Gary B. Stephens

Gary B. Stephens serves as a Contracting Officer for the Custer Gallatin National Forest under the U.S. Forest Service, where he manages the acquisition of critical infrastructure and support services essential to maintaining federally protected lands. His portfolio encompasses the planning, solicitation, and award of contracts for heavy civil engineering, forest management support, and public access infrastructure, ensuring compliance with federal procurement regulations and alignment with the agency’s mission of ecological preservation and sustainable recreation. Stephens specializes in complex, mission-critical procurements involving road and bridge construction, trail maintenance, wildfire mitigation systems, and ranger facility operations, often navigating challenging terrain and environmental constraints. He maintains consistent working relationships with key contractors including YOUNG GUN CONSTRUCTION LLC, TK3, LLC, and KOMMODITIES CORP, which regularly deliver construction and forestry support services under competitive and set-aside mechanisms. His procurement approach emphasizes performance-based contracting and rigorous contractor oversight, fostering long-term partnerships with firms that demonstrate technical proficiency in remote-site operations and environmental stewardship. These relationships reflect a preference for vendors with proven experience in federal land management contexts and the ability to meet stringent safety and sustainability standards. Stephens exhibits a strong commitment to small business participation, with 62% of his awards designated as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. He actively utilizes HUBZone and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business set-asides, reflecting a deliberate effort to promote economic opportunity in rural and underserved communities. His socioeconomic contracting patterns align with federal goals to broaden vendor diversity while ensuring mission readiness. His primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 237310 (Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction) and 237990 (Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction), complemented by significant activity in 115310 (Support Activities for Forestry). He routinely procures services related to trail and road rehabilitation, vegetation management, erosion control, and janitorial support for remote facilities, demonstrating deep expertise in the technical demands of federal land management infrastructure.