Michael McCarthy

Michael McCarthy serves as a Contract Specialist at the U.S. Forest Service’s R10 Alaska Regional Office, where he manages the acquisition of critical infrastructure and operational support services essential to maintaining federal land access in Alaska’s remote and ecologically sensitive regions. His responsibilities include planning, soliciting, evaluating, and awarding contracts under the Federal Acquisition Regulation to ensure safe, reliable transportation networks, facility operations, and sustainable forest management. He routinely handles complex procurements for construction, engineering support, and specialized logistics, often navigating challenging environmental and logistical constraints unique to Alaska’s terrain. McCarthy works closely with a diverse pool of vendors, primarily small businesses and specialized contractors experienced in Arctic and subarctic conditions. While no single contractor dominates his portfolio, he fosters long-term partnerships with firms possessing proven expertise in remote-site construction, structural metal fabrication, and marine logistics. His procurement approach emphasizes vendor reliability, technical competency, and adherence to stringent environmental compliance standards, ensuring mission-critical outcomes in high-risk operational environments. A staunch advocate for small business participation, McCarthy consistently prioritizes socioeconomic set-asides, with 70% of his acquisitions designated as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5 and an additional 10% reserved for HUBZone firms. This deliberate focus ensures equitable access to federal opportunities for Alaska-based and underserved businesses, reinforcing the agency’s commitment to local economic resilience and workforce development. His procurement portfolio is heavily concentrated in NAICS 237310 (Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction), reflecting the agency’s core infrastructure mission. He also regularly procures fabricated structural metal components (332312), facilities support services (561210), and coastal freight transportation (483113), demonstrating deep technical familiarity with cold-weather construction methods, modular infrastructure, and supply chain logistics in isolated regions. His expertise lies at the intersection of civil engineering, environmental stewardship, and mission-critical logistics.