Christopher J. Ford

Christopher J. Ford serves as a Contracting Officer for the USDA Forest Service, where he manages the acquisition of critical infrastructure and support services essential to the stewardship of national forests and grasslands. His portfolio encompasses construction, engineering, and operational support contracts that directly enable wildfire mitigation, trail maintenance, ecosystem restoration, and facility resilience. Ford ensures compliance with federal acquisition regulations while aligning procurements with the agency’s strategic priorities in ecological sustainability and public access. He routinely handles complex, mission-critical contracts requiring technical expertise in environmental engineering, land management infrastructure, and resource conservation. Ford maintains a consistent working relationship with 358 INVESTMENTS, LLC, a primary contractor delivering specialized forestry and infrastructure services. His procurement approach emphasizes long-term vendor partnerships grounded in performance reliability and technical capability, particularly for projects requiring on-the-ground execution in remote or ecologically sensitive areas. He collaborates closely with contractors who demonstrate proven experience in federal land management contexts, fostering accountability and mission alignment through structured performance metrics and contract administration. A staunch advocate for small business participation, Ford consistently applies Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, with approximately 89% of his awards designated for small businesses. His contracting patterns reflect a strong commitment to socioeconomic programs, prioritizing small disadvantaged, women-owned, and veteran-owned firms to expand economic opportunity within rural and forest-dependent communities. This focus ensures diverse vendor participation while strengthening the agency’s capacity to leverage local expertise. His primary procurement focus centers on NAICS 541330 (Engineering Services) for land and water resource design, 115310 (Support Activities for Forestry) for ecological restoration services, and 236220 and 238190 for structural and exterior construction on public facilities. He also procures water supply and irrigation systems under NAICS 221310, demonstrating technical proficiency in hydrological infrastructure critical to forest health. Ford’s expertise lies in acquiring integrated solutions that balance environmental compliance, safety standards, and operational durability across vast federal lands.