Theresa Hood

Theresa Hood serves as a key procurement specialist within the Incident Procurement Logistics unit of the U.S. Forest Service, supporting rapid-response wildland fire operations through the acquisition of mission-critical equipment and logistical systems. She manages the end-to-end contracting lifecycle for tactical gear, fire-resistant textiles, aerial ignition systems, and field shelters essential to National Type 2 Firefighter Crews. Her work ensures the timely deployment of durable, standards-compliant resources under dynamic operational conditions, aligning with the Forest Service’s emergency response mandate and federal acquisition regulations. Hood’s portfolio emphasizes urgent, mission-driven procurements requiring strict adherence to NFPA and OSHA safety benchmarks. She maintains a consistent working relationship with ONTIC ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING, INC, a trusted vendor specializing in high-performance ruggedized equipment for fire suppression and field logistics. Her contracting patterns reflect a preference for established suppliers with proven capability in military-grade and wildland-specific product lines, often engaging in sole-source or limited-competition actions under FAR 6.3 exceptions for exigent circumstances. Her vendor partnerships prioritize technical reliability, rapid turnaround, and compliance with federal specifications for fire-resistant materials and portable field systems. Theresa demonstrates a strong commitment to small business participation, with 71.4% of her acquisitions structured as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. Her contracting strategy consistently prioritizes small businesses capable of delivering specialized fire suppression tools, protective textiles, and field shelters, reinforcing the agency’s socioeconomic goals without compromising operational readiness. She actively seeks out HUBZone and SDVOSB firms with niche expertise in ruggedized hardware and tactical equipment manufacturing. Her procurement focus centers on NAICS 314994 for fire-resistant cordage and fabric, 332510 for heavy-duty hardware components, and 332994 for specialized ordnance accessories used in controlled burns. She also procures pumping systems under 333914 and infrastructure support under 237310 for firebreak construction. Her technical domain expertise lies in the integration of ruggedized, field-deployable systems that meet the extreme environmental demands of wildland firefighting operations.