Norma A. Howard

Norma A. Howard serves as a Contracting Officer for the Western Zone of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service, where she manages the acquisition of critical infrastructure and land stewardship services essential to maintaining national forest ecosystems. Her portfolio encompasses contracts for heavy civil engineering, forestry support activities, and public works projects aligned with wildfire risk reduction, trail and road maintenance, and habitat restoration. She plays a pivotal role in executing the agency’s mission by ensuring timely, compliant, and mission-driven procurement of services that enhance ecological resilience and public safety across federal lands. Howard cultivates collaborative relationships with a diverse array of contractors, including specialty trade firms, heavy civil engineering contractors, and forestry support service providers. She works closely with vendors experienced in sustainable construction practices and environmental compliance, fostering partnerships that prioritize technical expertise in natural resource management. Her procurement approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes and contractor accountability in sensitive ecological environments. A strong advocate for small business participation, Howard consistently prioritizes socioeconomic set-asides, with over 62% of her acquisitions designated for total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. She also actively supports HUBZone contractors, reflecting a deliberate commitment to economic development in underserved rural communities. Her contracting patterns demonstrate a strategic alignment with federal socioeconomic goals, promoting equitable access to federal opportunities for small, disadvantaged, and community-based firms. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS categories including 237310 (Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction), 237990 (Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction), and 115310 (Support Activities for Forestry). She regularly procures services related to erosion control, forest road rehabilitation, gravel sourcing for infrastructure, and specialized forestry support such as fuel reduction and invasive species management, demonstrating deep technical familiarity with land management operations and environmental contracting requirements.