Craig Kusener

Craig Kusener serves as Roads Manager for the Tahoe National Forest under the U.S. Forest Service, where he oversees the planning, procurement, and maintenance of forest transportation infrastructure critical to ecological stewardship, wildfire response, and public access. His role is central to ensuring the integrity of forest roads, trails, and related access systems that support resource management operations and emergency mitigation efforts. Kusener manages a diverse portfolio of acquisitions including equipment leasing, road construction materials, and specialized forestry infrastructure services, all aligned with the agency’s mission of sustainable land management and resilience-building. While specific contractor names are not disclosed in available records, Kusener maintains consistent partnerships with vendors specializing in heavy equipment rental, construction material supply, and forest infrastructure support services. His procurement approach emphasizes reliability, regulatory compliance, and rapid response capabilities to meet dynamic field demands, particularly during fire season or post-disturbance recovery. Vendor relationships are typically structured around performance-based contracts that prioritize safety, environmental compliance, and timely delivery. Kusener demonstrates a strong and consistent commitment to socioeconomic contracting, directing 100% of eligible acquisitions toward small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. This reflects a deliberate strategy to empower local and regional small businesses, fostering economic development within rural communities surrounding the forest. His contracting patterns prioritize full small business participation without further subcategories, ensuring broad access for qualified firms regardless of specific designations like 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB. His primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 532412 (construction, mining, and forestry machinery and equipment rental and leasing) and NAICS 423390 (other construction material merchant wholesalers). These categories reflect his technical expertise in procuring heavy-duty road maintenance equipment, gravel and aggregate supplies, erosion control materials, and specialized forestry-grade construction inputs essential for sustainable infrastructure in remote, ecologically sensitive terrain.