Dale Loper

Dale Loper serves as a key procurement professional within the USDA Forest Service’s CSA Northwest 2 office, supporting the operational sustainability of national forest lands through the acquisition of essential maintenance and field services. Responsible for managing contracts that enable critical infrastructure upkeep, wildfire mitigation support, and ranger station operations, Loper specializes in procurements that ensure safe, functional, and environmentally responsible resource management across remote and rural terrains. His acquisitions focus on service-based contracts requiring on-site execution, technical field expertise, and compliance with federal land use regulations. Loper maintains consistent working relationships with a core group of contractors including Reliance Contractors Inc., Timberline Silvics Inc., L1 Enterprises Incorporated, Black Box Safety, Inc., and Nancy Shelton, reflecting a preference for regional and specialized vendors with demonstrated capability in forestry support, safety compliance, and land-based service delivery. His contracting patterns emphasize long-term, performance-based partnerships with firms experienced in field logistics, environmental stewardship, and rural service delivery, fostering reliability and continuity in mission-critical operations. A strong advocate for small business participation, Loper directs nearly 90% of his acquisitions toward Small Business Set-Aside programs under FAR 19.5, prioritizing economically disadvantaged and locally rooted vendors. His procurement strategy consistently aligns with the agency’s socioeconomic goals, ensuring broad inclusion of small, disadvantaged, and community-based firms in the delivery of essential forest services. His primary NAICS focus areas include Landscaping Services (561730), Support Activities for Forestry (115310), Janitorial Services (561720), Septic Tank and Related Services (562991), and General Automotive Repair (811111), underscoring expertise in sustaining forest infrastructure, sanitation systems, vehicle fleets, and ecological maintenance. Loper’s technical domain centers on field-based operational support, requiring contractors to navigate rugged terrain, environmental regulations, and seasonal constraints inherent to national forest operations.