Gemaa M. Pelch

Gemaa M. Pelch serves as a key procurement professional within the National Forests in Mississippi, supporting the U.S. Forest Service’s mission to sustainably manage public forest lands through strategic acquisition of critical infrastructure and operational services. Responsible for managing contracting activities aligned with ecological stewardship and public safety, Pelch oversees the acquisition of support services essential to forest management, including trail and road maintenance, wildfire mitigation infrastructure, and land management operations. Their work directly enables the agency’s ability to maintain resilient public access networks and ensure long-term forest health through timely, compliant contract awards. Pelch maintains strong working relationships with a diverse pool of small business contractors, particularly those certified under socioeconomic programs, fostering partnerships that align with the agency’s commitment to local economic development. Vendor engagements are predominantly with firms specializing in forestry support, civil construction, and environmental services, with consistent collaboration across HUBZone, 8(a), and small business concerns. These relationships are built on technical competency, regulatory compliance, and a shared focus on sustainable land management practices. A pronounced preference for small business set-asides is evident in Pelch’s contracting patterns, with over 82% of awards structured under the FAR 19.5 Small Business Set-Aside program, reflecting a deliberate strategy to maximize participation by small, disadvantaged, and community-based enterprises. HUBZone and 8(a) set-asides are also routinely utilized, demonstrating a robust commitment to socioeconomic equity and regional economic resilience in procurement decision-making. The primary technical focus of Pelch’s acquisitions centers on NAICS 115310 (Support Activities for Forestry), encompassing vegetation management, fire prevention support, and ecological monitoring services. Additional procurement activity includes highway and trail construction (237310), landscaping (561730), and janitorial services (561720), underscoring expertise in integrated land management and public facility operations. This domain-specific focus ensures acquisitions directly support the operational realities of managing over 3.5 million acres of national forest land in Mississippi.