Ben Newcomb

Ben Newcomb serves as a key procurement lead for the Mount Hood National Forest, managing acquisitions critical to sustaining the ecological and infrastructural integrity of one of the Pacific Northwest’s most vital forested landscapes. Responsible for executing contracts under the U.S. Forest Service’s operational mandate, he specializes in water and sewer line construction and related civil infrastructure projects that support public safety, resource protection, and facility resilience. His procurement activities directly enable the agency’s mission of sustainable forest management by ensuring reliable water conveyance systems, drainage infrastructure, and sanitation systems across remote and ecologically sensitive areas. Newcomb maintains a tightly focused contracting environment centered on small business participation, with 100% of his procurements set aside for small businesses under FAR 19.5. He consistently engages qualified small contractors with demonstrated expertise in civil construction, environmental compliance, and working within federally managed wilderness areas. While no specific vendor names are publicly identified, his contracting patterns reflect a preference for firms with proven experience in remote-site construction, erosion control, and compliance with NEPA and NFMA standards. His procurement strategy is exclusively aligned with NAICS 237110, focusing on water and sewer line construction, including pipeline installation, pump station upgrades, stormwater management, and related civil structures. He prioritizes contractors capable of executing work in rugged terrain under strict environmental constraints, ensuring infrastructure meets federal standards for durability, ecological mitigation, and long-term maintenance. His technical expertise lies at the intersection of environmental engineering and federal construction contracting, with deep familiarity with USDA and Forest Service design specifications. Newcomb’s approach underscores a steadfast commitment to socioeconomic equity, leveraging the full scope of small business set-asides to empower local and regionally based firms with the capacity to deliver mission-critical infrastructure in challenging environments.