Chris Kirk

Christopher Kirk serves as the primary procurement lead for the Incident Procurement Logistics unit within the U.S. Forest Service, where he manages critical acquisitions to support wildland fire response and forest management operations. His responsibilities include sourcing tactical equipment, protective gear, and logistical systems essential for National Type 2 Firefighter Crews and field deployment teams. Kirk specializes in time-sensitive, mission-critical procurements under FAR Part 13 and Part 14, ensuring rapid acquisition of fire suppression tools, aerial ignition systems, fire-resistant textiles, and durable field shelters. His role is central to maintaining operational readiness across federal firefighting units, requiring close coordination with logistics, safety, and field operations teams to align procurement timelines with incident response cycles. Kirk maintains a consistent working relationship with ONTIC ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING, INC, a key supplier of specialized metal components and engineered systems for fire apparatus and field equipment. His procurement approach emphasizes long-term vendor partnerships grounded in technical reliability, rapid turnaround, and compliance with federal specifications for ruggedized gear. He frequently engages with niche manufacturers capable of producing custom or modified components under tight deadlines, favoring vendors with proven experience in defense- and emergency-response-grade fabrication. A strong advocate for small business participation, Kirk consistently directs over 86% of his acquisitions toward total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5, with minimal use of no-set-aside or large business contracts. He actively promotes 8(a) and Women-Owned Small Business participation, reflecting a deliberate strategy to expand the supplier base among socioeconomically disadvantaged firms while maintaining mission-critical performance standards. His procurement focus centers on NAICS 115310 (forestry support activities), 332919 and 332912 (specialized metal fabrication for valves and fluid systems), and 325620 (personal hygiene and decontamination products). These categories reflect his technical expertise in procuring ruggedized, field-deployable equipment designed for extreme environmental conditions, including heat-resistant fabrics, portable water purification units, and durable non-metallic fittings for fireline operations.