Heather Watroba

Heather Watroba serves as a Contract Specialist within the Contracts and Acquisitions Management unit of the U.S. Department of Education, where she plays a pivotal role in executing strategic procurements that advance educational policy, research, and institutional capacity. She manages the full lifecycle of professional services acquisitions, ensuring alignment with federal regulations and agency priorities such as modernizing federal student aid systems and strengthening data infrastructure. Her portfolio primarily includes contracts for educational support services, technical consulting, and computer-related solutions that enable evidence-based decision-making across postsecondary institutions. Watroba maintains a consistent working relationship with LPE-STRATEGIES LLC, a key contractor providing specialized advisory and implementation services in education policy and data management. Her contracting patterns reflect collaborative, performance-based engagements with vendors who deliver high-complexity, mission-critical support. She prioritizes long-term vendor partnerships grounded in compliance, transparency, and measurable outcomes, fostering a procurement environment that values accountability and innovation. Her set-aside preferences demonstrate a balanced approach to socioeconomic contracting: while the majority of her acquisitions are open to full and open competition, she actively supports small business participation through Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5 and targeted 8(a) competed awards. This reflects a deliberate effort to broaden vendor diversity while maintaining competitive rigor and mission effectiveness. Watroba’s procurement focus centers on NAICS 611710 (Educational Support Services), 541519 (Other Computer Related Services), and 541611 (Administrative Management Consulting), reflecting her expertise in securing services that enhance institutional operations, data analytics, and policy implementation. She regularly acquires technical consulting, systems integration, and program evaluation services critical to supporting federal education initiatives and regulatory compliance.