Karen Pulliam

Karen Pulliam serves as a Contracting Officer for the National Forests in Alabama, operating under the U.S. Forest Service within the Department of Agriculture. In this role, she is responsible for managing the full lifecycle of procurement actions to support ecological stewardship, infrastructure resilience, and public recreation management across Alabama’s national forest lands. Her portfolio primarily encompasses construction and land management services critical to maintaining trails, roads, bridges, and forested landscapes. Pulliam ensures compliance with federal acquisition regulations while aligning procurement outcomes with the agency’s mission to sustain natural resources for current and future generations. While specific contractor names are not publicly disclosed, Pulliam maintains consistent partnerships with firms specializing in civil construction and ecological landscaping services. She fosters collaborative relationships with vendors who demonstrate technical proficiency in sustainable infrastructure practices, erosion control, and forested site restoration. Her contracting approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes, requiring contractors to adhere to environmental mitigation standards and safety protocols mandated by federal and state regulations. Pulliam demonstrates a robust commitment to socioeconomic contracting, with 100% of her acquisitions structured as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. This reflects a deliberate strategy to maximize opportunities for small businesses, including those certified under HUBZone, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), and Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) programs. Her consistent use of set-asides underscores a dedication to economic inclusion and community-based workforce development in rural Alabama. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 237310 (Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction) and NAICS 561730 (Landscaping Services), reflecting her expertise in civil infrastructure and ecological restoration. She routinely procures services related to trail maintenance, culvert installation, slope stabilization, native vegetation planting, and invasive species removal—domains requiring specialized knowledge of forest ecology and federal land use policies. Pulliam’s technical acumen ensures that acquisitions directly support the long-term health and accessibility of Alabama’s national forest ecosystems.