Richard F. Harris

Richard F. Harris serves as a Contracting Officer for the Rocky Mountain Regional Office of the U.S. Forest Service, where he manages procurement activities critical to ecological restoration, wildfire mitigation, and infrastructure resilience across federal public lands. His role involves the full lifecycle management of contracts under the Federal Acquisition Regulation, ensuring compliance with environmental stewardship objectives and operational efficiency. He routinely handles acquisitions for air transportation support, construction services, and logistical operations essential to field-based forest management, often coordinating with technical specialists to align contract requirements with ecological and safety priorities. While specific contractor names are not publicly disclosed, Harris maintains collaborative relationships with a diverse pool of vendors, including firms specializing in aerial surveillance, wildfire suppression logistics, and commercial building construction for remote field stations. His contracting approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes, with a preference for vendors demonstrating proven experience in rugged terrain operations and sustainable construction practices. He fosters long-term partnerships with contractors who adhere to federal environmental standards and possess the capacity to scale operations across the Rocky Mountain region. Harris exhibits a strong commitment to small business participation, with 20% of his acquisitions designated as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. Although the majority of his contracts are open competition, he actively encourages small business eligibility through pre-solicitation outreach and clear technical requirements that enable capable small firms to compete. His socioeconomic contracting patterns reflect a balanced approach, prioritizing equitable access while maintaining mission-critical performance standards. His primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 481211 (nonscheduled chartered passenger air transportation) and 488190 (other support activities for air transportation), reflecting the agency’s reliance on aerial operations for fire monitoring, seed dispersal, and crew transport. He also frequently procures commercial and institutional building construction services under NAICS 236220 to support ranger stations and field offices. His technical expertise centers on integrating aviation logistics with land management operations, ensuring contracts deliver both operational readiness and ecological integrity.