Lee Harrelson

Lee Harrelson serves as a Forest Engineer with the Cibola National Forest under the U.S. Forest Service, where he plays a pivotal role in managing and executing procurement activities essential to maintaining federal forest infrastructure and ecological resilience. Responsible for acquiring technical services and construction support, Harrelson ensures that field operations—including wildfire mitigation, road maintenance, and recreation site sanitation—are enabled through compliant, mission-aligned contracts. His acquisitions focus on heavy civil engineering and resource extraction services critical to sustaining public land accessibility and environmental integrity, aligning closely with the agency’s operational and stewardship priorities. Harrelson maintains consistent working relationships with key contractors including RELIANCE CONTRACTORS INC and ALERTWEST, INC, both of which provide specialized expertise in heavy civil construction and forest land management services. These partnerships are characterized by repeat engagements and a shared understanding of federal environmental compliance, safety protocols, and remote-site logistics. His procurement approach emphasizes reliability, technical proficiency, and adherence to National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements, fostering long-term vendor collaboration grounded in performance and regulatory alignment. A strong advocate for small business participation, Harrelson consistently prioritizes Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, with approximately two-thirds of his acquisitions reserved for small businesses. This reflects a deliberate strategy to foster local economic development and increase contractor diversity within rural and underserved regions of New Mexico. While no-set-aside awards occur, they are typically reserved for uniquely complex or time-sensitive projects requiring specialized capabilities not readily available among small firms. His procurement portfolio is concentrated in NAICS codes 212321 (Construction Sand and Gravel Mining), 237310 (Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction), and 237990 (Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction), reflecting deep expertise in terrestrial infrastructure development within sensitive forest ecosystems. He routinely procures earthmoving, erosion control, trail construction, and aggregate sourcing services—all requiring precise environmental mitigation planning and coordination with natural resource specialists.