Cathy Carlock

Cathy Carlock serves as a key procurement lead within the Boise National Forest, part of the U.S. Forest Service under the Department of Agriculture, where she manages acquisitions critical to ecological stewardship and forest resilience. Her role centers on executing contracts that support active land management, including reforestation, invasive species control, wildfire risk mitigation, and infrastructure maintenance. She oversees the full lifecycle of procurement actions—from market research and solicitation development to award and contract administration—ensuring compliance with federal regulations and alignment with the agency’s mission to sustain healthy forest ecosystems. Her acquisitions are primarily operational in nature, focused on field-level support services essential to on-the-ground forest management. While specific contractor names are not publicly disclosed, Carlock consistently engages with a network of specialized service providers experienced in forestry support activities, including ecological restoration contractors, vegetation management firms, and technical consultants with expertise in silviculture and habitat enhancement. Her procurement patterns reflect a preference for vendors with proven field capabilities, local knowledge of Idaho’s forest ecosystems, and experience working within federal environmental compliance frameworks. She fosters collaborative, performance-based relationships with contractors to ensure outcomes meet rigorous ecological and safety standards. Carlock demonstrates an unwavering commitment to small business participation, directing 100% of her procurements toward small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. This reflects a strategic emphasis on empowering local and regional small businesses with the technical capacity to deliver forestry support services, reinforcing economic development in rural communities while enhancing the agency’s operational agility. Her contracting approach prioritizes socioeconomic equity and leverages the unique capabilities of small firms to meet mission-critical needs. Her primary procurement focus is on NAICS 115310—Support Activities for Forestry—encompassing services such as prescribed burning, brush clearing, trail maintenance, erosion control, and ecological monitoring. She specializes in acquiring technical, labor-intensive services that require field expertise in forest ecology, wildfire suppression support, and sustainable land management practices, ensuring that all acquisitions align with USDA’s conservation and public safety objectives.