Michael E. Carico

Michael E. Carico serves as a key procurement professional within the USDA Forest Service’s CSA Southwest 7 unit, responsible for managing contracts that support the maintenance, modernization, and resilience of critical infrastructure across national forests in the southwestern U.S. His work directly advances the agency’s mission to ensure safe public access, effective wildfire response, and sustainable resource management through the procurement of transportation, water, and facility infrastructure. Carico routinely handles complex construction and engineering acquisitions, including road and bridge rehabilitation, culvert and drainage upgrades, and visitor facility renovations, ensuring compliance with federal contracting regulations and environmental stewardship standards. He maintains consistent working relationships with a core group of contractors including Atlantic Pacific Standard LLC, 358 Investments, LLC, Boom Concrete Inc, Kramme Construction, LLC, and Schuck Development Corp., all of which specialize in heavy civil construction and specialty trade services. These partnerships reflect a preference for experienced, locally rooted firms capable of executing technically demanding projects in remote, ecologically sensitive environments. Carico’s procurement approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes, rigorous site-specific planning, and contractor accountability for safety and environmental compliance. Carico demonstrates an unwavering commitment to small business participation, with 100% of his acquisitions structured as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. This consistent policy ensures equitable access for small, locally owned firms, fostering economic development in rural communities and strengthening the agency’s reliance on agile, community-based contractors. His contracting patterns reflect a deliberate strategy to maximize small business involvement without compromising project complexity or mission-critical delivery timelines. His primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 237310 (Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction), followed by 238990 (All Other Specialty Trade Contractors) and 237990 (Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction). He routinely procures services related to concrete placement, drainage systems, structural repairs, and site utilities, demonstrating deep expertise in civil infrastructure delivery within federal land management contexts.