Katie Opper

Katie Opper serves as a secondary procurement professional within the Institute of Education Sciences, supporting the agency’s mission to advance evidence-based education policy through rigorous research and evaluation. While not the primary contracting officer, she plays a critical role in facilitating the acquisition lifecycle for scientific and analytical services, ensuring alignment with federal procurement regulations and strategic research priorities. Her work primarily involves supporting the procurement of research, data analysis, and evaluation services tied to federal education programs such as Title I and Perkins V, often coordinating with subject matter experts to define technical requirements and ensure compliance with OMB and ED guidelines. Katie collaborates with a diverse range of contractors, primarily research institutions, academic evaluators, and specialized consulting firms experienced in social science methodology and education analytics. Her working relationships are characterized by a focus on technical expertise and methodological rigor rather than volume-driven vendor partnerships. She engages with both large research organizations and small businesses capable of delivering high-quality, peer-reviewed evaluations and longitudinal data studies, fostering partnerships grounded in scientific integrity and programmatic relevance. Her contracting patterns reflect a strong preference for open competition, with 96.2% of acquisitions issued without set-aside designations, indicating a prioritization of technical capability over socioeconomic categorization. However, she consistently supports small business participation, with nearly 4% of awards directed toward Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, demonstrating a measured but intentional commitment to broadening vendor diversity. Katie’s procurement focus is dominated by NAICS 541720 (Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities), reflecting her specialization in educational evaluation, policy analysis, and impact assessment. She also regularly procures computer systems design and custom programming services to support data infrastructure and analytical platforms, underscoring her technical proficiency in both social science research and digital data management systems.