Bradford L Backus

Bradford L. Backus serves as a Contracting Officer within the Incident Support Section (ISS70) of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, where he plays a critical role in enabling rapid response and recovery operations during domestic emergencies. He manages the acquisition of essential services that sustain critical infrastructure and support survivor needs in austere environments, with a focus on facilities maintenance, building services, and equipment repair. His portfolio includes time-sensitive, mission-critical contracts designed to ensure operational continuity during disaster response, requiring agile contracting methodologies and compliance with emergency acquisition authorities under the Stafford Act and FAR Part 18. Backus cultivates partnerships with a diverse range of vendors capable of delivering scalable, on-demand support services under high-pressure conditions. While no single contractor dominates his portfolio, he consistently engages firms with proven experience in emergency logistics, temporary facility operations, and industrial maintenance. His contracting approach emphasizes vendor readiness, performance reliability, and the ability to mobilize rapidly—traits essential for supporting FEMA’s surge capacity during national incidents. His procurement strategy reflects a balanced commitment to socioeconomic goals, with approximately half of his acquisitions set aside for small businesses under FAR 19.5, and the other half awarded as unrestricted competitions. This pattern demonstrates a deliberate effort to expand market access for small businesses while maintaining flexibility to meet urgent operational demands. He actively leverages the Small Business Administration’s programs to foster competition and resilience in the supplier base. Backus specializes in procuring services under NAICS codes 561790 (other building services), 561210 (facilities support), and 811310 (industrial machinery repair), with additional focus on miscellaneous manufacturing and furniture production relevant to emergency shelter and logistics. His expertise lies in acquiring turnkey operational support—ranging from temporary housing and sanitation systems to repair of critical non-electronic equipment—ensuring FEMA’s field teams have the physical resources needed to save lives and restore community function.