Brandon Rafus

Brandon Rafus supports the Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Acquisition and Grant Services in executing mission-critical procurement activities that sustain the agency’s regulatory science infrastructure. He manages a diverse portfolio of acquisitions focused on analytical instrumentation, scientific research services, and specialized laboratory support essential to ensuring the safety and efficacy of medical products. His work directly enables FDA’s scientific review capabilities by securing high-precision equipment, contract research services, and technical expertise aligned with regulatory compliance and public health protection. Rafus maintains consistent working relationships with key contractors including Tranquil Clinical and Research Consulting Services LLC, Toxicologic Pathology Associates Inc., and Progenics Pharmaceuticals Inc., reflecting a pattern of engagement with niche scientific service providers and specialized research firms. These partnerships are typically structured as performance-based, task-order contracts that require rigorous technical evaluation and compliance with Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and Good Clinical Practice (GCP) standards. His procurement approach emphasizes vendor reliability, scientific rigor, and long-term operational support over transactional sourcing. A strong advocate for small business participation, Rafus consistently prioritizes Small Business Set-Aside procurements under FAR 19.5, with approximately 62.5% of his acquisitions reserved for small businesses. This reflects a deliberate strategy to foster innovation and expand the pool of qualified vendors capable of supporting FDA’s technical demands. His contracting patterns show minimal use of large business set-asides, aligning with agency-wide goals to enhance socioeconomic diversity in the scientific procurement ecosystem. His primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 334516 for analytical laboratory instrument procurement, NAICS 541715 for physical and life sciences research services, and NAICS 561611 for background investigation support—areas critical to FDA’s regulatory oversight. He routinely sources specialized equipment calibration, precision maintenance services (NAICS 811210), and technical training (NAICS 611519), demonstrating deep familiarity with the technical lifecycle of scientific infrastructure and the workforce capabilities required to sustain it.