Matthew Lark

Matthew Lark serves as a key procurement professional within the Finger Lakes National Forest, supporting the U.S. Forest Service’s mission to advance ecological resilience through strategic contracting. He manages acquisitions aligned with science-based forest management, overseeing contracts for vegetation control, invasive species suppression, and stand improvement activities. His work ensures that federal land management objectives are met through compliant, efficient procurement processes that prioritize environmental outcomes and operational readiness. Lark routinely handles service-based contracts requiring technical expertise in forestry practices and ecological restoration, coordinating with field biologists and land managers to translate operational needs into solicitation requirements. While specific contractor names are not publicly disclosed, Lark maintains consistent partnerships with specialty trade contractors and forestry support firms experienced in ecological restoration work. His procurement patterns reflect a preference for vendors with demonstrated capability in on-the-ground forest treatment, including brush clearing, prescribed burning support, and native plant establishment. These relationships are built on technical proficiency, regulatory compliance, and adherence to sustainable land management standards, fostering long-term vendor collaboration grounded in shared environmental stewardship goals. Lark exhibits a full commitment to small business participation, directing 100% of eligible acquisitions toward small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. This reflects a deliberate strategy to empower local and regional firms with specialized forestry expertise, ensuring economic opportunity within the communities surrounding the National Forest. His contracting approach prioritizes socioeconomic equity, consistently channeling opportunities to small businesses without reliance on other set-aside programs such as 8(a) or HUBZone, underscoring a broad-based commitment to small business vitality in rural procurement ecosystems. His primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 238990 (All Other Specialty Trade Contractors), encompassing site-specific land treatment services, and NAICS 115310 (Support Activities for Forestry), which includes silvicultural support, equipment operation, and ecological monitoring. Lark’s expertise centers on procuring labor-intensive, field-based services critical to maintaining forest health, reducing wildfire fuels, and enhancing biodiversity through targeted vegetation management.