Mari Meiners

Mari Meiners serves as a Contracting Officer for the U.S. Forest Service’s R10 Alaska Regional Office, where she manages complex acquisitions critical to maintaining federal infrastructure in Alaska’s remote and ecologically sensitive regions. Her portfolio centers on heavy civil engineering and transportation projects essential for public access to federal lands, including road, bridge, and facility construction. She plays a pivotal role in executing the agency’s mission to ensure safe, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure through compliant, transparent procurement practices under the Federal Acquisition Regulation. Her acquisitions are strategically aligned with operational needs in challenging environments, requiring specialized technical oversight and environmental compliance. Mari works closely with a diverse pool of contractors specializing in heavy civil construction, aviation logistics, and landscape design, fostering partnerships with firms possessing proven experience in Arctic and subarctic conditions. While no single contractor dominates her portfolio, she consistently engages with vendors capable of delivering high-stakes, logistically complex projects in isolated areas, often requiring mobilization of specialized equipment and workforce. Her contracting approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes, rigorous site-specific risk assessment, and contractor accountability in harsh operational climates. Mari demonstrates a strong commitment to small business participation, with nearly half of her acquisitions set aside for total small businesses under FAR 19.5, and a notable 4.8% allocated to Women-Owned Small Businesses. Her procurement patterns reflect a balanced approach between open competition and socioeconomic goals, ensuring broad market access while prioritizing capability and capacity over size alone. She actively supports the inclusion of small, qualified firms with demonstrated expertise in Alaska’s unique construction and operational environments. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 237310 (Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction) and 237990 (Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction), with significant activity in nonscheduled air transportation (481211) and landscape architectural services (541320). She specializes in acquiring mission-critical infrastructure solutions that integrate environmental stewardship, safety, and long-term durability in one of the nation’s most demanding terrains.