Kelly Taranto

Kelly R. Taranto serves as a Contracting Officer within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), responsible for managing the acquisition of scientific, technical, and operational services critical to NOAA’s mission of environmental monitoring, oceanographic research, and climate resilience. She oversees the full lifecycle of contracts—from market research and solicitation to award and closeout—ensuring compliance with federal acquisition regulations while advancing NOAA’s strategic priorities in Earth system science and coastal infrastructure. Her portfolio primarily supports research and development, analytical instrumentation, and specialized technical services essential to data collection and predictive modeling efforts. Taranto maintains consistent partnerships with a core group of contractors including the Wisconsin Educational Communications Board, Tronconi Segarra & Associates LLP, JNB Services LLC, Pure Enviro-Management, LLC, and The Regents of the University of Colorado. These relationships reflect a pattern of collaboration with academic institutions, niche technical service providers, and environmental consultants capable of delivering specialized scientific support, data analysis, and field operations. Her procurement approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes and long-term vendor reliability in complex, mission-critical environments. A strong advocate for small business participation, Taranto consistently prioritizes Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, with over half of her awards structured to support small businesses. While 8(a) and other socioeconomic set-asides are used sparingly, her contracting patterns demonstrate a deliberate alignment with the Small Business Administration’s goals, fostering competitive opportunities for qualified small entities in technical and professional services. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 541712 (R&D in physical and engineering sciences) and 541990 (other professional scientific services), with significant activity in manufacturing sectors such as 334516 (analytical laboratory instruments) and 334519 (other measuring devices). She specializes in acquiring advanced instrumentation, environmental monitoring systems, and scientific support services that enable NOAA’s observational networks and predictive science capabilities.