Shelby Buford Jr., Contracting Officer

Shelby Buford Jr. serves as a Contracting Officer within the Contract Administration Services Division (70RCAS) of the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Procurement Operations, where he plays a pivotal role in advancing national security through the acquisition of critical professional, scientific, and technical services. He manages the full lifecycle of complex contracts supporting research and development in physical and engineering sciences, cybersecurity, and systems engineering. His portfolio primarily consists of performance-based, cost-reimbursement, and time-and-materials contracts awarded to firms capable of delivering high-integrity technical solutions that ensure operational readiness and systems resilience across DHS missions. Buford collaborates with a diverse range of contractors, including large primes with deep R&D capabilities and specialized small businesses offering niche scientific and engineering expertise. His procurement approach emphasizes competitive bidding, performance metrics, and rigorous contract administration to ensure technical compliance and mission alignment. While no single contractor dominates his portfolio, he consistently engages firms with proven track records in federal R&D environments, fostering long-term partnerships built on transparency, accountability, and technical excellence. His contracting patterns reflect a strong preference for open competition, with 75.6% of awards issued without set-aside restrictions. Nevertheless, he actively supports socioeconomic goals, regularly awarding contracts under Total Small Business Set-Asides (14.6%), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Set-Asides (4.9%), and 8(a) competed programs (2.4%), demonstrating a balanced commitment to both competition and inclusion. Buford’s primary NAICS focus lies in Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (541712 and 541715), where he procures advanced engineering services, systems integration, cybersecurity analytics, and technical consulting. He also frequently awards contracts under 541990 for specialized professional services and 541611 for management consulting supporting complex acquisition programs. His expertise centers on mission-critical technical domains requiring rigorous scientific validation and federal compliance standards.