Nicole Fils

Nicole Fils serves as a Contract Specialist within the Contracts and Acquisitions Management unit of the U.S. Department of Education, where she plays a pivotal role in executing strategic procurements that advance federal education policy and institutional capacity. She manages the full lifecycle of professional services contracts, with a focus on supporting evidence-based decision-making in postsecondary education, regulatory compliance, and the infrastructure underpinning federal student aid systems. Her acquisitions primarily involve consulting, data analytics, and operational support services critical to modernizing national education data systems and enhancing institutional effectiveness. Nicole maintains a consistent working relationship with LPE-STRATEGIES LLC, a key contractor providing specialized educational support and management consulting services. Her procurement approach emphasizes long-term, performance-based partnerships with vendors capable of delivering high-quality, mission-aligned technical assistance. She engages with a select group of experienced service providers who demonstrate deep domain expertise in education policy, research methodology, and compliance frameworks, fostering collaborative relationships grounded in accountability and measurable outcomes. Her contracting patterns reflect a strong commitment to small business participation, with 37.5% of her awards designated as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5. While the majority of her procurements are unrestricted, she actively prioritizes opportunities for small businesses with proven capacity in educational services, ensuring equitable access to federal contracting opportunities without reliance on specialized socioeconomic set-asides like 8(a) or HUBZone. Nicole’s procurement portfolio is heavily concentrated in NAICS 611710 (Educational Support Services), reflecting her specialization in academic advising, institutional research, and student support program implementation. She also routinely procures management consulting services under NAICS 541611 and 541618, targeting firms capable of delivering strategic planning, process improvement, and data governance solutions tailored to the unique needs of postsecondary institutions and federal education programs.