Malinda Horitski

Malinda Horitski serves as a Contract Specialist at the Rocky Mountain Regional Office of the U.S. Forest Service, where she plays a pivotal role in executing procurements that advance ecological restoration, wildfire mitigation, and infrastructure resilience across public lands. She manages the full lifecycle of acquisition actions—from market research and solicitation development to contract award and administration—ensuring compliance with federal regulations and alignment with the agency’s mission of sustainable land stewardship. Her portfolio primarily includes services and construction contracts supporting forest health, watershed protection, and operational readiness in remote and ecologically sensitive environments. Horitski collaborates with a diverse network of vendors, including small businesses specializing in forestry support, environmental remediation, and civil construction. She fosters long-term partnerships with contractors who bring technical expertise in ecological restoration, trail and road maintenance, and forest infrastructure development. Her procurement approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes, clear statement of work development, and rigorous contractor oversight to ensure mission-critical deliverables are met under challenging field conditions. A staunch advocate for socioeconomic inclusion, Horitski consistently prioritizes small business participation, with nearly 90% of her acquisitions set aside for small businesses under FAR 19.5. She actively leverages HUBZone and other small business programs to expand access for economically disadvantaged firms in rural and underserved regions. Her contracting patterns reflect a deliberate strategy to stimulate local economic development while building a resilient, geographically diverse supplier base capable of supporting the Forest Service’s field operations. Her primary procurement focus centers on NAICS 339950 (Sign Manufacturing) for wayfinding and safety signage, NAICS 115310 (Support Activities for Forestry) for ecological services such as tree planting and invasive species control, and NAICS 237310 (Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction) for access road and trail infrastructure. She brings deep domain knowledge in land management logistics, environmental compliance, and mission-critical construction, ensuring acquisitions directly enhance public land accessibility and ecosystem health.