Karen Alverson

Karen Alverson serves as a Contracting Officer for the USDA Forest Service, where she manages the acquisition of critical infrastructure and engineering services essential to sustaining the nation’s forest and grassland ecosystems. Her portfolio focuses on high-priority projects supporting wildfire mitigation, ecological restoration, and resilience of remote infrastructure, including roads, bridges, water systems, and surveying operations. She ensures compliance with federal acquisition regulations while aligning procurements with the agency’s mission of environmental stewardship and operational readiness in challenging terrains. Alverson’s acquisitions are predominantly construction and engineering-related, requiring technical expertise in civil works and land management support. Alverson maintains consistent working relationships with a select group of contractors specializing in heavy civil construction and specialized technical services. Key partners include ACI Federal Inc. and AMD International Technologies LLC for engineering and construction support, along with ONE STOP RECRUITING LLC and THE LOCUMS CO, LLC for workforce solutions in remote field operations. Her contracting patterns reflect a preference for established vendors with proven experience in federal land management environments, particularly those capable of delivering services under demanding logistical conditions. She fosters long-term vendor partnerships built on performance reliability and regulatory compliance. Her procurement strategy reflects a strong commitment to small business participation, with approximately 41.7% of her awards designated as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5, and an additional 5.6% allocated to HUBZone firms. While over half of her contracts are unrestricted, she actively prioritizes socioeconomic programs to expand opportunities for qualified small businesses, particularly those with expertise in civil construction and environmental services. Her approach balances mission-critical needs with statutory obligations to promote equitable access to federal contracting. Alverson’s primary NAICS focus includes 237310 (Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction) and 237110 (Water and Sewer Line Construction), reflecting her leadership in maintaining access and utility infrastructure across federal lands. She also procures surveying and mapping services (541370) and heavy civil engineering work (237990), often requiring geospatial accuracy and environmental compliance. Her technical domain expertise centers on infrastructure resilience, land disturbance mitigation, and construction in ecologically sensitive areas, ensuring acquisitions support both operational needs and environmental stewardship.