Maria E. Borodko

Maria E. Borodko serves as a Contract Specialist for the Lincoln National Forest under the U.S. Forest Service, where she manages the full lifecycle of procurement actions supporting sustainable forest management and ecological stewardship. Her responsibilities include soliciting, evaluating, and awarding contracts for critical forestry support services, infrastructure maintenance, and resource conservation initiatives. She plays a pivotal role in aligning acquisition strategies with the agency’s mission to enhance ecosystem resilience, reduce wildfire risk, and preserve habitat through compliant, transparent, and efficient contracting practices. Her portfolio primarily encompasses support activities for forestry, trail and road construction, and related environmental services. Borodko cultivates collaborative relationships with a diverse array of vendors, predominantly small businesses and specialized forestry contractors skilled in vegetation management, fuels reduction, and ecological restoration. She engages regularly with firms experienced in field-based operations, equipment maintenance, and compliance with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements. Her procurement approach emphasizes long-term vendor partnerships grounded in performance accountability, safety standards, and environmental compliance, fostering reliable service delivery across remote and ecologically sensitive landscapes. A staunch advocate for small business participation, Borodko consistently prioritizes socioeconomic set-asides, with 84.7% of her acquisitions designated for total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. She actively promotes opportunities for service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses and 8(a) certified firms, reflecting a deep institutional commitment to equitable access and economic inclusion. Her contracting patterns demonstrate a deliberate strategy to maximize small business engagement while ensuring technical competency and mission readiness. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 115310 (Support Activities for Forestry), where she sources services such as prescribed burning, invasive species control, and forest inventory support. She also manages contracts under NAICS 237310 for trail and road infrastructure and NAICS 561720 for janitorial and facility maintenance. Borodko’s expertise centers on operational forestry support, environmental compliance, and land stewardship contracting, making her a key enabler of the Forest Service’s on-the-ground conservation mission.