Marla Jacobson

Marla J. Jacobson serves as a Contract Specialist responsible for managing the full lifecycle of complex research and development acquisitions, ensuring compliance with federal procurement regulations and aligning contract outcomes with agency mission objectives. She specializes in soliciting, evaluating, and awarding contracts for scientific and technical services, with a focus on advancing innovation in physical, engineering, and life sciences, as well as social science and humanities research. Her role is critical to facilitating timely and efficient access to cutting-edge analytical, experimental, and evaluative capabilities essential to evidence-based policy and technological advancement. Marla maintains a broad network of qualified vendors, primarily engaging with firms specializing in R&D services across academia, private research institutes, and technical consulting firms. While no single contractor dominates her portfolio, she consistently works with organizations possessing demonstrated expertise in experimental design, data analysis, and applied research methodologies. Her procurement approach emphasizes competitive solicitation, clear performance metrics, and rigorous source selection under FAR Part 15 procedures, fostering transparent and accountable vendor relationships. Marla’s contracting activity reflects a strong preference for open competition, with 100% of her awards issued under non-set-aside conditions. This indicates a strategic focus on maximizing competition based on technical merit and value rather than socioeconomic preferences, though she remains fully compliant with all small business programs and may consider set-asides when justified by market conditions or statutory requirements. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 541712, encompassing research in physical, engineering, and life sciences—including laboratory testing, clinical trials, materials development, and engineering analysis—and NAICS 541720, covering social science and humanities research such as behavioral studies, policy evaluation, and economic modeling. She routinely procures services involving survey design, statistical analysis, field research, and technical reporting, demonstrating deep familiarity with the operational and compliance demands of federally funded scientific inquiry.