Thomas A. Smith

Tom Smith serves as a Contract Specialist within the Contracts and Acquisitions Management unit of the Department of Education, where he plays a pivotal role in executing strategic procurements that advance federal education policy and institutional capacity. He manages the full lifecycle of professional services contracts, ensuring alignment with federal acquisition regulations and agency priorities in postsecondary education, regulatory compliance, and student aid infrastructure. His acquisitions primarily support evidence-based research, data system modernization, and educational program evaluation, with a strong emphasis on technical and analytical services that inform national education strategy. Smith maintains a consistent working relationship with LPE-STRATEGIES LLC, a key contractor delivering research, policy analysis, and evaluation services. His procurement patterns reflect long-term, performance-based partnerships with firms possessing deep expertise in social science research and educational support, fostering collaborative, outcomes-driven contract execution. He engages vendors through competitive solicitation processes, prioritizing quality of methodology, subject-matter expertise, and compliance with federal standards for research integrity. His contracting portfolio reflects a strong preference for small business participation, with nearly half of all awards structured as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5. While no set-aside is applied in over half of his actions, his consistent use of small business set-asides demonstrates a deliberate commitment to expanding opportunities for qualified small businesses in the education research and support services sector. Smith’s procurement focus is heavily concentrated in NAICS 541720 (Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities), reflecting his specialization in securing services related to educational policy analysis, longitudinal data studies, and program evaluation. He also regularly procures educational support services (611710) and management consulting (541611), ensuring that the Department’s initiatives are grounded in rigorous research and informed by best practices in institutional capacity building.