Bonnie L. Childs

Bonnie L. Childs serves as a Contract Specialist for the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest under the U.S. Forest Service, where she manages the full lifecycle of procurement actions critical to maintaining public lands and infrastructure across western Washington. Her responsibilities include developing solicitation documents, evaluating proposals, negotiating contracts, and ensuring compliance with federal acquisition regulations. She plays a pivotal role in advancing the agency’s mission by securing essential services and construction capabilities that support trail and road maintenance, ecological restoration, and operational resilience. Her portfolio primarily consists of construction, engineering, and forestry support contracts requiring rigorous environmental and safety oversight. Childs cultivates collaborative relationships with a diverse range of contractors, including small businesses specializing in civil engineering, structural metal fabrication, and forestry support services. She frequently engages with firms experienced in heavy civil construction and sustainable land management practices, fostering partnerships that align with the Forest Service’s commitment to environmental stewardship. Her contracting approach emphasizes transparency, competitive bidding, and contractor performance accountability to ensure high-quality deliverables on federally managed public lands. A strong advocate for socioeconomic equity in federal contracting, Childs prioritizes small business participation, with nearly two-thirds of her awards directed toward set-aside programs. HUBZone-certified firms represent the largest segment of her set-aside portfolio, followed closely by total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. Her consistent use of these programs reflects a deliberate strategy to stimulate economic development in rural and underserved communities while building a resilient, locally rooted contractor base. Her procurement focus centers on NAICS 237310 (Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction) and 115310 (Support Activities for Forestry), reflecting her expertise in infrastructure maintenance and forest service operations. She regularly procures services such as erosion control, culvert installation, trail rehabilitation, and fabricated metal components for bridges and guardrails, demonstrating deep technical familiarity with civil works and ecological restoration domains.