often leveraging task-order and indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity mechanisms to ensure agility in responding to evolving safety priorities. Her procurement approach prioritizes open competition, with 81.4% of her awards issued without set-aside designations, while maintaining a meaningful commitment to small business participation through Total Small Business Set-Asides (14.3%) and 8(a) competed awards (2.9%). She actively integrates Women-Owned Small Businesses into the acquisition stream, reflecting a balanced strategy that promotes competition while expanding opportunities for socioeconomically disadvantaged firms. Gray’s primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 541720 (social sciences and humanities research) and 541611 (management consulting), underscoring her specialization in behavioral studies, policy analysis, and program evaluation services. She also routinely procures testing and laboratory services (541380) and advertising support (541810), demonstrating expertise in multidisciplinary acquisitions that bridge technical research with public outreach and regulatory compliance.