Mark M. Motta

Mark M. Motta serves as a Contract Specialist within the Contracts and Acquisitions Management unit of the U.S. Department of Education, where he plays a pivotal role in executing strategic procurements that advance federal education policy and institutional capacity. He manages the full lifecycle of professional services contracts, with a focus on supporting evidence-based research, regulatory compliance, and the modernization of student aid and data systems. His acquisitions typically involve complex, performance-based contracts for educational support services and social science research, ensuring alignment with statutory mandates and federal procurement best practices. Motta maintains a consistent working relationship with LPE-STRATEGIES LLC, a primary contractor delivering specialized expertise in educational policy analysis and institutional assessment. His procurement approach emphasizes long-term vendor collaboration, leveraging performance metrics and outcome-based deliverables to ensure accountability and mission alignment. He engages with a select group of high-performing vendors who demonstrate deep domain knowledge in postsecondary education systems and federal compliance frameworks. His contracting patterns reflect a balanced commitment to socioeconomic goals, with approximately one-third of awards structured as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, demonstrating a deliberate effort to expand opportunities for small businesses. While the majority of his acquisitions are open to all competitors, he actively prioritizes small business participation where market conditions support it, aligning with agency-wide objectives to promote equitable access to federal contracting. Motta’s primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 611710 (Educational Support Services) and 541720 (Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities). He routinely procures services such as program evaluation, data analytics for student outcomes, policy impact assessments, and institutional capacity-building support. His technical expertise centers on the infrastructure underpinning federal student aid programs and national education data systems, ensuring that acquisitions deliver actionable insights and sustainable operational improvements.