Clayton (CJ) Cochrane

Clayton (CJ) Cochrane serves as a Project Engineer and Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) for the USDA Forest Service’s Incident Procurement unit, where he plays a critical role in ensuring rapid acquisition of mission-critical infrastructure and logistical support for wildland fire and all-hazard incident response. His responsibilities include monitoring contract performance, verifying technical compliance, and ensuring contractor deliverables align with operational needs in austere environments. He specializes in time-sensitive, mission-essential acquisitions for temporary housing, mobile command units, water systems, and heavy equipment essential to fire suppression and recovery operations. Cochrane works closely with field incident management teams to translate urgent operational requirements into actionable procurement actions under emergency acquisition authorities. Cochrane maintains active working relationships with a network of qualified contractors specializing in emergency response infrastructure, particularly those with experience in rapid deployment of temporary facilities and heavy civil construction in remote, high-risk areas. He collaborates closely with vendors capable of mobilizing equipment and personnel on short notice, prioritizing firms with proven incident response track records and logistical flexibility. His oversight ensures contractors meet stringent safety, environmental, and performance standards under dynamic field conditions, fostering reliable, mission-driven partnerships. Cochrane demonstrates a strong commitment to socioeconomic contracting, consistently directing opportunities toward small businesses through total small business set-asides and HUBZone preferences, each at 50% of eligible procurements. He actively encourages participation from HUBZone-certified firms, leveraging their presence in underserved rural communities to enhance local economic resilience and response capacity during national incidents. His procurement approach reflects a deliberate strategy to expand access for disadvantaged businesses while maintaining operational readiness. His primary procurement focus is on NAICS 237310—Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction—reflecting his expertise in civil infrastructure projects critical to incident access and containment. He procures heavy equipment mobilization, temporary roadways, erosion controls, and site preparation services essential for fireline construction, fuel breaks, and emergency access routes. Cochrane’s technical domain expertise lies in understanding earthmoving, grading, and temporary infrastructure systems deployed under extreme environmental conditions, ensuring procurement decisions directly support operational effectiveness on the ground.