Deb Gerfen

Debbie A. Gerfen serves as a key procurement professional within the USDA Forest Service, overseeing acquisitions critical to sustaining the nation’s forest and grassland ecosystems. She manages a diverse portfolio of contracts supporting ecological restoration, wildfire mitigation, infrastructure resilience, and operational readiness in remote terrains. Her work directly enables the agency’s mission by securing specialized services that enhance forest health, control invasive species, and ensure safe public access. Gerfen typically handles professional, technical, and support services contracts requiring technical expertise in environmental management, engineering, and field operations, often under time-sensitive and mission-critical conditions. Her procurement activity centers on strategic partnerships with a core group of contractors including ACI FEDERAL INC, ONE STOP RECRUITING LLC, GONDO ROY E MD, THE LOCUMS CO, LLC, and AMD INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC. These vendors provide specialized labor, technical consulting, medical support for field personnel, and IT infrastructure services essential to Forest Service operations. Gerfen maintains consistent, long-term relationships with these firms, prioritizing vendors with proven capacity to deliver in rugged, low-access environments and to meet stringent federal compliance standards. Gerfen demonstrates a strong commitment to socioeconomic contracting, with over 60% of her awards designated for small business set-asides under FAR 19.5, and a notable emphasis on HUBZone firms at 11.5%. She actively promotes participation from service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses and ensures compliance with small business subcontracting goals, reinforcing the agency’s mandate to foster economic opportunity in rural and underserved communities. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 115310 (Support Activities for Forestry), 541990 (Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services), and 237990 (Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction), reflecting deep expertise in ecological services, environmental consulting, and infrastructure projects in federal wildlands. She also procures janitorial and solid waste collection services to maintain operational hygiene at remote field stations, demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of the full spectrum of support needs for sustained forest management.