Darcy J Rapoza

Darcy J. Rapoza serves as a Contract Specialist with the USDA Forest Service–SPOC NW, responsible for managing the full lifecycle of acquisition actions supporting ecological restoration and critical infrastructure development across the Pacific Northwest. Her work directly advances the agency’s mission to sustain forest ecosystems through targeted procurement of civil engineering, trail and bridge rehabilitation, and remote facility maintenance services. She specializes in complex, mission-critical contracts requiring technical coordination with environmental compliance, land management, and public safety stakeholders, ensuring acquisitions align with federal procurement regulations and agency sustainability goals. Rapoza cultivates strategic partnerships with a diverse pool of contractors specializing in heavy civil construction, forestry support services, and remote logistics. She regularly collaborates with small businesses and specialized firms capable of operating in rugged, environmentally sensitive terrains, prioritizing vendors with proven expertise in ecological mitigation and low-impact construction techniques. Her contracting approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes, contractor accountability, and adherence to environmental stewardship standards, fostering long-term vendor relationships built on reliability and regulatory compliance. A strong advocate for socioeconomic inclusion, Rapoza consistently prioritizes small business participation, with over 57% of her acquisitions structured as total small business set-asides and more than 30% designated for HUBZone-certified firms. Her contracting patterns reflect a deliberate commitment to expanding economic opportunity in rural and underserved communities, frequently leveraging FAR 19.5 set-asides to empower local contractors with specialized knowledge of forested landscapes and remote infrastructure challenges. Her primary procurement focus centers on NAICS 237310 (Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction), reflecting her leadership in delivering resilient transportation and access infrastructure. She also routinely procures services under NAICS 115310 (Support Activities for Forestry) and 238220 (Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors), demonstrating deep technical familiarity with forestry operations, facility maintenance, and utilities in isolated administrative and recreational sites. Her expertise lies at the intersection of environmental compliance, civil engineering, and community-based contracting.