Linda J Hawkins

Linda J. Hawkins serves as a Procurement Technician with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service, supporting the acquisition of critical services that sustain national forest infrastructure and operational readiness. In this role, she facilitates the execution of procurement actions under FAR Part 13 and Part 19, ensuring compliance with federal contracting regulations while advancing the agency’s mission to maintain ecological resilience and public access across federal lands. Her responsibilities include preparing solicitation documents, evaluating vendor proposals, managing contract modifications, and coordinating with program managers to align acquisitions with operational priorities such as wildfire mitigation, trail maintenance, and forest health restoration. Linda maintains consistent working relationships with 358 INVESTMENTS, LLC, a primary contractor supporting air transportation and logistical operations for remote forest service activities. Her procurement patterns reflect a preference for established vendors with proven capabilities in specialized support services, particularly those experienced in operating within federally managed wilderness areas. She collaborates closely with contractors to ensure service delivery meets stringent safety, environmental, and logistical standards required for federal land management. Her procurement portfolio demonstrates a strong commitment to small business participation, with 86.8% of her awards structured as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. This reflects a deliberate focus on empowering small, community-based firms to contribute to national forest operations, aligning with USDA’s broader socioeconomic goals. She routinely prioritizes small business eligibility criteria and actively promotes vendor outreach to ensure equitable access to contracting opportunities. Linda’s primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 481212 (Nonscheduled Chartered Freight Air Transportation), which supports the transport of personnel, equipment, and suppression resources to inaccessible wildfire zones. She also procures related services under NAICS 488190 (Other Support Activities for Air Transportation) and NAICS 115310 (Support Activities for Forestry), demonstrating specialized expertise in aviation logistics and field-based forestry support. Her technical domain centers on mission-critical aerial and ground operations essential to forest health and emergency response.