Thomas Shelton

Thomas Shelton serves as a key procurement lead within the USDA Forest Service’s CSA East 9 unit, overseeing contracts critical to the operational integrity of national forests and grasslands. His responsibilities center on managing acquisition strategies for facility maintenance, environmental infrastructure, and ecological support services, ensuring compliance with federal procurement regulations and agency mission objectives. Shelton primarily handles construction-related contracts under the NAICS 238220 category, focusing on plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning systems essential to maintaining safe, functional facilities across remote and ecologically sensitive sites. His work directly supports the agency’s priorities in forest health, pest control, and scientific research infrastructure by enabling reliable utility and environmental control systems. Shelton maintains consistent working relationships with a core group of specialized contractors, including LightBox Parent, L.P., Larkos Packing and Distribution Inc., Elf’s Landscaping Inc., Nelts of CT, LLC, and Richard Kyllander. These vendors are frequently engaged for niche, site-specific services ranging from HVAC installation and maintenance to landscaping and environmental support logistics. His contracting approach emphasizes reliability, local responsiveness, and technical proficiency in managing infrastructure under challenging field conditions, fostering long-term partnerships with firms experienced in federal environmental and forest service environments. Shelton demonstrates an unwavering commitment to small business participation, directing 100% of his acquisitions toward total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. This policy ensures that contracting opportunities are exclusively available to small businesses, promoting economic development and workforce resilience within rural and forest-adjacent communities. His procurement patterns reflect a deliberate alignment with socioeconomic goals, prioritizing firms that bring specialized capabilities while advancing the agency’s equity and inclusion objectives. His technical expertise is concentrated in NAICS 238220, with a focus on mechanical systems, climate-controlled facility retrofits, and utility infrastructure upgrades essential to field stations, research labs, and visitor centers. Shelton’s domain knowledge includes compliance with environmental standards for construction in protected lands, making him a vital link between operational needs and sustainable infrastructure delivery.