Paula S. Winningham

Paula S. Winningham serves as a Contract Specialist with the USDA Forest Service–SPOC NW, where she manages the full lifecycle of acquisitions critical to sustaining national forest ecosystems. Her work centers on procuring infrastructure, environmental restoration, and public safety services that align with the agency’s mission of ecological resilience and recreational access. She handles complex, mission-critical contracts under FAR Part 19 and Part 36, often coordinating with field engineers and environmental specialists to ensure technical compliance and mission alignment. Her acquisitions typically support trail and bridge rehabilitation, wildfire mitigation infrastructure, reforestation, and facility maintenance in remote and ecologically sensitive areas. Paula cultivates strategic relationships with a diverse pool of vendors, particularly small businesses capable of delivering specialized forestry and environmental services. She works closely with contractors experienced in ecological restoration, remote logistics, and public land infrastructure, fostering collaborative partnerships that prioritize performance, sustainability, and regulatory adherence. Her contracting approach emphasizes transparency, risk mitigation, and long-term vendor reliability, ensuring that service delivery meets the unique operational demands of federal forest lands. A strong advocate for socioeconomic equity, Paula consistently prioritizes small business participation, with over 62% of her acquisitions set aside for total small businesses under FAR 19.5. She actively promotes opportunities for service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses and other disadvantaged firms, reflecting a deliberate commitment to inclusive contracting. Her portfolio reflects a balanced blend of set-aside and open competitions, ensuring competitive rigor while advancing federal socioeconomic goals. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 561720 (janitorial and facility support services), 115310 (forestry support activities), and 237310 (highway, street, and bridge construction). She specializes in acquiring services related to trail maintenance, erosion control, hazardous fuel reduction, and infrastructure repair in wilderness settings. Paula’s expertise spans environmental compliance, performance-based contracting, and site-specific logistical planning, making her a key enabler of the Forest Service’s on-the-ground mission.