Jennifer Olson

Jennifer Olson serves as the primary procurement lead for the Umatilla National Forest R6 under the U.S. Forest Service, overseeing the acquisition of goods and services critical to ecological restoration and forest health management. She manages a diverse portfolio of contracts aligned with the agency’s mission to reduce wildfire risk, implement fuel reduction treatments, and support reforestation efforts across the Pacific Northwest. Her responsibilities include planning, soliciting, evaluating, and awarding contracts for technical services and field equipment, ensuring compliance with federal procurement regulations and environmental stewardship goals. She plays a central role in translating operational needs into legally compliant, mission-driven acquisitions that advance landscape resilience. Olson collaborates with a range of contractors specializing in forestry support services, including vegetation management firms, ecological consultants, and equipment providers. While no single vendor dominates her award portfolio, she consistently engages small and mid-sized businesses with proven expertise in forest health treatments, prescribed burning support, and habitat restoration. Her contracting patterns reflect a preference for agile, locally rooted vendors capable of rapid mobilization in remote terrain, fostering long-term partnerships grounded in technical proficiency and regulatory compliance. A strong advocate for small business inclusion, Olson prioritizes Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, with approximately 63.5% of her acquisitions reserved for small businesses. This reflects a deliberate strategy to expand economic opportunities for disadvantaged entrepreneurs while ensuring access to specialized, community-based expertise essential for on-the-ground forest management. Her contracting patterns demonstrate consistent engagement with HUBZone and SDVOSB firms, reinforcing the agency’s commitment to socioeconomic equity and local workforce development. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 115310 (Support Activities for Forestry), reflecting deep expertise in contracting for prescribed fire operations, invasive species control, and forest monitoring services. She also frequently procures analytical instrumentation (NAICS 334516) for soil and vegetation analysis, as well as specialized field equipment and research services in biotechnology (NAICS 541714) to support data-driven land management decisions. Her technical domain expertise spans ecological science, wildfire mitigation, and sustainable forestry practices.