Malinda A. Horitski

Malinda A. Horitski serves as a Purchasing Agent for the Rocky Mountain Regional Office of the U.S. Forest Service, where she plays a pivotal role in executing mission-critical acquisitions that support ecological restoration, wildfire mitigation, and public land stewardship. Her procurement activities center on operational support services and infrastructure resilience initiatives, ensuring the agency’s field operations are adequately resourced. She manages a diverse portfolio of contracts aligned with the Forest Service’s strategic priorities, including ecological health programs, facility maintenance, and workforce support services, all while adhering to federal acquisition regulations and sustainability goals. Horitski collaborates with a broad network of vendors, primarily small businesses and specialized contractors experienced in forestry support, environmental services, and public land infrastructure. Her procurement approach emphasizes long-term vendor partnerships grounded in performance reliability and regulatory compliance, fostering relationships with firms capable of delivering specialized services in remote, ecologically sensitive areas. She routinely engages with contractors possessing expertise in forest management support, equipment maintenance, and site-specific janitorial and construction services tailored to federal land use requirements. A staunch advocate for small business participation, Horitski consistently prioritizes set-aside opportunities, with 85.7% of her acquisitions designated for total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. Her contracting patterns reflect a deliberate commitment to socioeconomic programs, regularly awarding contracts to small disadvantaged businesses, HUBZone firms, and other qualified small entities that bring local knowledge and capacity to federal land management efforts. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 115310 (Support Activities for Forestry), where she secures services such as prescribed burning assistance, invasive species control, and reforestation logistics. Additional emphasis is placed on NAICS 561720 (Janitorial Services) for facility upkeep and NAICS 237310 and 238350 for trail, road, and structural improvements. Her domain expertise spans ecological operations, land management infrastructure, and workforce support, positioning her as a key enabler of the Forest Service’s stewardship mission across the Rocky Mountain region.