Jessica Valdes

Jessica Valdes supports the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s FWS Sat Team 3 in managing mission-critical procurement activities aligned with the conservation and operational sustainment of national wildlife refuges. She oversees acquisitions for habitat restoration, invasive species management, refuge infrastructure maintenance, and environmental remediation services, ensuring compliance with federal contracting regulations and ecological stewardship goals. Her portfolio primarily includes support activities for forestry, emergency equipment, and ecological consulting, directly enabling field operations across complex natural landscapes. Valdes plays a pivotal role in translating biological and logistical needs into compliant, timely contract actions that advance the agency’s conservation mandate. She maintains consistent working relationships with key vendors including TABLE ROCK FORESTRY, INC., DANKO EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT CO., DDC 4C, LLC, THE PEREGRINE FUND, INC., and DOUBLE A HAULING INC., each providing specialized services in wildfire response, wildlife habitat enhancement, and environmental logistics. These partnerships reflect a preference for contractors with proven expertise in ecological fieldwork, emergency response, and land management support, often requiring site-specific knowledge and regulatory coordination. Valdes fosters collaborative, performance-driven vendor relationships grounded in technical competency and mission alignment rather than volume-based contracting. Valdes demonstrates a strong commitment to small business participation, with nearly half of her acquisitions structured as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, reflecting a deliberate strategy to empower small, capable firms in environmental services. While over half of her contracts remain open to all competitors, her consistent use of small business set-asides signals a proactive effort to broaden vendor diversity and strengthen local economic engagement in conservation efforts. Her procurement focus centers on NAICS 115112 (Soil Preparation, Planting, and Cultivating) and 115310 (Support Activities for Forestry), with significant activity in 561720 (Janitorial Services) and 212321 (Construction Sand and Gravel Mining), underscoring her expertise in land-based ecological interventions. She routinely procures services related to native species planting, invasive vegetation control, trail and facility maintenance, and sediment management—all critical to sustaining refuge integrity and public access.