Marcia O'Connor

Marcia O’Connor serves as a Contracting Officer for the National Forests in Alabama under the U.S. Forest Service, where she is responsible for managing the full lifecycle of procurement actions to support ecological stewardship and infrastructure resilience across Alabama’s national forest lands. She specializes in acquiring services and construction-related solutions critical to maintaining recreational facilities, restoring native habitats, and ensuring the operational integrity of forest infrastructure. Her acquisitions are primarily focused on plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning systems that support visitor centers, ranger stations, and maintenance facilities, aligning directly with the agency’s mission to sustain public access and environmental health. O’Connor cultivates collaborative relationships with a network of qualified small business contractors, particularly those certified under federal socioeconomic programs. While specific vendor names are not disclosed, her procurement patterns reflect a consistent emphasis on building long-term partnerships with firms possessing demonstrated expertise in HVAC and related building systems. She actively engages vendors through transparent solicitation processes, ensuring technical compliance and performance readiness while fostering accountability and service quality. A staunch advocate for small business inclusion, O’Connor applies a 100% Total Small Business Set-Aside strategy to all eligible acquisitions, in full alignment with FAR Part 19.5. This unwavering commitment ensures that every contract opportunity is reserved exclusively for small businesses, maximizing economic impact within local communities and promoting equitable access to federal contracting. Her approach reflects a deep understanding of socioeconomic contracting frameworks and a proactive effort to empower small business growth through targeted procurement. Her primary technical focus is on NAICS 238220—Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors—reflecting her expertise in mechanical systems for federal facilities. She procures design-build, maintenance, and retrofit services for climate-controlled infrastructure, requiring knowledge of ANSI, ASHRAE, and federal energy efficiency standards. O’Connor’s domain expertise ensures that all acquisitions meet rigorous environmental and operational requirements while supporting the agency’s broader sustainability goals.