Chiara Best

Chiara H. Best serves as a Contracting Officer within the Contract Administration Services Division (70RCAS) of the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Procurement Operations, where she plays a pivotal role in executing mission-critical acquisitions that support national security and operational readiness. She manages the full lifecycle of professional, scientific, and technical service contracts, with a focus on systems engineering, cybersecurity, and advanced research and development initiatives. Her portfolio ensures the acquisition of high-integrity technical solutions that sustain DHS’s infrastructure and technological capabilities, aligning procurement actions with federal regulatory frameworks and strategic mission objectives. Chiara maintains collaborative relationships with a diverse array of contractors, primarily engaged in delivering specialized technical consulting, custom software development, and advanced systems integration services. She works extensively with firms possessing deep expertise in engineering sciences and IT modernization, fostering partnerships that prioritize innovation, compliance, and performance-based outcomes. Her contracting approach emphasizes competitive solicitation, clear performance metrics, and rigorous contract administration to ensure accountability and mission alignment across vendor engagements. Her procurement patterns reflect a strong preference for open competition, with 86.7% of her actions conducted without set-aside restrictions. However, she consistently supports small business participation, allocating approximately 10% of her awards to Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5 and an additional 3.3% to 8(a) competed contracts. This balanced approach demonstrates a commitment to socioeconomic goals while maintaining procurement integrity and access to specialized technical talent. Chiara’s primary procurement focus centers on NAICS 541690 (Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services), followed by 541990 (All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services) and 541511 (Custom Computer Programming Services). She routinely acquires services related to cybersecurity architecture, systems engineering support, data analytics platforms, and mission-critical software development, demonstrating deep technical fluency in domains essential to homeland security operations.