Ellen R. Kinamon

Ellen A. Kinamon serves as a Procurement Technician at the Colville National Forest, supporting the U.S. Forest Service’s mission to sustainably manage federal forest lands through efficient and compliant acquisition processes. In this role, she facilitates the planning, solicitation, and award of contracts essential to forest restoration, infrastructure maintenance, and operational support. Her responsibilities include preparing procurement documentation, ensuring adherence to FAR regulations, coordinating with program managers, and administering task orders under existing contracts. She primarily handles acquisitions for civil engineering, forestry support services, and facility maintenance, ensuring that procurement activities align with the agency’s ecological and public safety objectives. While specific contractor names are not publicly detailed, Kinamon maintains consistent working relationships with a diverse pool of vendors, including small businesses specializing in forestry support, trail and road construction, and watershed restoration services. Her procurement patterns reflect a collaborative approach, often engaging with regional contractors familiar with the unique terrain and environmental constraints of the Pacific Northwest. She works closely with project engineers and resource specialists to define technical requirements and ensure contractor performance meets federal land management standards. Kinamon demonstrates a strong commitment to socioeconomic contracting, with over half of her acquisitions set aside for small businesses under FAR 19.5. She actively prioritizes HUBZone-certified firms, reflecting a deliberate strategy to stimulate economic development in underserved rural communities within the Colville National Forest’s jurisdiction. Her procurement practices consistently support small business participation, aligning with USDA and Forest Service goals to increase equitable access to federal contracting opportunities. Her primary procurement focus centers on NAICS 115310 (Support Activities for Forestry), including vegetation management, invasive species control, and fire prevention services. She also frequently procures highway and civil engineering construction under NAICS 237310 and 237990, as well as water and sewer infrastructure work and janitorial services for remote forest service facilities. This technical expertise enables her to effectively manage complex, mission-critical acquisitions that uphold ecological integrity and public safety.