Cathy Baird

Cathy Baird serves as a key procurement lead within the U.S. Forest Service’s Region 4 Intermountain Regional Office, where she manages acquisitions critical to sustaining federal forest land operations. Her role centers on securing logistical, infrastructure, and field support services that enable forest health initiatives, wildfire resilience programs, and public access enhancements. She routinely handles complex contracts for aviation logistics, facility leasing, equipment maintenance, and land-based infrastructure support, ensuring alignment with federal environmental and operational standards. Baird’s work directly supports the agency’s mission to steward public lands through efficient, compliant, and mission-driven contracting. Baird maintains collaborative relationships with a diverse pool of vendors specializing in forestry support services, aviation operations, and facility management. While specific contractor names are not publicly disclosed, her procurement patterns reflect consistent engagement with small businesses and regional service providers capable of delivering field-responsive, mission-critical solutions. She fosters long-term vendor partnerships grounded in performance accountability, compliance with federal regulations, and adaptability to dynamic field conditions across remote and high-risk terrains. Baird demonstrates an unwavering commitment to small business participation, with 100% of her acquisitions structured as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. This reflects a deliberate strategy to maximize economic opportunity for small, locally based firms and to strengthen community resilience through federal contracting. Her approach consistently prioritizes socioeconomic programs, including 8(a), HUBZone, and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses, ensuring equitable access to federal opportunities while enhancing the agility and responsiveness of the agency’s contractor base. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 115310 (Support Activities for Forestry), encompassing services such as prescribed burning assistance, trail maintenance, and invasive species control. She also procures specialized services under NAICS 324110 (Petroleum Refineries) for fuel logistics and NAICS 811111 (General Automotive Repair) for fleet maintenance of off-road and heavy-duty vehicles. This technical specialization underscores her expertise in mission-critical supply chains that sustain field operations across the Intermountain West.