Wendy C Whiteman

Wendy C. Whiteman serves as a Contracting Specialist for the Tahoe National Forest under the U.S. Forest Service, where she manages the full lifecycle of procurement actions supporting forest health, infrastructure resilience, and public safety initiatives. Her portfolio centers on acquiring services and construction solutions aligned with active forest restoration, trail and road maintenance, and wildfire mitigation efforts. She ensures compliance with federal acquisition regulations while advancing the agency’s mission of ecological stewardship through transparent, efficient, and mission-driven contracting practices. Whiteman collaborates with a diverse range of contractors specializing in forestry support, civil engineering, and resource management services. Her working relationships include firms with expertise in forest thinning, fuel reduction, erosion control, and trail construction, often engaging both large-scale contractors and specialized small businesses. She fosters collaborative vendor partnerships grounded in performance-based outcomes, emphasizing safety, sustainability, and timely delivery of critical field operations. A strong advocate for small business participation, Whiteman consistently prioritizes socioeconomic set-asides, with over 42% of her acquisitions designated for Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, and nearly 9% reserved for HUBZone firms. She also actively supports Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses, reflecting a deliberate commitment to inclusive contracting that expands economic opportunity while strengthening the local contractor base essential to rural forest operations. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 115310 (Support Activities for Forestry), which accounts for over 43% of her acquisitions, encompassing brush clearing, prescribed burning support, and invasive species management. She also regularly procures highway and bridge construction (237310) and water infrastructure projects (237110), demonstrating technical proficiency in civil works and environmental compliance. Whiteman’s expertise spans the intersection of ecological restoration and public works, ensuring that contracted services meet rigorous land management standards while advancing long-term forest resilience.