Yolanda J Mitchell

Yolanda J. Mitchell serves as a Contract Specialist within the U.S. Census Bureau, where she plays a pivotal role in executing mission-critical acquisitions that support the modernization of national data collection systems. Her responsibilities include managing the full lifecycle of procurement actions—from market research and solicitation development to contract award and administration—for services essential to the 2030 Decennial Census and ongoing demographic surveys. She specializes in technical and analytical contracts, ensuring compliance with federal acquisition regulations while aligning procurements with the Bureau’s strategic priorities in digital infrastructure, geospatial analytics, and data modernization. Mitchell cultivates partnerships with a diverse range of vendors, including specialized consulting firms, custom software developers, and academic institutions, to deliver high-quality, innovative solutions. Her working relationships emphasize collaboration with firms possessing domain expertise in survey methodology, data analytics, and geospatial systems, fostering a vendor ecosystem capable of supporting the Bureau’s evolving technical needs. She engages both large-capability contractors and small businesses, prioritizing responsiveness, technical competence, and past performance in evaluation criteria. A strong advocate for small business participation, Mitchell consistently structures solicitations to maximize opportunities under the Total Small Business Set-Aside authority, with nearly 24% of her acquisitions designated for small businesses. While she does not routinely use 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB set-asides, her procurement patterns reflect a deliberate effort to expand access for small firms through simplified acquisition procedures and clear performance-based requirements. Her primary procurement focus centers on NAICS 541360 (geophysical surveying and mapping), 541613 and 541618 (marketing and management consulting), 541511 (custom computer programming), and 611310 (higher education services). These reflect her domain expertise in acquiring geospatial data systems, survey design consulting, data science applications, and academic research partnerships critical to Census Bureau operations.