James Hunt

James Hunt serves as a key procurement professional within the USDA Forest Service’s Csa East 12 unit, overseeing the acquisition of critical infrastructure services essential to maintaining national forest systems. His role centers on managing contracts for public access, safety, and ecological resilience projects, including the construction and rehabilitation of forest roads, bridges, campgrounds, and related utility systems. He handles complex, high-stakes acquisitions under the Federal Acquisition Regulation, prioritizing engineering and construction services that align with the agency’s mission of sustainable land stewardship. His procurement activities are deeply integrated into long-term forest management planning, ensuring compliance with environmental and public safety standards. Hunt maintains consistent working relationships with a select group of contractors specializing in heavy civil engineering and site development, including FINCANTIERI MARINE REPAIR LLC, MCKENZIE CONSTRUCTION & SITE DEVELOPMENT LLC, and MARRERO, COUVILLON & ASSOCIATES, L.L.C. These partnerships reflect a preference for firms with proven expertise in remote-site construction, bridge repair, and forest infrastructure rehabilitation. He fosters collaborative, performance-based contracting relationships that emphasize safety, durability, and environmental compliance, often engaging vendors with prior experience in federally managed wildland environments. His procurement strategy is overwhelmingly focused on small business participation, with 87.8% of awards designated as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. This reflects a strong institutional commitment to socioeconomic contracting goals, prioritizing small, locally rooted firms capable of delivering specialized services in challenging terrain. While no specific 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB preferences are dominant, the consistent use of small business set-asides ensures broad economic opportunity across rural and underserved communities. Hunt’s technical focus lies primarily in NAICS 237310 (Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction) and 236220 (Commercial and Institutional Building Construction), reflecting his leadership in procuring infrastructure for recreational and administrative facilities within national forests. He also regularly engages surveying and site preparation contractors to support pre-construction planning, demonstrating expertise in integrated civil engineering procurement across remote and ecologically sensitive landscapes.