Aaron H. Ford

Aaron H. Ford serves as a Contracting Officer within the Contract Administration Services Division (70RCAS) of the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Procurement Operations. In this role, he is responsible for managing the full lifecycle of professional, scientific, and technical service acquisitions that directly support national security objectives. His portfolio emphasizes research and development in physical and engineering sciences, cybersecurity systems, and advanced instrumentation, ensuring the agency’s operational readiness through mission-critical contract execution. Ford applies rigorous acquisition governance under the Federal Acquisition Regulation to deliver high-integrity solutions aligned with DHS’s strategic technology and infrastructure priorities. Ford maintains collaborative relationships with a broad spectrum of prime contractors, including specialized engineering firms, systems integrators, and R&D service providers. His contracting approach prioritizes performance-based outcomes, requiring robust technical proposals and proven capabilities in systems engineering, data analytics, and secure software development. While no single contractor dominates his portfolio, he consistently engages vendors with demonstrated expertise in defense-grade technologies and compliance with NIST and FISMA standards, fostering long-term partnerships grounded in accountability and technical excellence. Ford’s procurement strategy reflects a strong preference for open competition, with 100% of his acquisitions designated as non-set-aside. This approach underscores his focus on technical merit and mission alignment over socioeconomic categorization, ensuring the most qualified firms—regardless of size or certification—are selected based on capability and past performance. While small business participation is not formally incentivized in his portfolio, he remains committed to fair and transparent competition under full and open competition authorities. His primary NAICS focus areas include 541712 for physical and engineering R&D, 541990 for specialized technical services, and 541512 for computer systems design, with additional emphasis on 334511 for navigation and guidance systems and 928110 for national security-related services. Ford’s expertise lies in procuring advanced technical solutions that bridge scientific innovation with operational deployment, particularly in cybersecurity, sensor systems, and mission-critical infrastructure modernization.