Business, Contracting, Markets 38 The Mainline references, photos, and completed contracts can improve your chances of being called for work—such as ice storm cleanup, road clearing, landslide removal, and maintenance. • State and Federal Agencies Want to Work with You! Every panelist emphasized their desire to connect with contractors. There are numerous opportunities available, and taking the right steps—such as registering in databases, developing local partnerships, and reaching out to agency contacts—can help ensure your company gets solicited for work. Additional Resources from the Presentation: • U.S. Forest Service › APEX Accelerators: www.apexaccelerators.us › System for Award Management (SAM): sam.gov › Small Business Administration (Portland District): www.sba.gov/district/portland › Dynamic Small Business Search Site: dsbs.sba.gov › Federal Acquisition Regulation: www.acquisition.gov › Small Business Coordinator (USDA): Dawn Poppler – dawn.poppler@usda.gov › Stewardship Integrated Resource Service Contract (USDA): Curtis Yocum – curtis.yocum@usda.gov • BLM Fuels Treatment Contracts Contacts › Medford District: Al Mason (Lead Fuels Specialist), Jena Volpe (Fire Ecologist) › Roseburg District: George Haslet, Jessica Duarte (Fuels Specialists), Krisann Kosel (Fire Ecologist), Jeremiah Philips (Zone Fire Management Officer) • Oregon Department Of Transportation › Oregon Buys: oregonbuys.gov/bso Next Steps: If you missed the session or want to follow up on new business opportunities, reach out to the panelists, update your online profiles, and start building relationships with key agencies. These agencies need qualified contractors—make sure your business is visible and ready for work! t Friday’s technical session, Growing Your Business Opportunities, provided valuable insights for forest operators looking to secure new contracts and expand their work. Panelists from state and federal agencies shared key resources and actionable steps to help member companies connect with available contracted opportunities. Panelists and Contact Information: • Christiana Woods, O&C Forester, BLM – cewoods@blm.gov • Rick Spring, 3H Forestry & Land Management LLC – rsjspring@gmail.com • Andrew Owen, State Forester/TSP Coordinator, NRCS – andrew.owen@usda.gov • Cody Stone, Maintenance and Operations Program Coordinator, ODOT – cody.stone@odot.oregon.gov • Sheila Finney, Acquisition Program Support Officer, U.S. Forest Service, Northwest Zone Procurement – frances.finney@usda.gov Key Takeaways: • Build Relationships with Local Conservation Groups Many soil and water conservation districts, land trusts, watershed councils, and forest collaboratives struggle to find contractors, despite having funding for forest restoration, fuels mitigation, and thinning projects. Establishing connections with these groups can help secure contracts. • Get Listed in the Oregon Forest Industry Directory Project managers frequently use the Oregon Forest Industry Directory to find and solicit local contractors. Make sure your company is listed: www.orforestdirectory.com. • Register on SAM.gov for Federal Work Federal contracts require a SAM.gov portfolio. While the system can be complex, local APEX Accelerators offer free assistance in getting your business listed: www. apexaccelerators.us. • Connect with ODOT for Emergency Contracts ODOT is always looking to expand its emergency contractor list. Reach out to local ODOT staff, or Cody Stone, to explore opportunities that match your company’s skillset. Providing Growing Your Business Opportunities Key Insights at AOL Convention ›By Amanda Sullivan-Astor, Forest Policy Manager
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