Dan Ray

Dan Ray serves as the District Fuels Specialist for the Lincoln National Forest, overseeing the procurement and logistical management of fuel-related services critical to wildfire mitigation, prescribed burning operations, and infrastructure maintenance across the forest’s jurisdiction. In this role, he ensures compliance with federal acquisition regulations while supporting the U.S. Forest Service’s mission of ecological resilience and sustainable land stewardship. His acquisitions primarily involve fuel supply, transportation, storage, and related support activities essential to operational readiness, with a strong emphasis on mission-critical, time-sensitive contracting aligned with seasonal fire management cycles. Dan Ray maintains consistent working relationships with a network of specialized vendors offering fuel logistics, hazardous material handling, and equipment servicing, predominantly small businesses with expertise in forestry support and environmental compliance. His procurement approach emphasizes reliability, safety, and regulatory adherence, fostering long-term vendor partnerships that prioritize operational continuity and environmental responsibility. He actively collaborates with contractors who demonstrate proven experience in remote-area fuel delivery, spill prevention, and compliance with NFPA and EPA standards. Dan Ray exhibits a full commitment to small business participation, directing 100% of his contracting activity toward small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. He consistently awards contracts to small disadvantaged businesses, HUBZone firms, and other socioeconomically disadvantaged vendors capable of delivering specialized forestry fuel services. This pattern reflects a deliberate strategy to build local economic capacity while ensuring access to agile, community-based service providers with intimate knowledge of regional terrain and ecological constraints. His procurement focus is centered on NAICS 115310 (Support Activities for Forestry), encompassing fuel procurement, fireline support, and vegetation management services, with a secondary emphasis on NAICS 561720 (Janitorial Services) for facility maintenance at remote ranger stations and field camps. Dan’s technical expertise lies in the safe handling, transport, and storage of Class I and II fuels under federal environmental and safety protocols, making him a key liaison between operational field teams and the contracting community.