Alan J. Zero

Alan J. Zero serves as a Contract Officer for the Allegheny National Forest under the U.S. Forest Service, where he manages the acquisition of critical services and infrastructure support essential to sustaining forest ecological integrity and public safety. His procurement portfolio centers on environmental management, habitat restoration, and physical infrastructure development, ensuring alignment with federal land management priorities. He routinely handles complex contracts under FAR Part 19 for small business set-asides, coordinating with technical specialists to define performance-based requirements for vegetation control, trail maintenance, and wildfire resilience initiatives. His role is pivotal in translating agency mission needs into compliant, competitively awarded contracts that advance conservation goals while adhering to federal procurement standards. Zero maintains strong, ongoing relationships with key contractors including Boh Environmental, L.L.C., and AMD INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC, both of which provide specialized environmental remediation and technical support services. These partnerships reflect a preference for vendors with demonstrated expertise in forest health management, herbicide application, and ecological monitoring. His contracting approach emphasizes long-term vendor collaboration, performance accountability, and technical alignment with Forest Service protocols, fostering reliable delivery of mission-critical services across remote and ecologically sensitive areas. A staunch advocate for small business participation, Zero consistently prioritizes Total Small Business Set-Asides, with over 85% of his acquisitions reserved for small businesses under FAR 19.5. He also regularly includes Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business and HUBZone set-asides, reflecting a deliberate socioeconomic strategy to broaden economic opportunity within rural and underserved communities. His contracting patterns demonstrate a structured commitment to equitable access, ensuring small firms have meaningful pathways to compete for federal forest management contracts. His primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 115310 (Support Activities for Forestry) and 237310 (Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction), reflecting the agency’s need for vegetation management, erosion control, and trail/road infrastructure. He also procures specialized services in concrete foundation work, electrical installation, and other specialty trades to support visitor facilities and operational infrastructure. Zero’s expertise spans environmental compliance, construction oversight, and sustainable land management, making him a key facilitator of ecological and recreational resilience in Pennsylvania’s largest national forest.