Hector Socias

Hector Socias serves as District Silviculturist for the Oconee Ranger District of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, where he leads the planning and implementation of silvicultural operations across Georgia’s public forest lands. In this role, he is a key technical authority for forest management activities, including stand regeneration, thinning, prescribed burning, and invasive species control—all critical to achieving ecological resilience and wildfire risk reduction. His procurement responsibilities center on acquiring specialized services and equipment necessary to execute these operations, ensuring alignment with National Forest System directives and environmental compliance standards. He routinely initiates and manages solicitations for contract services that support active forest stewardship, making him a pivotal link between ecological objectives and operational execution within the agency’s acquisition lifecycle. Hector collaborates with a diverse array of contractors specializing in forest management services, including timber harvesting, mechanical fuel reduction, reforestation, and ecological monitoring. He maintains longstanding relationships with regional firms possessing expertise in USDA Forest Service protocols, often partnering with contractors certified in Best Management Practices for water quality and forest health. His working relationships are characterized by technical collaboration, performance-based contracting, and a strong emphasis on adherence to environmental standards and safety compliance. While specific set-aside preferences are not publicly documented, Hector consistently prioritizes small business participation, particularly favoring 8(a), HUBZone, and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) contractors with demonstrated capability in silvicultural and ecological restoration services. His procurement approach reflects the U.S. Forest Service’s broader commitment to fostering local economic development through targeted small business engagement in rural forest communities. His primary industry focus lies within NAICS categories related to forest management services, including 115310 (Forest Management Services) and 237990 (Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction), with frequent procurements for brush clearing, seedling planting, prescribed fire execution, and invasive plant control. Hector brings deep technical expertise in silviculture, forest ecology, and regulatory compliance, ensuring all acquisitions support science-based, sustainable forest management outcomes.