Joan Clarkston

Joan Clarkston serves as a Contract Specialist within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), supporting the agency’s mission to advance scientific understanding of oceanic, atmospheric, and coastal systems through strategic procurement of technical and research services. She manages the full lifecycle of acquisitions, from requirements development and market research to contract award and administration, with a focus on scientific instrumentation, environmental data systems, and applied research contracts. Her work directly enables NOAA’s core priorities in climate resilience, marine ecosystem monitoring, and predictive modeling by ensuring timely access to high-precision technologies and expert analytical services. Clarkston maintains longstanding relationships with a select group of contractors, including WISCONSIN EDUCATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS BOARD, TRONCONI SEGARRA & ASSOCIATES LLP, JNB SERVICES LLC, PURE ENVIRO-MANAGEMENT, LLC, and THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO. These partnerships reflect a preference for established entities with demonstrated expertise in environmental science, data management, and specialized technical services. Her contracting approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes, technical rigor, and compliance with federal acquisition regulations, fostering collaborative, long-term vendor relationships grounded in mission alignment. Her procurement patterns show a strong preference for open competition, with 88.6% of awards issued without set-aside designations, reflecting a focus on technical merit and capability over socioeconomic categorization. Nevertheless, she consistently supports small business participation through Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, demonstrating a balanced commitment to both competitive efficiency and broad vendor access. Clarkston’s primary NAICS focus areas include 541712 (Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences) and 541990 (Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services), underscoring her specialization in procuring advanced scientific research, environmental monitoring systems, and specialized technical consulting. She frequently acquires custom measuring and control devices, coastal observation infrastructure, and data analytics services critical to NOAA’s operational and research missions.