Ed Koberstein, Timber Management Assistant

Ed Koberstein serves as the Timber Management Assistant within the Stewardship Contracting Branch of the U.S. Forest Service, supporting the agency’s mission to advance ecologically sustainable forest management through strategic contracting. In this role, he facilitates the planning and execution of landscape-scale stewardship contracts that integrate timber harvesting with ecological restoration, watershed protection, and infrastructure maintenance. His work centers on procuring support activities for forestry operations, ensuring that contracting actions align with federal environmental standards and long-term forest resilience goals. He routinely manages task orders and performance-based contracts under the NAICS 115310 category, coordinating with field crews, ecologists, and land managers to define scope, evaluate bids, and monitor contract compliance. Koberstein maintains consistent working relationships with a core group of contractors including Brink Brothers Inc., Peak Engineering LLC, AZ Hammer Down, LLC, Gabino D. Grano, and Gladhart LLC. These vendors are typically selected for their proven expertise in forest thinning, biomass removal, road maintenance, and ecological restoration services. His procurement approach emphasizes performance outcomes, technical capability, and on-the-ground experience over price alone, fostering long-term partnerships with firms that demonstrate reliability and adherence to environmental best practices. Koberstein’s contracting portfolio reflects a strong preference for open competition, with 100% of awards issued under no set-aside provisions. While he does not prioritize socioeconomic set-asides such as 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB programs, his focus remains on selecting the most technically qualified contractors capable of delivering complex, multi-objective stewardship outcomes across federal forest lands. His primary procurement focus is NAICS 115310—Support Activities for Forestry—encompassing services such as fuel reduction, snag removal, brush clearing, and forest road construction. He specializes in acquiring field-based ecological restoration services that require specialized equipment, certified personnel, and compliance with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements, making his work critical to mitigating wildfire risk and restoring forest health.