Cindy M Christophersen

Cindy M. Christophersen serves as a Contract Specialist for the Custer Gallatin National Forest under the U.S. Forest Service, where she manages the full lifecycle of procurement actions critical to maintaining federal forest infrastructure. Her responsibilities include soliciting, evaluating, and awarding contracts for trail and road maintenance, wildfire mitigation systems, bridge repairs, and ecological support services. She plays a pivotal role in aligning acquisition strategies with the agency’s mission to preserve natural resources while ensuring safe and sustainable public access. Her portfolio is dominated by construction, engineering, and forestry support acquisitions, requiring deep familiarity with federal contracting regulations, environmental compliance, and performance-based contracting methods. Christophersen maintains strong, recurring relationships with key contractors including YOUNG GUN CONSTRUCTION LLC, TK3, LLC, and KOMMODITIES CORP, all of which consistently deliver specialized services in forest infrastructure and ecological support. Her procurement patterns reflect a preference for established vendors with proven expertise in remote-site construction and forestry operations, indicating a reliance on contractors capable of operating in rugged, environmentally sensitive terrain under strict federal guidelines. These partnerships are characterized by repeat engagements and performance-driven contract modifications, underscoring a focus on reliability and technical proficiency. A staunch advocate for small business participation, Christophersen prioritizes Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, directing approximately 80% of her acquisitions to small businesses. She also utilizes HUBZone set-asides at a notable rate, reflecting a deliberate effort to channel opportunities to businesses located in economically distressed rural areas. Her contracting patterns demonstrate a structured commitment to socioeconomic goals, consistently favoring small, locally rooted firms over large prime contractors. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 115310 (Support Activities for Forestry), which accounts for over 70% of her activity, encompassing vegetation management, fuel reduction, and ecological restoration services. She also frequently procures heavy civil construction under NAICS 237990 and highway/bridge work under NAICS 237310, demonstrating expertise in managing complex, mission-critical infrastructure projects across vast, undeveloped federal lands.