Chad Houchin

Chad Houchin serves as a Project Engineer for the Deschutes National Forest, where he plays a pivotal role in planning, evaluating, and overseeing infrastructure projects critical to the agency’s mission of ecological stewardship and public safety. His responsibilities include developing technical specifications, coordinating with field teams, and ensuring compliance with federal construction standards for acquisitions related to trail systems, fire mitigation infrastructure, and cultural resource protection. He works closely with contracting officers to translate engineering requirements into solicitation documents, ensuring that procurements align with environmental regulations and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) considerations. His acquisitions typically involve civil works, utility upgrades, and structural improvements on federal lands under the U.S. Forest Service’s jurisdiction. While specific contractor names are not available, Chad consistently engages with a diverse pool of contractors specializing in civil infrastructure, electrical systems, and architectural design services. His working relationships emphasize technical collaboration, with a preference for vendors capable of navigating remote, ecologically sensitive project sites and delivering work under stringent environmental compliance protocols. He fosters partnerships with firms experienced in sustainable construction practices and those familiar with Forest Service operational constraints, ensuring projects meet both engineering and ecological objectives. Chad demonstrates a strong commitment to socioeconomic contracting, with 60% of his acquisitions structured as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5, and an additional 20% designated as local area set-asides under FAR 26.2. This pattern reflects a deliberate strategy to prioritize regional small businesses and promote economic development within central Oregon. His procurement practices actively encourage participation from small, disadvantaged, and locally based firms, reinforcing the agency’s goals of community resilience and equitable contracting. His primary technical focus lies in NAICS 237310 (highway, street, and bridge construction), 237110 (water and sewer line construction), and 238210 (electrical contracting), with architectural services under 541310 also prominent. He procures services for trail rehabilitation, erosion control structures, off-grid power systems, and visitor facility upgrades—all tailored to the unique challenges of managing public lands in a wildfire-prone, topographically complex region.