Karen L. Morthland

Karen L. Morthland serves as a key procurement lead within the Boise National Forest, overseeing contracting activities critical to the U.S. Forest Service’s mission of ecological stewardship and infrastructure resilience. She manages a diverse portfolio of acquisitions focused on forest management, restoration, and public safety initiatives, ensuring compliance with federal procurement regulations and agency strategic priorities. Her work directly supports reforestation, invasive species control, and wildfire risk reduction efforts through the execution of service and construction contracts aligned with national forest operations. Morthland collaborates closely with a network of specialized contractors, particularly those experienced in forestry support services and civil engineering construction. She maintains strong working relationships with small businesses and firms possessing technical expertise in habitat restoration, trail maintenance, and forest road infrastructure. Her procurement approach emphasizes long-term vendor partnerships grounded in performance reliability, environmental compliance, and adherence to sustainable land management practices. A staunch advocate for small business inclusion, Morthland consistently prioritizes small business set-asides, with 93% of her acquisitions designated for small business participation under FAR 19.5. Her contracting patterns reflect a deliberate commitment to socioeconomic programs, regularly awarding contracts to small, disadvantaged, and locally rooted enterprises capable of delivering field-based forestry and land management services. This focus strengthens regional economic resilience while ensuring access to specialized, community-based capabilities. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 115310 (Support Activities for Forestry), encompassing services such as prescribed burning, vegetation management, and wildlife habitat enhancement. She also regularly procures construction services under NAICS 237990 and 237310 for civil infrastructure projects including trails, bridges, and erosion control structures. Morthland’s expertise centers on mission-critical, ecologically sensitive contracting that balances operational needs with environmental protection standards.