Ken Reese

Ken Reese serves as a Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) for the Cibola National Forest under the U.S. Forest Service, where he provides critical oversight of operational contracts essential to forest management and public safety. In this role, he ensures contractor performance aligns with federal standards and agency priorities, including wildfire mitigation, recreation infrastructure maintenance, and environmental stewardship. His acquisitions primarily support field operations through services related to land management, vegetation control, and sanitation in high-use recreational areas. Ken works closely with contracting officers to evaluate technical proposals, monitor contract compliance, and facilitate timely delivery of mission-critical services across the National Forest System. Ken maintains consistent working relationships with key contractors including RELIANCE CONTRACTORS INC and ALERTWEST, INC, both of which deliver specialized ecological and operational support services. His procurement pattern reflects a preference for long-term, performance-based partnerships with vendors experienced in forest service operations, particularly those capable of executing complex, seasonal, and geographically dispersed tasks. He engages these contractors through task orders under indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) vehicles and service contracts requiring strict adherence to environmental regulations and safety protocols. Ken demonstrates a strong commitment to small business participation, with 100% of his acquisitions structured as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. He actively prioritizes contracting opportunities for small businesses that meet socioeconomic criteria, ensuring equitable access to federal resources while fostering local economic resilience in rural communities surrounding the forest. His procurement approach reinforces the agency’s mission to build capacity among qualified small contractors with proven expertise in natural resource management. His primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 115112 (Soil Preparation, Planting, and Cultivating), reflecting his specialization in vegetation management, invasive species control, and reforestation activities. He also regularly procures services under NAICS 444220 (Recreational Parks and Campgrounds), supporting sanitation, trail maintenance, and visitor facility operations. Ken’s technical expertise centers on ecological restoration, land use compliance, and the implementation of sustainable practices aligned with USDA and Forest Service directives.