Chiara H Best

Chiara H. Best serves as a Contract Specialist within the Contract Administration Services Division (70RCAS) of the Department of Homeland Security, where she plays a pivotal role in executing complex professional, scientific, and technical acquisitions that directly support national security operational readiness. Her responsibilities include managing the full lifecycle of contracts—from solicitation and evaluation to award and administration—ensuring compliance with FAR regulations and agency-specific procurement policies. She specializes in procuring mission-critical services that enhance cybersecurity infrastructure, systems engineering capabilities, and research and development initiatives across physical and engineering sciences. Chiara collaborates with a diverse array of contractors, including large prime vendors and small business subcontractors, to deliver high-integrity technical services. While no single contractor dominates her portfolio, she consistently engages firms with demonstrated expertise in systems integration, administrative consulting, and specialized support services. Her working relationships are characterized by a focus on performance-based outcomes, rigorous source selection, and post-award oversight to ensure contractor accountability and mission alignment. Her procurement strategy reflects a strong commitment to socioeconomic objectives, with nearly 48% of her actions structured as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5 and an additional 4.8% competed under the 8(a) program. This demonstrates a deliberate effort to expand opportunities for small disadvantaged businesses while maintaining competitive integrity. She actively prioritizes small business participation as a strategic enabler of innovation and resilience in the federal supply chain. Chiara’s primary procurement focus centers on NAICS codes 541611 (management consulting), 561990 (other support services), and 238390 (other building finishing contractors), reflecting her work in technical advisory services, facility support, and specialized professional services. Her domain expertise lies in acquiring services that bolster DHS’s systems engineering, administrative efficiency, and infrastructure readiness, ensuring mission-critical functions remain secure, scalable, and sustainably resourced.