Jennifer Taranto

Jennifer Taranto serves as a key procurement lead within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, supporting the Department of Health and Human Services’ mission to secure medical countermeasures against public health emergencies. She manages the acquisition of advanced biotechnological solutions critical to national biodefense, focusing on research, development, and manufacturing of vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostic tools. Her work directly enables the rapid deployment of countermeasures for pandemics, bioterrorism, and emerging infectious threats, aligning procurement strategy with operational readiness goals under BARDA’s mandate. Taranto maintains strategic relationships with specialized biotech innovators including Cidara Therapeutics, Aquestive Therapeutics, Rafa Laboratories, and Osivax, all of which possess niche capabilities in antiviral drug development, advanced drug delivery systems, and pandemic-ready vaccine platforms. Her contracting patterns reflect a preference for high-technology, science-driven vendors with proven expertise in GMP manufacturing and regulatory pathways under FDA oversight. These partnerships are typically non-traditional, often involving early-stage companies engaged in public-private collaboration to accelerate product development. Taranto’s procurement portfolio is entirely non-set-aside, with 100% of awards issued under full and open competition. This reflects a mission-critical emphasis on technical capability over socioeconomic categorization, prioritizing speed, innovation, and proven scientific readiness over traditional small business set-asides. While small business participation is not formally prioritized, her contracting decisions remain compliant with all federal acquisition regulations and are driven by technical merit and operational urgency. Her primary focus is NAICS 541714—Research and Development in Biotechnology—where she procures cutting-edge biologics, novel antivirals, and platform technologies designed for scalable, rapid-response manufacturing. Her expertise lies in navigating complex regulatory landscapes and contracting for high-risk, high-reward biomedical R&D that bridges the gap between laboratory innovation and national deployment.