Joan Clarkston

Joan Clarkston serves as a key procurement professional within the IBC Acquisition Services Directorate (140D04), supporting the Department of the Interior’s mission to sustain federal land management and public trust assets through specialized technical and professional services. She manages a diverse portfolio of contracts focused on acquiring expert support in aviation logistics, real estate valuation, scientific research, and systems design. Her work ensures the agency’s operational readiness by securing mission-critical services that enhance infrastructure integrity and resource stewardship across federal landholdings. Clarkston’s acquisitions are primarily performance-based, emphasizing outcome-driven deliverables and technical excellence. She maintains long-standing relationships with specialized contractors including Phoenix Air Group, Inc., Papillon Airways Inc., Brainerd Helicopters, Inc., and HMC Helicopter Service LLC, reflecting a consistent reliance on aviation and aerial support providers. Her contracting patterns also include partnerships with professional services firms such as Mathematica Inc., indicating a strong demand for analytical, data-driven, and operational consulting services. These vendor relationships are characterized by repeat engagements, performance-based task orders, and a preference for vendors with proven technical capabilities in federal land management environments. Clarkston’s procurement strategy prioritizes open competition, with 84.6% of awards issued without set-asides, demonstrating a focus on selecting the most qualified providers regardless of size. However, she consistently allocates 15.4% of awards to total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5, reflecting a measured but deliberate commitment to small business participation without compromising mission requirements. Her primary NAICS focus areas include 541611 (management consulting), 541211 (CPA services), 541110 (legal services), 238220 (HVAC contracting), and 611430 (professional training), underscoring a multidisciplinary approach to acquiring services essential to land management operations. These categories reveal expertise in administrative, legal, financial, and technical support services critical to sustaining complex federal land stewardship programs.