Dave Wenner

Dave Wenner serves as a key procurement lead within the Tongass National Forest, overseeing the acquisition of specialized infrastructure services critical to maintaining public access and ecological resilience across one of the nation’s largest national forests. His responsibilities include planning, soliciting, and managing contracts for the construction, repair, and rehabilitation of transportation corridors, trail systems, and visitor facilities. He plays a central role in aligning procurement activities with the U.S. Forest Service’s mission to balance resource conservation with public safety and recreational access, ensuring all acquisitions adhere to federal contracting standards and environmental compliance requirements. Wenner collaborates primarily with small, locally based specialty trade contractors with proven expertise in remote-site construction and forest infrastructure maintenance. While no single contractor dominates his portfolio, he consistently engages firms with experience in rugged terrain work, sustainable building practices, and seasonal labor mobilization. His working relationships are characterized by long-term vendor engagement, performance-based evaluations, and a preference for contractors familiar with Alaska’s unique logistical and environmental constraints. Wenner maintains a 100% Small Business Set-Aside policy across all procurements under FAR 19.5, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to socioeconomic equity and regional economic development. All contracts are reserved exclusively for small businesses, with a strong emphasis on supporting Alaska Native Corporations, HUBZone firms, and other small entities with demonstrated capacity in remote infrastructure work. This approach reinforces the agency’s dedication to empowering local economies while ensuring responsive, community-informed service delivery. His procurement focus is exclusively centered on NAICS 238990—All Other Specialty Trade Contractors—reflecting deep expertise in niche construction services such as boardwalk installation, trail stabilization, bridge rehabilitation, and low-impact facility upgrades. He routinely sources contractors capable of executing precision work in ecologically sensitive areas, requiring specialized knowledge of environmental mitigation, native material use, and seasonal work windows unique to Southeast Alaska’s temperate rainforest environment.