Brian A. Johnson

Brian A. Johnson serves as a Contract Specialist within the Contracts and Acquisitions Management unit of the U.S. Department of Education, where he plays a critical role in executing strategic procurements that support federal education policy, research initiatives, and institutional capacity building. He manages the full lifecycle of professional services contracts, with a primary focus on securing expert consulting services that enhance regulatory compliance, modernize student aid systems, and strengthen national data collection infrastructure. His acquisitions are mission-critical, ensuring the Department has access to specialized technical expertise to inform evidence-based decision-making in postsecondary education. Johnson maintains a consistent working relationship with LPE-STRATEGIES LLC, a primary contractor providing high-level scientific and technical consulting services. His procurement patterns reflect a preference for established, non-traditional vendors with deep domain expertise in education policy and data systems, rather than broad-based service providers. He engages these partners through competitive sealed bidding and negotiated procurements under FAR Part 15, ensuring rigorous evaluation of technical merit and past performance. Johnson’s contracting portfolio is entirely non-set-aside, with 100% of awards issued under full and open competition. This reflects a deliberate strategy to prioritize technical capability and institutional expertise over socioeconomic preferences, aligning with the mission-critical nature of the services procured. While small business participation is not formally targeted, all vendors are evaluated on equal footing based on technical merit and past performance. His primary NAICS classification is 541690—Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services—indicating a sharp focus on specialized, non-routine advisory work in education policy analysis, compliance auditing, data architecture, and system modernization. He routinely procures services related to federal student aid program evaluation, institutional accountability frameworks, and technical support for national data systems, requiring contractors with deep familiarity with Title IV regulations and ED’s operational environment.