Theresa Peterson

Theresa D. Peterson serves as a Purchasing Agent for the Lolo National Forest under the U.S. Forest Service, where she manages the acquisition of goods and services critical to sustaining forested ecosystems and public infrastructure in western Montana. Her procurement responsibilities encompass a broad range of mission-critical contracts, including forest road maintenance, trail construction, ecological restoration, and water systems support. She ensures compliance with federal acquisition regulations while aligning purchases with the agency’s strategic priorities in ecological stewardship, infrastructure resilience, and public safety. Her work directly enables field operations by securing timely, high-quality resources that support land management objectives across a vast and topographically complex region. Theresa maintains consistent working relationships with a core group of contractors including Quality Construction Co., YOY Inc., Century Warehousing, Inc., Oregon Woods, Inc., and the County of Kootenai. These partnerships are characterized by long-term reliability and technical alignment with forestry-specific needs, particularly in heavy civil construction, timber handling, and logistical support. She prioritizes vendors with demonstrated expertise in remote-site operations, environmental compliance, and seasonal work cycles typical of federal forest lands. A defining feature of Theresa’s procurement strategy is her exclusive use of Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, reflecting a steadfast commitment to fostering economic opportunity within rural and regional small enterprises. She consistently directs contracts to small businesses, ensuring broad participation across diverse socioeconomic categories without preference for specific designations like 8(a) or HUBZone, but rather emphasizing size-based eligibility and local capacity. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 115310 (Support Activities for Forestry), encompassing brush clearing, fuel reduction, and silvicultural services. She also frequently procures structural steel and precast concrete work for bridge and culvert repair (238120), alongside technical consulting for ecological assessments (541690) and specialized handtools for forest operations. Her domain expertise centers on the intersection of environmental compliance, rugged infrastructure, and sustainable land management practices.