Miriam J. Holst

Miriam J. Holst serves as a Contract Specialist responsible for managing the full lifecycle of professional services acquisitions, ensuring compliance with federal procurement regulations and advancing agency mission objectives through strategic contracting. She specializes in soliciting, evaluating, and awarding contracts for management consulting, training, and technical services, often coordinating with program offices to align procurement strategies with operational needs. Her work supports the acquisition of high-value, non-manufactured services critical to organizational efficiency and workforce development, placing her at the center of the agency’s efforts to deliver mission-critical support through compliant, transparent, and competitive contracting processes. While specific contractor names are not available, Miriam consistently engages a diverse pool of vendors, including small businesses, consulting firms, and professional service providers, fostering competitive environments that encourage innovation and value. Her procurement approach emphasizes fair and open competition, with a notable preference for set-aside programs that expand opportunities for underserved business communities. She maintains collaborative relationships with vendors who demonstrate strong past performance, technical capability, and compliance with socioeconomic requirements, ensuring reliable delivery of services across multiple domains. Miriam demonstrates a strong commitment to small business participation, with 50% of her awards issued under open competition and the remaining 50% allocated to socioeconomic set-asides—30% to 8(a) competed contracts and 20% to total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. This balanced approach reflects her dedication to both competition and socioeconomic goals, consistently prioritizing opportunities for small disadvantaged businesses while maintaining rigorous evaluation standards. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 541611 (administrative and management consulting), 611430 (professional and management development training), and 541519 (other computer-related services), with additional activity in research and development services and broader professional, scientific, and technical support. She routinely procures strategic planning, leadership development, IT support, and analytical services, demonstrating deep expertise in the professional services sector and a nuanced understanding of the technical and operational demands of modern public sector organizations.