Approach

Approach.

Backer engages prime contractors, federal procurement bodies, sustainment programs, and NATO allied partners through structured partnership conversations with the principals — not delegated business development.

01 / How we engage

Direct conversations. Honest scoping. Quick decisions.

Defence-sector procurement moves on relationship velocity. Backer is structured to support that — direct access to the operational executive, no business development intermediary, no padded estimates, and honest scoping of which work falls inside our coordination model and which doesn't.

For prime contractors

Canadian Content-eligible component coordination, ITB-credit subcontracting, replacement parts, and sustainment runs. Established Canadian operating history, design and project management discipline, partner network coordination. NATO-allied buyers welcome.

For NATO allied partners

Canadian-coordinated manufacturing capacity available to allied nations within the NATO framework. Canadian Content production, Canadian governance, Canadian supply chain — for use by Canada and its allies.

For defence agencies

Engaged with grant and innovation programs to expand coordination capability. Open to early dialogue on requirements, prototyping engagements, and the development of repeatable supplier-coordination models.

For innovation programs

Active engagement with NRC IRAP, Alberta Innovates, PrairiesCan BSP, and the federal Defence Industrial Strategy program suite. Open to coordinated investment in design, documentation, and partner-coordination infrastructure.

02 / What we ask for

What makes a partnership conversation productive.

The 30-minute partnership call is structured to produce a clear next-step path. To use the time well, we ask for context up front — even a one-paragraph framing is enough.

Scope context

Component or program scope, expected volume range, target schedule, qualification requirements (CGP, FSC, ITAR-equivalent), Canadian Content expectations, and whether the work is open tender or directed.

Procurement context

Prime contract reference, sustainment program name, ITB obligation cycle, federal program (RDII, IDEaS, IRAP), or NATO procurement framework where applicable.

If our model fits your need.

A partnership conversation with Backer is a 30-minute call with Ashley Brennan, our operational executive. Kelso joins for governance, strategic, or partnership-structure conversations where his counsel is relevant. We'd welcome the chance to understand what you're working on, share where Backer fits, and tell you honestly if we don't.

Schedule a partnership conversation