Curtis L Phelps

Curtis L. Phelps serves as a Procurement Technician for the Lolo National Forest, supporting the U.S. Forest Service’s mission to sustain forested landscapes through strategic acquisition of infrastructure and land management services. In this role, he facilitates the procurement of construction, maintenance, and support services critical to public safety and ecological resilience, with a focus on forest roads, trails, bridges, and water systems. He works closely with project managers and technical staff to ensure compliance with federal acquisition regulations, manage solicitation processes, and execute contracts aligned with agency priorities in natural resource stewardship and infrastructure integrity. Phelps maintains consistent working relationships with a core group of contractors including Quality Construction Co., YOY Inc., Century Warehousing, Inc., Oregon Woods, Inc., and the County of Kootenai. These partnerships reflect a preference for regional vendors with demonstrated expertise in rural infrastructure, forestry support, and environmental compliance. His procurement approach emphasizes reliability, local capacity, and technical alignment with the unique challenges of managing federal forest lands in western Montana. His contracting patterns show a strong commitment to small business participation, with nearly 40% of acquisitions set aside for small businesses under FAR 19.5 and over 20% designated for HUBZone-certified firms. This reflects a deliberate strategy to foster economic opportunity in rural communities while ensuring access to specialized local expertise. He actively prioritizes socioeconomic programs to expand vendor diversity and strengthen community resilience through federal spending. Phelps specializes in NAICS 237310 (Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction) and 115310 (Support Activities for Forestry), overseeing procurements for trail and road maintenance, logging support services, and water infrastructure projects. His domain expertise lies in managing construction and operational contracts that require environmental compliance, seasonal scheduling, and coordination with federal land use regulations, ensuring acquisitions directly advance the Forest Service’s mission of sustainable land management.