VII. Contracting with Partners

Contracts can offer unique opportunities to build the skills and capacity of local organizations and tribes while accomplishing important conservation work on the ground. They also help improve the Forest Service's involvement in local economies and communities. Contracts are used to procure goods and services and are not legally defined as partnerships

In many cases, though, contracts are appropriate for working with nonprofits, community-based organizations, and tribal entities. In other cases, agreements or grants should be used. More information on these instruments is provided in Chapter VI – Grants and Agreements. Whether a partnership will include contracts, grants, or agreements, local Forest Service acquisition management personnel should be involved prior to making commitments with potential partners.

This chapter provides information to help users understand:

• Contracting with nonprofits and community-based organizations
• Contracting with tribal entities, and specifically tribal governments and Native American for-profit companies and contractors
• The Tribal Forest Protection Act of 2004