Tara M Knox

Tara M. Knox serves as a Contract Specialist responsible for managing the full lifecycle of federal acquisitions, from requirements validation and market research through solicitation, evaluation, award, and contract administration. She plays a critical role in ensuring compliance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and agency procurement policies, supporting mission-critical scientific and technical services. Her portfolio primarily consists of professional consulting and research services, requiring nuanced understanding of technical specifications, performance-based outcomes, and risk mitigation strategies in non-commercial procurement environments. While specific contractor relationships are not publicly enumerated, her contracting patterns reflect engagement with a broad spectrum of firms specializing in scientific and technical consulting, including both large primes and small business subcontractors. Her approach emphasizes competitive solicitation processes and collaborative vendor engagement, fostering transparent, fair, and efficient acquisition outcomes aligned with federal best practices. She routinely works with vendors capable of delivering high-level analytical, engineering, and life sciences research services under performance-based contract structures. Tara demonstrates a strong preference for open competition, with 87.5% of her acquisitions conducted without set-asides, reflecting a focus on maximizing value and technical capability. However, she consistently reserves 12.5% of her portfolio for Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, signaling a deliberate commitment to small business participation. Her approach balances broad market access with targeted socioeconomic goals, ensuring small businesses have meaningful opportunities without compromising mission needs. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 541690 (Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services) and NAICS 541712 (Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences, except Biotechnology). She regularly acquires services such as systems analysis, experimental design, data modeling, and technical advisory support for government programs requiring specialized scientific expertise. Her domain knowledge spans engineering research, environmental science, and applied technology development, making her a key liaison between technical stakeholders and acquisition teams.