Laurie A. Ridge

Laurie A. Ridge serves as a Procurement Assistant within the U.S. Forest Service’s Region 5 Pacific Southwest Region, supporting the acquisition of critical infrastructure and construction services essential to maintaining national forests and grasslands. In this role, she facilitates the planning, solicitation, and administrative execution of contracts aligned with ecological restoration, wildfire resilience, and public land infrastructure maintenance. Her work ensures compliance with federal procurement regulations while enabling timely delivery of construction and utility services across high-use recreational and operational sites. She typically handles construction-related procurements under the Federal Acquisition Regulation, coordinating with project managers, engineers, and contract specialists to align acquisitions with agency mission priorities. Laurie collaborates closely with a network of qualified contractors specializing in commercial and institutional building construction and electrical systems installation. While specific vendor names are not disclosed, her procurement patterns reflect consistent engagement with firms possessing demonstrated expertise in forest service infrastructure standards, including compliance with environmental and safety protocols for remote and sensitive land areas. Her working relationships emphasize reliability, technical competency, and adherence to sustainability benchmarks required for federal land management projects. Laurie demonstrates a strong commitment to socioeconomic contracting, with 100% of her acquisitions structured as small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. This reflects a deliberate strategy to maximize opportunities for small businesses, including HUBZone, service-disabled veteran-owned, and woman-owned firms, ensuring equitable access to federal contracting opportunities. Her approach reinforces the agency’s broader goals of community engagement and economic development in rural and underserved regions. Her primary procurement focus centers on NAICS 236220 (Commercial and Institutional Building Construction) and NAICS 238210 (Electrical Contractors), encompassing the construction and renovation of ranger stations, visitor centers, utility systems, and maintenance facilities. She brings specialized knowledge in construction compliance, building code alignment, and electrical infrastructure integration tailored to the unique demands of federal land management environments.