Thomas M. Underwood

Thomas M. Underwood serves as a Procurement Technician at the U.S. Forest Service’s Region 4 Intermountain Regional Office, supporting the agency’s mission to sustainably manage federal forest lands through strategic acquisition of critical operational services. In this role, he facilitates the procurement of real estate leasing, aviation logistics, and infrastructure support functions essential to field operations, wildfire resilience, and public land access. Underwood works closely with program managers to translate mission needs into compliant solicitation documents, ensuring alignment with FAR guidelines and agency acquisition policies. His responsibilities include preparing contracting actions, coordinating with legal and financial stakeholders, and maintaining accurate procurement records for audit readiness. Underwood collaborates with a diverse range of vendors, primarily in real estate leasing, air transportation support, and facility management sectors. While no single contractor dominates his portfolio, he routinely engages with firms experienced in federal land use agreements, aircraft ground support services, and nonresidential property management. His working relationships are characterized by a focus on reliability, regulatory compliance, and responsiveness to the unique logistical demands of remote forest service operations. His contracting patterns reflect a strong preference for open competition, with 62.5% of acquisitions conducted without set-asides. However, he actively supports socioeconomic programs, allocating 25% of opportunities to 8(a) certified firms and 12.5% to total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5, demonstrating a balanced commitment to both competition and small business inclusion. Underwood’s procurement focus is concentrated in NAICS 531190 (Lessors of Other Real Estate Property) and 531120 (Lessors of Nonresidential Buildings), reflecting his central role in securing facility leases for ranger stations and field offices. He also frequently procures services under NAICS 488190 for air transportation support, including helicopter landing pads, fuel logistics, and aerial firefighting coordination. His expertise lies in acquiring mission-critical real property and aviation-enabled services that enable the Forest Service’s operational presence across rugged, federally managed landscapes.