Cynthia L. Roberts

Cynthia L. Roberts serves as a Contract Specialist for the Southern Research Station within the U.S. Forest Service, where she manages the full lifecycle of procurement actions supporting applied forest science and ecological research operations. Her role is critical to maintaining the Station’s operational readiness, ensuring timely acquisition of essential field support services, infrastructure upgrades, and environmental compliance resources. She specializes in negotiating and administering contracts for research site maintenance, scientific logistics, and facility support, aligning all acquisitions with federal procurement regulations and agency mission priorities. Roberts maintains a consistent working relationship with LSG MANAGEMENT, LLC, a primary contractor delivering integrated support services across multiple research sites. Her procurement patterns reflect a preference for long-term, performance-based vendor partnerships that ensure continuity in field operations, including maintenance, logistics coordination, and environmental stewardship. She collaborates closely with technical staff to define requirements and evaluate vendor capabilities, fostering collaborative relationships grounded in compliance and mission alignment. A strong advocate for small business participation, Roberts consistently prioritizes Total Small Business Set-Aside contracts under FAR 19.5, with nearly 90% of her awards directed to small businesses. Her socioeconomic contracting strategy emphasizes broad-based inclusion, enabling small firms to compete for essential support services without reliance on other set-aside programs such as 8(a) or HUBZone. This approach enhances market access for local and regional vendors while sustaining a resilient supplier base. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 115310 (Support Activities for Forestry), encompassing habitat monitoring support, invasive species management, and research site maintenance. She also routinely procures janitorial services (NAICS 561720), landscaping (NAICS 561730), and light construction (NAICS 237310) to sustain field infrastructure. Her technical expertise spans ecological operations, environmental compliance, and site logistics, making her a key steward of sustainable research infrastructure across the Southern Region.