Michael Jacobson

Michael Jacobson serves as a key procurement lead within the Hiawatha National Forest, operating under the U.S. Forest Service’s Department of Agriculture mission to sustainably manage public lands in the Upper Midwest. He is responsible for planning, soliciting, and awarding contracts that support infrastructure resilience, recreational access, and environmental remediation efforts across National Forest System lands. His acquisitions primarily center on land management operations, with a consistent focus on landscaping and vegetation control services essential to maintaining ecological balance and public safety. Jacobson ensures all procurements align with federal contracting regulations and agency priorities, emphasizing compliance, environmental stewardship, and efficient resource allocation. Jacobson maintains a strong, ongoing relationship with Norris Contracting Inc., a trusted vendor with demonstrated expertise in ecological landscaping and forested land maintenance. His procurement pattern reflects a preference for long-term, performance-based partnerships with contractors who can deliver consistent, high-quality services across diverse terrains and seasonal conditions. These relationships are built on reliability, technical proficiency in native species management, and adherence to environmental compliance standards, enabling the agency to execute complex, multi-year operational goals with minimal disruption. Jacobson’s contracting approach is fully aligned with small business set-aside mandates, with 100% of his acquisitions structured as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. This reflects a deliberate and unwavering commitment to fostering economic opportunity for small, locally based firms with specialized capabilities in land stewardship. He actively prioritizes small business participation as a core component of sustainable procurement, ensuring that community-based contractors contribute meaningfully to federal land management objectives. His procurement portfolio is exclusively focused on NAICS 561730 (Landscaping Services), encompassing vegetation management, trail and campground maintenance, invasive species control, and roadside erosion mitigation. Jacobson possesses deep technical expertise in ecological landscaping practices, including native plant establishment, prescribed burning support, and habitat restoration techniques. His work ensures that public access and environmental health are maintained through precise, ecologically sound contracting strategies.