Mike Bigelow

Mike Bigelow serves as a Forest Engineer within the USDA Forest Service’s Incident Procurement unit, where he plays a critical role in securing specialized logistical and operational resources for wildland fire response and all-hazard incident management. His expertise bridges technical forestry engineering with acquisition strategy, ensuring that incident command teams receive timely access to mission-critical infrastructure such as mobile command units, heavy earthmoving equipment, water suppression systems, and temporary field housing. He manages solicitations under FAR Part 13 and Part 14 procedures, prioritizing rapid deployment contracts that meet the dynamic demands of emergency response operations across national forests and grasslands. Bigelow collaborates closely with a network of qualified small businesses and specialized contractors experienced in emergency response logistics, infrastructure mobilization, and forestry support services. While specific contractor names are not publicly disclosed, his procurement patterns reflect consistent engagement with firms possessing proven capabilities in incident-specific equipment deployment, temporary facility setup, and terrain-adaptive construction. He fosters long-term vendor partnerships grounded in performance reliability, rapid scalability, and compliance with federal incident command system (ICS) standards. A staunch advocate for small business inclusion, Bigelow consistently prioritizes socioeconomic set-asides, directing 75% of his acquisitions to total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5 and reserving 25% specifically for HUBZone-certified firms. His contracting approach actively promotes economic opportunity in rural and underserved communities, aligning with federal goals to strengthen resilience through local capacity building. His primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 237310 (Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction), reflecting the need for rapid road and access route restoration during fire events, and NAICS 115310 (Support Activities for Forestry), encompassing fuel reduction, fireline construction, and debris clearance services. Bigelow’s technical domain expertise ensures that all acquisitions meet rigorous safety, environmental, and operational standards for wildland firefighting and post-incident recovery.