Janet V. Mata-Hitz

Janet K. Mata-Hitz 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 federal education policy, research, and institutional capacity. She manages the full lifecycle of professional services contracts, ensuring alignment with federal acquisition regulations and the agency’s mission to strengthen data-driven decision-making in postsecondary education. Her portfolio primarily encompasses consulting services supporting regulatory compliance, student aid infrastructure, and national data collection systems, requiring deep familiarity with performance-based contracting and outcome-driven acquisition strategies. Janet maintains a consistent working relationship with LPE-STRATEGIES LLC, a key vendor providing administrative and technical consulting services. Her procurement patterns reflect a preference for established contractors with demonstrated expertise in education policy implementation and systems modernization. While she engages a limited number of primary vendors, her approach emphasizes performance accountability, contract administration rigor, and long-term vendor collaboration to ensure continuity in mission-critical initiatives. Her contracting activity is overwhelmingly non-set-aside, with 88.9% of awards issued under full and open competition, reflecting a focus on technical merit and capability over socioeconomic preferences. Nevertheless, she consistently allocates 11.1% of opportunities to Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, demonstrating a measured but intentional commitment to small business participation without compromising mission requirements. Janet’s primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 541611 (Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services), which accounts for two-thirds of her portfolio, followed by NAICS 541690 (Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services) and NAICS 518210 (Computing Infrastructure Providers). She specializes in acquiring strategic advisory services related to federal education compliance, data governance, and digital infrastructure modernization, requiring contractors with proven experience in federal education systems and regulatory frameworks.