Gloria J. Taylor

Gloria J. Taylor serves as a Procurement Assistant within the USDA Forest Service-spoc Software, supporting the agency’s mission to sustain and restore national forest ecosystems through strategic acquisition of civil engineering, land management, and environmental services. She plays a critical role in facilitating the procurement lifecycle for infrastructure resilience projects, including road and bridge maintenance, hazardous tree removal, and reforestation support. Her responsibilities include preparing solicitation documents, coordinating with technical stakeholders, and ensuring compliance with federal acquisition regulations. She primarily handles service-based acquisitions under the Department of Agriculture’s operational portfolio, focusing on contracts that enhance forest health and public safety. Taylor maintains a consistent working relationship with MCKENZIE CONSTRUCTION & SITE DEVELOPMENT LLC, a key vendor providing site development and forestry support services. Her procurement patterns reflect a preference for established contractors with demonstrated expertise in ecological restoration and heavy civil works, while also fostering partnerships with small businesses aligned with Forest Service priorities. She collaborates closely with program managers to align vendor capabilities with operational needs, ensuring timely delivery of mission-critical services across forested regions. Her contracting approach prioritizes open competition, with approximately two-thirds of acquisitions issued without set-asides. However, she actively supports small business participation, regularly awarding contracts under Total Small Business Set-Asides (FAR 19.5) and occasionally utilizing HUBZone preferences to promote economic development in underserved rural communities. This balanced strategy ensures both competition and socioeconomic equity in procurement outcomes. Taylor’s primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 115310 (Support Activities for Forestry), reflecting her deep engagement with ecological restoration and forest management services. She also frequently procures services under NAICS 237310 (Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction) and 237990 (Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction), demonstrating technical proficiency in infrastructure projects critical to forest access and safety. Her domain expertise includes site preparation, erosion control, and environmental remediation, aligning procurement actions with the Forest Service’s stewardship objectives.