Michael D. Smith

Michael D. Smith serves as a Contract Specialist within the 6982AF Central Federal Lands Division of the Federal Highway Administration, where he manages the full lifecycle of procurement actions for critical transportation infrastructure projects across federally managed lands. His responsibilities include developing solicitation documents, conducting market research, evaluating proposals, and administering contracts for highway, bridge, and civil engineering works essential to public access in national parks, forests, and Native American territories. Smith’s acquisitions are strategically aligned with the agency’s mission to ensure safe, durable, and sustainable transportation networks in remote and environmentally sensitive areas, with a focus on compliance with federal acquisition regulations and performance-based contracting principles. Smith maintains consistent working relationships with a core group of experienced contractors, including STEELHEAD CONSTRUCTORS JV, HERBACK GENERAL ENGINEERING LLC, SEB ENGINEERING INC., S.T. RHODES CONSTRUCTION INCORPORATED, and MCCULLOUGH CONSTRUCTION INC. These firms are frequently selected for their proven expertise in complex civil construction, earthwork, and structural engineering on federal lands. His contracting approach emphasizes performance outcomes, technical competency, and past performance evaluation, fostering long-term partnerships with vendors who demonstrate reliability in challenging field conditions and regulatory environments. His procurement patterns reflect a strong preference for open competition, with 66.7% of awards issued without set-asides, while 33.3% are structured as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5. This balance underscores a commitment to fostering small business participation without compromising project scale or technical requirements. Smith actively promotes equitable access for small businesses while maintaining rigorous standards for capability and capacity. His entire procurement portfolio is focused on NAICS 237310—Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction—reflecting deep specialization in civil infrastructure. He procures turnkey construction services for roadways, retaining structures, drainage systems, and bridge rehabilitation, requiring expertise in federal environmental compliance, geotechnical engineering, and construction management under the National Environmental Policy Act and other regulatory frameworks.