Richard C. Elder

Richard C. Elder serves as a Contracting Officer for the FLETC Bio-containment Branch Office under the Department of Homeland Security, where he oversees the acquisition of specialized facilities, equipment, and technical services critical to national biosecurity infrastructure. His procurement portfolio centers on the design, construction, and modernization of high-containment laboratories (BSL-3 and BSL-4), including HVAC systems, biosafety cabinets, decontamination protocols, and integrated monitoring technologies. As a key steward of mission-critical acquisitions, Elder ensures compliance with federal construction standards, security requirements, and interagency coordination protocols to support research and response capabilities against high-consequence biological threats. While specific contractor relationships are not publicly enumerated, Elder consistently engages with prime contractors possessing expertise in federal biocontainment construction, GSA Schedule 541R biomedical equipment procurement, and ANSI/ASSE Z9.5-compliant facility systems. His working relationships emphasize technical proficiency, security clearance readiness, and experience with Department of Homeland Security procurement frameworks, often involving complex, multi-phase contracts requiring rigorous performance-based specifications and lifecycle support. Elder demonstrates a strong commitment to socioeconomic contracting, routinely prioritizing small business participation through 8(a), HUBZone, and SDVOSB set-asides. He actively encourages collaboration between prime contractors and small business subcontractors, particularly in niche areas such as specialized filtration, negative-pressure engineering, and biosecurity training systems, aligning with DHS’s broader goals of inclusive economic opportunity and supply chain resilience. His primary NAICS focus areas include 236220 (Commercial Building Construction), 541715 (Research and Development in Biotechnology), and 334516 (Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing). He procures turnkey biocontainment solutions, engineered containment systems, biosafety equipment, and integrated cybersecurity-enabled environmental controls, demonstrating deep technical fluency in the intersection of public health infrastructure and federal construction procurement.