Brad French Catron

Brad French Catron serves as a Contract Specialist for the Bighorn National Forest under the U.S. Forest Service, where he manages the full lifecycle of procurement actions supporting critical forest infrastructure and resource management. His responsibilities include developing solicitation documents, conducting market research, evaluating proposals, and administering contracts for civil engineering, forestry support, and operational maintenance services. He plays a vital role in aligning acquisitions with the agency’s mission to ensure public safety, ecological sustainability, and recreational access across federally managed lands. Catron routinely handles construction-related and equipment procurement actions under the Federal Acquisition Regulation, with a strong emphasis on compliance, risk mitigation, and mission-critical delivery timelines. Catron maintains a consistent working relationship with Mountain View Reforestation LLC, a key vendor providing specialized reforestation, fuel reduction, and ecological restoration services. His procurement approach fosters long-term, performance-based partnerships with contractors who demonstrate technical proficiency in forest management and environmental compliance. These relationships are built on reliability, adherence to ecological standards, and responsiveness to seasonal operational demands, reflecting a preference for vendors with proven field expertise and regulatory familiarity. Catron exhibits a strong commitment to socioeconomic contracting, directing 100% of his acquisitions to total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. He actively prioritizes small business participation across all contract actions, ensuring opportunities for disadvantaged, HUBZone, and service-disabled veteran-owned firms to compete and succeed. His contracting patterns reflect a deliberate strategy to strengthen local and regional economic resilience while expanding the pool of qualified small business contractors capable of delivering forest service objectives. His primary procurement focus centers on NAICS codes related to manufacturing and construction support, including 336212 (Truck Trailer Manufacturing), 332311 (Prefabricated Metal Building and Component Manufacturing), and 333120 (Construction Machinery Manufacturing). He procures specialized equipment and infrastructure components essential to road and trail maintenance, wildfire response, and habitat protection—demonstrating deep technical familiarity with the mechanical and structural systems underpinning forest operations.