Janelle Thompson

Janelle Thompson serves as a Forester, Timber Sale Administrator, and Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) for the Tahoe National Forest under the U.S. Forest Service. In this dual technical and oversight role, she manages the lifecycle of timber sale contracts, ensuring compliance with environmental regulations, forest management plans, and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements. She coordinates with field crews, silviculturists, and land use specialists to define acquisition needs for forest restoration, timber harvesting, and biomass removal projects. Her procurement activities directly support the agency’s mission of ecological resilience by enabling sustainable timber operations that reduce wildfire risk and promote forest health. Thompson works closely with a network of specialized forestry contractors, including licensed timber harvesters, road construction firms, and environmental mitigation specialists. Her working relationships emphasize technical competency in forest operations, adherence to Best Management Practices (BMPs), and proven experience in implementing complex timber sale conditions. She maintains a collaborative, performance-based approach with vendors, prioritizing contractors with demonstrated expertise in ecological restoration and safe, compliant logging operations across rugged terrain. Thompson’s procurement portfolio reflects a strong preference for open competition, with 100% of acquisitions issued as no set-aside contracts. While she does not routinely reserve awards for 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB firms, she actively encourages participation from all qualified vendors, including small businesses with forestry-specific capabilities. Her contracting patterns prioritize technical merit and operational readiness over socioeconomic preferences, aligning with the Forest Service’s emphasis on mission-critical outcomes. Her primary focus is on NAICS 115310 (Support Activities for Forestry), encompassing services such as timber marking, road maintenance, slash treatment, and post-harvest site rehabilitation. She procures specialized forestry equipment, silvicultural services, and ecological monitoring support, drawing on deep domain expertise in forest ecology, harvest planning, and regulatory compliance to ensure contracts deliver measurable ecological and public safety benefits.