Small Contracting 101: Working with the Forest Service

Small businesses have opportunities to provide services to the Forest Service, but the process can be daunting. The Monongahela offered a workshop to help overcome that hurdle.

It sounds like a great idea. Package projects in such a way that small, local businesses can bid on them and successfully complete needed work on the Monongahela National Forest. Problem is that for many small businesses, the process of working with the federal government is daunting and some don't even know how to get started, or how to move to working on bigger projects.

To help overcome these hurdles, contracting specialists held two one-day workshops on the Monongahela aimed at clarifying the process.

The sessions were held in both the northern and southern parts of the Forest to attract as many businesses as possible. Led by Forest Service contracting officer Mark Corse, the workshops were organized by contracting specialist Carrie Edwards. In addition to the Forest Service speakers, presentations were made by several non-profit and for-profit organizations aimed at assisting small contractors, including the Small Business Administration, the WV Small Business Development Center, and the Regional Contracting Assistance Center.

Topics covered included business formation and registration processes; finding contracting opportunities; government contracting methods and how they apply to small businesses; socio-economic preference programs; and contract performance and administration.

The sessions attracted 35 vendors who represented businesses in information technology, heavy equipment operation, plumbing, electrical, landscape maintenance, equipment sales and rental, ecological surveying, forest management, and excavating. The majority of the vendors were from within or nearby the Forest, but several came from farther away.

An estimated 40 percent of those businesses present had at least some experience working with the Forest Service already while about 60 percent were new to the process. Having some experienced vendors allowed for informal sharing of successful projects completed with the agency as well as potential problems that can occur.....such as getting paid during a hurricane and its aftermath!

Because a dozen FS employees also attended the sessions, vendors had the opportunity to talk with people who develop or oversee contracted work on the ground, such as members of the engineering group.

According to Edwards, the workshop partners were excited that the FS had taken the initiative to hold the sessions and were pleased at the turnout. Participants left with increased knowledge about agency contracting processes and what would be expected of them if they are successful in bidding on Forest project work, and a better understanding of the types of work that may be available. They also left armed with packets of information and links to web sites for further information.

It might seem to be an odd time to offer such sessions given reduced agency budgets and possibly reduced opportunities to offer projects for bidding. The Monongahela approach was to prepare bidders in advance, so that when and if there are opportunities for small businesses to bid, vendors won't be left unable to compete due to lack of knowledge.