Ron Penrose

Ron Penrose serves as a Contracting Officer for the Lolo National Forest under the U.S. Forest Service, managing the acquisition of critical services and construction projects essential to sustaining forested ecosystems and public infrastructure in western Montana. His portfolio centers on ecological stewardship, transportation resilience, and land management operations, overseeing contracts for forestry support, civil engineering, and public safety-related services. Penrose ensures compliance with federal procurement regulations while aligning acquisitions with the agency’s mission to maintain forest roads, bridges, trails, and water systems. He employs a strategic, risk-informed approach to contracting, balancing operational urgency with long-term sustainability goals. Penrose maintains consistent working relationships with key contractors including Quality Construction Co., YOY Inc., Century Warehousing, Inc., Oregon Woods, Inc., and the County of Kootenai. These partnerships reflect a preference for regional vendors with proven expertise in heavy civil construction, timber handling, and temporary labor support. His procurement strategy emphasizes reliability, local knowledge, and capacity to operate in remote, environmentally sensitive terrains. He fosters collaborative, performance-based contracting relationships that prioritize safety, environmental compliance, and timely delivery of mission-critical services. A strong advocate for small business participation, Penrose structures approximately half of his acquisitions as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5, reflecting a deliberate commitment to socioeconomic equity and regional economic development. His contracting patterns demonstrate a balanced approach between open competitions and targeted set-asides, ensuring broad vendor access while prioritizing opportunities for small, locally based firms. He actively promotes inclusion of small businesses in complex, technical procurements without compromising performance standards. His primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 115310 (Support Activities for Forestry), encompassing vegetation management, fuel reduction, and forest health services, followed by highway and bridge construction (237310) and other heavy civil engineering (237990). He also procures temporary staffing (561320) and landscaping services (561730) to support seasonal and emergency operations. Penrose’s expertise lies in integrating ecological, engineering, and labor needs into compliant, mission-driven acquisitions that uphold federal land management standards.