Amanda Walrod

Amanda Walrod serves as a Contracting Officer Representative for the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest under the U.S. Forest Service, supporting the agency’s mission to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of Georgia’s public forest ecosystems. In this role, she provides critical oversight of contract performance, ensures compliance with federal acquisition regulations, and collaborates closely with contracting officers to execute procurements aligned with ecological management objectives. Her portfolio primarily encompasses support activities for forestry operations, including silvicultural services, habitat restoration, invasive species control, and infrastructure maintenance contracts. She plays a pivotal role in translating technical forestry needs into actionable acquisition strategies that meet federal standards while advancing conservation goals. Amanda works closely with a network of specialized forestry service providers, including small businesses with expertise in ecological restoration, prescribed burning, trail maintenance, and forest inventory systems. While specific contractor names are not disclosed, her working relationships are characterized by long-term, performance-based partnerships grounded in technical proficiency and regulatory adherence. She actively engages contractors through pre-solicitation outreach, site visits, and post-award performance evaluations to ensure alignment with Forest Service operational priorities and environmental stewardship standards. Amanda demonstrates a robust commitment to socioeconomic contracting, with 100% of her acquisitions structured as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. She consistently prioritizes contracting opportunities for small businesses, including those certified under HUBZone, SDB, and WOSB programs, ensuring equitable access to federal forestry contracts. Her procurement patterns reflect a deliberate strategy to build capacity within the small business community while advancing the agency’s mission through locally rooted expertise. Her primary procurement focus is NAICS 115310—Support Activities for Forestry—encompassing services such as forest thinning, erosion control, fuel reduction, and wildlife habitat enhancement. She possesses deep technical knowledge of forestry practices and ensures that contract requirements accurately reflect ecological best practices, making her a key liaison between field biologists, land managers, and contracting professionals.