Gerred Carothers

Gerred Carothers serves as a Forester with the USDA Forest Service’s Incident Procurement unit, where he plays a critical role in securing specialized resources for wildland fire and all-hazard incident response. His responsibilities include identifying, evaluating, and procuring logistical and operational services essential to field operations, such as mobile command units, heavy equipment, water systems, and temporary housing solutions. Embedded within the agency’s rapid-response framework, Carothers ensures that incident management teams have timely access to mission-critical infrastructure, aligning procurement decisions with national forest and grassland operational needs. He specializes in time-sensitive, emergency-driven acquisitions governed by FAR Part 18 and expedited contracting authorities. Carothers collaborates closely with a dynamic network of small business contractors certified under the Small Business Administration’s programs, particularly those with expertise in forestry support and incident logistics. While specific vendor names are not publicly listed, his contracting patterns reflect a consistent preference for firms with proven capabilities in wildfire suppression support, forest engineering, and emergency field services. His working relationships are built on agility, compliance, and performance-based outcomes, with an emphasis on vendors who can rapidly mobilize under high-stress conditions. Carothers maintains a 100% Small Business Set-Aside preference for all acquisitions under FAR 19.5, demonstrating a steadfast commitment to socioeconomic contracting. He prioritizes contracting with small businesses, including HUBZone, 8(a), and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses, ensuring equitable access to federal opportunities while strengthening the resilience of the incident response supply chain. His procurement focus is exclusively centered on NAICS 115310—Support Activities for Forestry—encompassing services such as fireline construction, fuel reduction support, aerial ignition, incident communications, and forest resource logistics. Carothers brings deep technical expertise in forestry operations and incident management systems, ensuring that all procurements align with ecological standards and operational safety protocols.