Gary Branch

Gary Branch serves as a Contract Specialist within the Office of the Secretary at the Department of Commerce’s SSSPO, where he plays a pivotal role in securing expert professional services to advance data-driven governance and policy analysis. He manages the full lifecycle of acquisitions for high-impact research, public opinion polling, and digital infrastructure modernization initiatives, ensuring alignment with federal procurement regulations and strategic agency priorities. His portfolio primarily consists of service-based contracts requiring specialized analytical, technical, and communications capabilities to support national economic strategy development. Gary maintains a consistent working relationship with CACI, INC. - FEDERAL, a trusted vendor for complex analytical and operational support services. His procurement approach emphasizes performance-based contracting and outcome-driven deliverables, fostering long-term partnerships with contractors capable of delivering high-quality, mission-critical services under time-sensitive timelines. He engages with vendors through competitive solicitations, including both full and open competitions and targeted set-asides, ensuring transparency and accountability throughout the acquisition process. His contracting patterns reflect a strong commitment to small business participation, with 37.5% of his awards designated as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5. While the majority of his acquisitions are full and open, he actively prioritizes socioeconomic programs to expand opportunities for small businesses, particularly those with expertise in research, data analytics, and public engagement services. Gary’s primary NAICS focus areas include 611310 (Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools), reflecting his frequent procurement of academic and research institution services for policy analysis and survey methodology. He also regularly engages firms under 519190 (Other Information Services) and 519130 (Internet Publishing and Broadcasting) to secure digital content, public opinion research, and data visualization tools. His domain expertise lies in leveraging evidence-based research and public feedback mechanisms to inform federal economic policy decisions.