Vidya E. Vish

Vidya E. Vish serves as a Contract Specialist within the Contracts and Acquisitions Management unit of the U.S. Department of Education, where she plays a pivotal role in executing strategic procurements that advance federal education policy and institutional capacity. She manages the full lifecycle of professional services contracts, ensuring alignment with statutory requirements, FAR compliance, and the agency’s mission to strengthen postsecondary education infrastructure, regulatory frameworks, and federal student aid systems. Her acquisitions primarily support evidence-based research, data modernization, and administrative consulting services critical to the Department’s operational integrity. Vish maintains a consistent working relationship with LPE-STRATEGIES LLC, a key contractor providing analytical and policy implementation support. Her procurement patterns reflect collaborative, performance-based engagements with vendors who deliver specialized expertise in education research and management consulting. She prioritizes clear performance metrics and outcome-driven deliverables, fostering long-term partnerships with contractors capable of scaling solutions across national education initiatives. Her contracting approach demonstrates a strong preference for open competition, with 76.2% of awards issued without set-asides. Nevertheless, she actively promotes small business participation, allocating nearly 24% of contracts to small business set-asides under FAR 19.5, including a notable 4.8% directed to HUBZone firms. This balanced strategy ensures market competition while advancing socioeconomic goals through targeted opportunities for qualified small businesses. Vish’s portfolio is heavily concentrated in NAICS 541720 (Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities) and 611710 (Educational Support Services), reflecting her focus on policy analysis, program evaluation, and institutional capacity building. She also regularly procures management consulting services under 541618 and custom software solutions under 541511 to support data modernization and system integration. Her technical domain expertise lies at the intersection of education policy, federal compliance, and data-driven decision-making systems.