William Highland

William M. Highland serves as a Contracting Officer responsible for managing federal acquisitions across infrastructure, forestry, and land management sectors. He plays a pivotal role in executing the agency’s procurement mission by ensuring compliance with federal acquisition regulations while promoting efficiency, transparency, and socioeconomic goals. His portfolio primarily consists of construction, land management, and environmental support services, with a strong emphasis on competitive bidding and small business engagement. Highland oversees the full lifecycle of contract actions—from solicitation and evaluation to award and administration—ensuring alignment with statutory requirements and mission-critical objectives. His contractor relationships are characterized by consistent engagement with small and mid-sized firms specializing in civil engineering, forestry operations, and land rehabilitation services. While no single contractor dominates his portfolio, he routinely partners with firms holding small business certifications, fostering a diverse supplier base that supports regional economic development. His approach emphasizes fair competition and performance-based outcomes, cultivating long-term vendor relationships grounded in accountability and regulatory adherence. Highland demonstrates a pronounced commitment to small business participation, with over two-thirds of his awards designated as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. He frequently utilizes HUBZone set-asides, reflecting a deliberate strategy to channel opportunities to businesses located in economically distressed areas. His contracting patterns prioritize socioeconomic programs that expand market access for disadvantaged entrepreneurs, consistently aligning with federal goals to increase small business contract awards. His primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 237310 (Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction) and 115310 (Support Activities for Forestry), indicating deep expertise in civil infrastructure and natural resource management services. He also regularly procures logging operations and landscaping services, demonstrating technical familiarity with environmental compliance, equipment deployment, and site-specific construction standards. Highland’s domain knowledge enables him to craft precise performance requirements and evaluate technical proposals with precision, ensuring taxpayer value and mission readiness.