Geraldine M. Carrasco

Geraldine M. Carrasco serves as a Purchasing Agent for the Gila National Forest under the U.S. Forest Service, where she manages the acquisition of critical infrastructure and operational support services essential to maintaining ecological integrity and public safety. Her role centers on executing compliant, mission-driven procurements that align with federal procurement regulations and the agency’s strategic priorities in forest stewardship. She routinely handles contracts for construction materials, facility maintenance, and essential services that sustain public access and utility systems across remote federal lands, ensuring acquisitions support long-term environmental and public safety objectives. Carrasco collaborates with a diverse network of vendors specializing in construction materials, roofing, janitorial services, and catering, fostering partnerships with local and regional suppliers capable of delivering to remote and rugged terrain. Her procurement approach emphasizes reliability, timeliness, and adherence to federal standards, with consistent engagement with small and medium-sized businesses that understand the logistical challenges of federal land management. She maintains transparent, relationship-based vendor interactions grounded in clear communication and performance accountability. A strong advocate for socioeconomic inclusion, Carrasco consistently prioritizes small business participation, with 87.5% of her acquisitions structured as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. Her contracting patterns reflect a deliberate commitment to empowering small businesses, particularly those certified under SBA programs, ensuring equitable access to federal opportunities while strengthening local economies surrounding the Gila National Forest. Her procurement focus is concentrated in NAICS categories including 327390 (other concrete product manufacturing), 238160 (roofing contractors), and 423390 (other construction material merchant wholesalers), reflecting her expertise in sourcing durable, weather-resistant materials for infrastructure repair and maintenance. She also regularly procures janitorial services (561720) and catering (722320) to support seasonal staffing and public visitor needs, demonstrating a nuanced understanding of both capital and operational procurement domains within a federal land management context.