Cathy E. Van Alyne

Cathy E. Van Alyne serves as a Contract Specialist for the USDA Forest Service – SPOC NW, where she plays a pivotal role in executing procurements that advance the agency’s mission of ecological restoration, public safety, and sustainable infrastructure development. She manages the full lifecycle of acquisitions for critical projects including trail and bridge rehabilitation, wildfire resilience infrastructure, reforestation support, and maintenance of remote administrative and recreational facilities. Her work ensures compliance with federal contracting regulations while aligning procurements with the Forest Service’s environmental stewardship goals. Van Alyne typically handles complex, mission-critical contracts requiring technical expertise in civil engineering, ecological services, and remote logistics. Van Alyne cultivates collaborative relationships with a diverse pool of contractors specializing in forestry support, heavy civil construction, and facility maintenance. She regularly engages with small businesses, HUBZone firms, and other socioeconomic categories to ensure competitive, transparent sourcing. Her contracting approach emphasizes long-term vendor partnerships grounded in performance accountability and environmental compliance, fostering trust among contractors who understand the unique operational constraints of federal land management. A staunch advocate for small business participation, Van Alyne consistently prioritizes set-asides, with over 63% of her acquisitions designated for total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5 and nearly 14% reserved for HUBZone firms. Her procurement patterns reflect a deliberate strategy to expand economic opportunity in rural and underserved communities, aligning with federal socioeconomic goals while ensuring robust competition and mission readiness. Her primary procurement focus centers on NAICS 115310 (Support Activities for Forestry), encompassing vegetation management, fire suppression support, and ecological monitoring services. She also frequently procures under NAICS 237990 and 237310 for civil engineering and bridge construction projects, as well as janitorial and infrastructure maintenance services. Van Alyne’s technical expertise lies in managing acquisitions that balance environmental protection with public access, requiring deep familiarity with federal land use regulations and sustainable construction practices.