Shirley A. Cochran

Shirley A. Cochran serves as a Contract Specialist with the USDA Forest Service–SPOC NW, where she plays a pivotal role in executing procurements that advance the agency’s mission of ecological restoration, infrastructure resilience, and public safety. She manages a diverse portfolio of contracts focused on trail and bridge rehabilitation, reforestation support, and maintenance of remote administrative and recreational facilities. Her work ensures compliance with federal acquisition regulations while aligning procurement actions with the Forest Service’s environmental stewardship goals. Cochran specializes in complex, mission-critical acquisitions requiring technical expertise in civil works, forestry operations, and ecological services. Cochran cultivates strong working relationships with a broad network of contractors, particularly those with proven experience in remote-site construction and ecological restoration. She regularly engages with small businesses capable of delivering specialized services in forestry support, trail engineering, and erosion control, fostering partnerships that emphasize performance, sustainability, and adaptability in challenging terrains. Her procurement approach prioritizes vendor reliability, safety compliance, and environmental stewardship, ensuring that contractors meet stringent federal standards for resource conservation and public access. A staunch advocate for socioeconomic equity in federal contracting, Cochran consistently prioritizes small business participation, with over 90% of her acquisitions structured as set-asides. Her portfolio is heavily weighted toward Total Small Business Set-Asides (53.3%) and HUBZone Set-Asides (36.7%), reflecting a deliberate strategy to empower economically disadvantaged rural enterprises. She actively leverages FAR 19.5 provisions to expand opportunities for small, locally rooted firms with demonstrated capacity in forestry and infrastructure support. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 115310 (Support Activities for Forestry), encompassing services like vegetation management, wildfire fuel reduction, and reforestation logistics. She also regularly procures highway and bridge construction (237310) and water infrastructure (237110) to support remote forest operations. Cochran’s technical expertise spans environmental compliance, right-of-way management, and sustainable construction practices, making her a key steward of the nation’s forest infrastructure.