Shelly M. Berna

Shelly M. Berna serves as a key procurement professional within the U.S. Forest Service’s R10 Alaska Regional Office, supporting mission-critical operations across Alaska’s vast and remote federal lands. Responsible for managing acquisitions that sustain infrastructure resilience and operational readiness, Berna handles contracts for essential services including facility maintenance, transportation logistics, and environmental compliance support. Her work directly enables safe public access to federal forests and wilderness areas by ensuring reliable transportation networks and functional facilities in challenging climatic and geographic conditions. She operates within a highly specialized procurement environment shaped by Alaska’s unique logistical constraints and ecological sensitivities. Berna maintains collaborative relationships with a diverse pool of vendors, particularly small businesses equipped to operate in remote and austere environments. While specific contractor names are not publicly disclosed, her procurement patterns reflect consistent engagement with regional service providers experienced in Alaska’s logistical realities—ranging from marine and inland water transport operators to janitorial and facility support firms with proven on-the-ground capabilities. Her working relationships emphasize responsiveness, adaptability, and local knowledge, fostering partnerships that prioritize continuity and reliability over large-scale national contractors. A strong advocate for small business inclusion, Berna consistently applies a 80% total small business set-aside preference across her acquisition portfolio, aligning with FAR 19.5 guidelines. This reflects a deliberate strategy to empower Alaska-based and socioeconomically disadvantaged firms, including 8(a), HUBZone, and women-owned small businesses, ensuring economic opportunity aligns with operational needs in underserved communities. Her contracting approach prioritizes equitable access and regional economic development through targeted socioeconomic set-asides. Her primary procurement focus centers on NAICS 561720 (Janitorial Services), reflecting the need for ongoing facility upkeep in remote ranger stations and field offices. She also frequently procures coastal and inland water freight transportation (NAICS 483113 and 483211), testing laboratory services (541380), and boat dealership services (441222), demonstrating deep expertise in logistics, environmental monitoring, and marine infrastructure support tailored to Alaska’s unique operational landscape.