Philip Earhart

Philip Earhart serves as the Project Manager for the Ocoee Ranger District within the USDA Forest Service, overseeing the planning, acquisition, and execution of critical land management projects across Tennessee’s national forest lands. His role centers on procuring services that enhance ecological resilience, support wildfire mitigation, and maintain public infrastructure such as trails, access roads, and forest restoration sites. Earhart manages a portfolio of construction, vegetation management, and habitat restoration contracts aligned with the Forest Service’s mission to sustain healthy ecosystems and ensure safe public access. He works closely with field biologists, engineers, and land use planners to translate ecological objectives into actionable procurement requirements that meet federal environmental and operational standards. Earhart maintains a consistent working relationship with 358 INVESTMENTS, LLC, a key contractor specializing in ecological restoration and land stewardship services. His procurement patterns reflect a preference for long-term, performance-based partnerships with vendors capable of delivering complex, site-specific work in remote and ecologically sensitive areas. These collaborations emphasize adaptive management, compliance with NEPA and ESA requirements, and the use of best available science in execution. He exclusively utilizes Total Small Business Set-Aside authorities under FAR 19.5, ensuring all acquisitions are reserved for small businesses. This reflects a strong institutional commitment to fostering local economic development and empowering small enterprises with the technical capacity to execute forest health projects. His contracting approach prioritizes socioeconomic equity and capacity building within rural and underserved communities. Earhart’s procurement focus is narrowly concentrated on NAICS 115112 (Soil Preparation, Planting, and Cultivating), reflecting deep expertise in ecological restoration, native species reforestation, invasive species control, and erosion mitigation. He procures services involving site preparation, seedling establishment, prescribed burning support, and vegetation monitoring—all essential to restoring degraded forest ecosystems and enhancing landscape connectivity. His domain expertise lies in integrating ecological science with field-level implementation through targeted, small business-led contracts.