Moira Baran

Moira Baran serves as a Contracting Officer within the Contracts and Acquisitions Management unit of the U.S. Department of Education, where she oversees the procurement of professional services critical to advancing federal education policy, research, and institutional capacity. Her portfolio centers on acquiring technical and analytical support for postsecondary education systems, regulatory compliance frameworks, and national student data infrastructure. She manages a diverse range of contract types—including CPFF, T&M, and FFPC—primarily for advisory, evaluation, and systems modernization services that directly inform federal education programs and student aid operations. Baran maintains a consistent working relationship with LPE-STRATEGIES LLC, a primary contractor delivering strategic analysis and policy implementation support. Her procurement approach emphasizes long-term, performance-based partnerships with vendors capable of delivering high-integrity, evidence-based services. While she engages with a range of qualified vendors, her contracting patterns reflect a preference for established firms with demonstrated expertise in education data systems and federal compliance environments. Her set-aside strategy prioritizes open competition, with 80% of acquisitions conducted without socioeconomic set-asides, reflecting the complexity and scale of requirements typically beyond small business capacity. Nevertheless, she actively supports small business participation through 20% Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, ensuring opportunities for qualified small firms to contribute to mission-critical initiatives. Baran’s primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 611710 (Educational Support Services), where she acquires evaluation, research, and technical assistance services to strengthen institutional effectiveness and federal reporting systems. She also engages NAICS 519130 (Other Activities Related to Advertising) for targeted communications and outreach initiatives. Her domain expertise spans educational data analytics, compliance monitoring, and policy evaluation, making her a key steward of procurement integrity in support of national education objectives.