Lois I. Ford

Lois I. Ford serves as a Contracting Officer for the Umpqua National Forest under the U.S. Forest Service, where she manages a diverse portfolio of acquisitions critical to ecological restoration and public land stewardship. Her responsibilities include planning, soliciting, awarding, and administering contracts that support vegetation management, post-fire rehabilitation, reforestation, and infrastructure maintenance across forested lands. She ensures compliance with federal procurement regulations while aligning acquisitions with the agency’s mission to sustain healthy forest ecosystems and enhance public recreation opportunities. Her portfolio primarily includes services and supplies related to forestry operations, environmental remediation, and facility support. Lois maintains strong, ongoing relationships with key contractors including G E Forestry, Inc., Green Hills Forestry LLC, Three Stripes Contracting LLC, and Umpqua Valley Forestry, Inc., all of which specialize in forest management, timber stand improvement, and habitat restoration services. Her contracting approach emphasizes collaborative, performance-based partnerships with firms possessing demonstrated expertise in ecological operations and wildfire recovery. These vendor relationships are characterized by repeat engagements and a shared commitment to sustainable land management practices. A staunch advocate for small business participation, Lois consistently prioritizes Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, with 94.1% of her awards reserved for small businesses, and 5.9% designated for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses. Her procurement patterns reflect a deliberate strategy to foster economic opportunity within rural and forest-dependent communities, ensuring equitable access to federal contracting opportunities for qualified small entities. Her primary NAICS focus areas include 324121 (Asphalt Paving Mixture and Block Manufacturing) and 561720 (Janitorial Services), alongside niche procurement in 423310 (Lumber and Wood Products Wholesaling), 562991 (Septic Tank Services), and 562111 (Solid Waste Collection). These reflect the operational needs of remote forest infrastructure, including road maintenance, waste management, and facility upkeep, demonstrating her technical fluency in supporting both ecological and logistical demands of federal land management.