Lisa Rakich

Lisa Rakich serves as a Procurement Technician for the Custer Gallatin National Forest, supporting the U.S. Forest Service’s mission to maintain critical infrastructure across federally protected lands. In this role, she manages the acquisition lifecycle for construction, maintenance, and support services essential to public safety, ecological stewardship, and recreational access. Her responsibilities include preparing solicitation documents, evaluating vendor proposals, ensuring compliance with FAR regulations, and coordinating with project managers to align procurement actions with operational needs. She routinely handles contracts for heavy civil engineering, forestry support, and facility maintenance, ensuring timely and compliant delivery of goods and services across remote and ecologically sensitive terrain. Lisa maintains consistent working relationships with key contractors including TK3, LLC and KOMMODITIES CORP, both of which provide specialized construction and logistical support services. Her procurement patterns reflect a preference for established vendors with proven experience in remote-site operations and federal environmental compliance. She collaborates closely with contractors to ensure adherence to safety standards, sustainability requirements, and seasonal constraints inherent to forest service operations, fostering reliable, long-term vendor partnerships grounded in performance and regulatory alignment. A strong advocate for small business participation, Lisa consistently prioritizes Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, with over 64% of her acquisitions designated for small businesses. She also supports Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses and HUBZone firms, reflecting a deliberate commitment to socioeconomic contracting goals. Her pattern of award distribution demonstrates a strategic emphasis on expanding opportunities for small, community-based vendors capable of delivering essential services in rural and underserved regions. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 237990 (Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction) and 115310 (Support Activities for Forestry), with additional emphasis on janitorial services, highway and bridge construction, and environmental consulting. She specializes in acquiring services related to trail and road maintenance, wildfire mitigation infrastructure, ranger station upkeep, and ecological restoration support, demonstrating deep familiarity with the technical demands of managing federal forest lands.