Steve Behrns

Steve Behrns serves as a key procurement lead within the U.S. Forest Service’s R10 Alaska Regional Office, responsible for managing acquisitions that sustain critical infrastructure and operational capabilities across Alaska’s remote and ecologically sensitive federal lands. His work directly supports the agency’s mission to ensure safe, reliable access to forested and wilderness areas through the procurement of transportation, forestry support, and wood products infrastructure. He handles a diverse portfolio of contracts under the Federal Acquisition Regulation, with a strong emphasis on construction support, forest management services, and timber processing systems essential to maintaining federal land accessibility and ecological resilience. Behrns maintains collaborative relationships with a network of Alaska-based and regional contractors specializing in forestry support and sawmill operations. While no single vendor dominates his award portfolio, he consistently engages with small, locally rooted firms capable of operating in extreme environments and meeting stringent environmental compliance standards. His contracting approach prioritizes vendor reliability, logistical adaptability, and deep regional expertise, fostering long-term partnerships with contractors who understand the unique challenges of Arctic and subarctic operations. His procurement strategy is fully aligned with a 100% small business set-aside policy under FAR 19.5, reflecting an unwavering commitment to socioeconomic inclusion. He actively prioritizes contracts awarded to small businesses, including HUBZone, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned, and Women-Owned firms, ensuring that economic opportunities flow to underserved communities within Alaska’s rural regions. Behrns specializes in NAICS 115310 (Support Activities for Forestry) and 321113 (Sawmills), focusing on services such as road and trail maintenance, fuelwood harvesting, timber transport logistics, and sustainable forest product processing. His technical expertise lies in procurement for field-based operations requiring specialized equipment, cold-weather operational readiness, and compliance with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) requirements.