Keely Braach

Keely R. Braach serves as a Purchasing Agent for the Custer Gallatin National Forest, a unit of the U.S. Forest Service under the Department of Agriculture, where she manages the acquisition of goods and services essential to maintaining federal lands and supporting public safety and ecological stewardship. Her procurement responsibilities encompass a broad range of operational needs, including janitorial services, facility maintenance supplies, and professional technical support critical to ranger station operations, trail infrastructure, and wildfire mitigation efforts. Braach ensures compliance with federal acquisition regulations while aligning purchases with the agency’s mission to sustainably manage over three million acres of protected forestland. She maintains consistent working relationships with key vendors including TK3, LLC and KOMMODITIES CORP, both of which provide specialized equipment, facility supplies, and operational support services. These partnerships reflect a preference for reliable, responsive vendors capable of delivering mission-critical goods across remote and rugged terrain. Braach’s procurement approach emphasizes efficiency, accountability, and long-term vendor reliability, fostering collaborative relationships that support the Forest Service’s operational continuity. Braach demonstrates a strong commitment to small business participation, with 75% of her acquisitions structured as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5. This pattern underscores her dedication to expanding economic opportunity for small, locally-based firms and aligns with USDA’s broader socioeconomic contracting goals. Her consistent use of set-asides promotes workforce development and regional economic resilience within rural communities adjacent to the national forest. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 561720 (Janitorial Services), which accounts for over half of her activity, followed by 423850 (Service Establishment Equipment and Supplies) and 423420 (Office Equipment Wholesalers), reflecting her role in sustaining day-to-day administrative and facility operations. She also procures professional technical services under NAICS 541990, demonstrating expertise in acquiring specialized support for environmental compliance, resource planning, and infrastructure maintenance across a diverse and challenging geographic landscape.