Karen Barton

Karen Barton serves as a Contract Specialist responsible for managing the full lifecycle of federal acquisitions, from requirements definition through contract award and administration. She plays a critical role in ensuring compliance with FAR regulations and advancing the agency’s mission through strategic sourcing of technical and environmental services. Her portfolio primarily encompasses IT infrastructure and environmental remediation contracts, requiring deep familiarity with performance-based acquisition methods, statement of work development, and source selection procedures. Barton consistently applies sound contract management practices to deliver mission-critical capabilities while maintaining fiscal accountability and regulatory integrity. While specific contractor names are not available, Barton maintains a balanced procurement approach, engaging both large-capability providers and small business concerns across the IT and environmental services sectors. Her working relationships reflect a preference for collaborative, transparent interactions grounded in competitive solicitation practices. She routinely evaluates vendor performance metrics and ensures contractual adherence to quality, delivery, and cybersecurity standards, fostering long-term vendor partnerships that support sustained operational readiness. Barton demonstrates a strong commitment to socioeconomic contracting, with half of her acquisitions structured as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. This reflects a deliberate strategy to expand opportunities for small businesses, including those owned by women, veterans, and socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. Her consistent use of small business set-asides underscores a proactive effort to meet federal small business goals and promote equitable access to federal contracting opportunities. Her procurement focus centers on NAICS 518210 (Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting) and NAICS 562910 (Remediation Services), indicating specialized expertise in cloud-based computing environments, data center operations, and hazardous waste remediation. She routinely procures managed IT services, cybersecurity-enabled infrastructure, and soil/water remediation solutions, requiring technical acumen in both digital systems and environmental compliance frameworks. Her domain knowledge enables effective evaluation of technical proposals and ensures alignment with mission-critical operational needs.