Denise Farris

Denise Farris serves as a Contract Specialist at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (HDTRA1), where she plays a pivotal role in executing mission-critical acquisitions to counter weapons of mass destruction and emerging national security threats. She manages the full lifecycle of procurement actions for advanced technical systems, including threat detection platforms, forensic analysis tools, and secure computing infrastructure. Her work directly supports HDTRA1’s mission to develop and deploy capabilities against chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high-yield explosive threats, ensuring timely delivery of mission-enabling technologies through compliant, risk-managed contracting practices. Farris maintains strong, ongoing relationships with key contractors including TECHTRANS INTERNATIONAL INC, BATTELLE MEMORIAL INSTITUTE, AERIS LLC, APPLIED RESEARCH ASSOCIATES, INC., and AMAZON WEB SERVICES, INC. These partnerships reflect a focus on high-technology solutions spanning scientific research, systems integration, cloud-based analytics, and secure data infrastructure. Her contracting approach emphasizes collaboration with organizations possessing deep domain expertise in defense science and cybersecurity, ensuring technical rigor and operational readiness in delivered capabilities. A staunch advocate for small business participation, Farris consistently structures acquisitions under a 100% Total Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5), prioritizing socioeconomic programs that empower small, innovative firms to contribute to national defense objectives. Her contracting patterns demonstrate a deliberate and sustained commitment to expanding the small business industrial base, ensuring diverse vendors have equitable access to high-value, mission-critical opportunities within the defense technology sector. Her primary procurement focus is centered on NAICS 423430—Computer and Computer Peripheral Equipment and Software Merchant Wholesalers—reflecting a specialization in procuring advanced software systems, secure computing hardware, and integrated information technology solutions. This technical domain underscores her expertise in acquiring cyber-enabled tools for threat intelligence, data fusion, and real-time analytics critical to HDTRA1’s operational mission.