Daniel Lara

Daniel Lara serves as a key procurement lead within the U.S. Forest Service’s Region 5 Pacific Southwest Region, overseeing acquisitions critical to the stewardship of national forests and grasslands. He manages a diverse portfolio of contracts focused on ecological restoration, wildfire resilience, and infrastructure maintenance, ensuring alignment with federal land management priorities. His acquisitions primarily support field operations through environmental services, site preparation, and forest health initiatives, requiring deep technical understanding of forestry practices and regulatory compliance under the National Environmental Policy Act. Lara plays a central role in translating agency mission objectives into actionable contracting strategies that deliver sustainable outcomes across high-use public lands. His contractor relationships center on small businesses and specialized service providers with expertise in forestry support activities, environmental consulting, and land rehabilitation. He frequently engages with firms certified under socioeconomic programs, fostering long-term partnerships with vendors capable of executing complex, ecologically sensitive projects. His procurement approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes, requiring contractors to demonstrate technical proficiency in invasive species control, reforestation techniques, and habitat restoration methodologies. Lara exhibits a strong commitment to small business participation, with nearly 87% of his acquisitions set aside for small businesses under FAR 19.5, and an additional 8.2% competed specifically under the 8(a) program. His contracting patterns reflect a deliberate strategy to empower economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs while ensuring mission-critical capabilities are maintained. He consistently prioritizes 8(a) firms and small disadvantaged businesses, aligning with federal goals for equitable economic opportunity in public land management. His primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 115310 (Support Activities for Forestry), which dominates his portfolio, followed by environmental consulting, site preparation, and infrastructure maintenance services. He routinely procures services related to fuel reduction, trail and road maintenance, invasive species eradication, and ecological monitoring, demonstrating specialized expertise in the technical domains of forest ecology and land management operations.