Steven Howell

Steven Howell serves as a procurement specialist within the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, supporting the U.S. Forest Service’s mission to sustainably manage public lands across Nevada and California. He is responsible for planning, soliciting, and awarding contracts essential to forest health, recreation infrastructure, and ecological restoration. His acquisitions primarily focus on support activities for forestry, including trail maintenance, habitat restoration, erosion control, and water sanitation systems within designated recreation areas. Howell ensures all procurements align with federal regulations and agency priorities, facilitating timely delivery of services that enhance public safety and environmental resilience. While specific contractor names are not publicly disclosed, Howell consistently engages with a network of specialized small businesses qualified in forestry support services. His procurement patterns reflect collaborative, performance-based contracting relationships with vendors possessing expertise in ecological engineering, wildland fire support, and sustainable land management. He prioritizes vendors with proven field experience in arid and mountainous terrains, fostering long-term partnerships that deliver adaptive, site-specific solutions aligned with forest service standards. Howell maintains a 100% Small Business Set-Aside preference under FAR 19.5, demonstrating a robust commitment to socioeconomic equity in federal contracting. All acquisitions are reserved exclusively for small businesses, creating consistent opportunities for firms certified under HUBZone, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), and Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) programs. This approach reinforces the agency’s mandate to strengthen local economies while ensuring access to niche technical capabilities only small firms can provide. His primary procurement focus is NAICS 115310—Support Activities for Forestry—encompassing services such as vegetation management, invasive species control, campground infrastructure upkeep, and wildlife corridor restoration. He specializes in contracting for field-based, labor-intensive operations requiring specialized equipment and ecological compliance expertise. Howell’s domain knowledge ensures that all acquisitions meet rigorous environmental review standards under NEPA and support the long-term ecological integrity of the national forest system.