1202SC21R0001 T2IA Questions and Answers 2-12-2021.pdf

1202SC21R0001 - Type 2IA Crew Q&A #1

***Note these questions and answers are for clarification only and do not constitute a change. Any change to the requirement/solicitation will be addressed in amendment 1 and the conformed solicitation.

1. Question: My questions have to do with the Qualifications of the Firm/Organization vs the Key

Personnel. I have a new firm with myself as the highly qualified and experienced owner as the key personnel. My new firm has all necessary licenses, insurances, bonds, etc to run a successful organization, the experience, however is myself, the actual owner/contractor/key personnel. Is this solicitation ONLY for established companies? Are new companies going to be considered or left out?

Answer: This evaluation factor has been updated in the solicitation (1202SC21R0001 Amendment 1 Conformed 2-3-21) to provide clarification. As stated in the solicitation Section E.3(3) Offerors with no similar or relevant organizational experience in supporting the type of work contemplated by this solicitation, and not providing sufficient Key Personnel as identified in Section C.17 will be determined unacceptable and not be eligible for award.

The Past Performance of the Contractor in my case will be the Owner Contractor of the Firm/Organization and is the Key Personnel listed as Crew Boss with over 13 years experience going back to the first T2-IA Crew in 2003. I have all of my Performance Evaluations as well as a few from the last few years. I have now started my own Contracting Firm with a Farm Forest Labor License to run my own fire crews. The firm does not have three years of relevant contracts. Should I stop here or will the new firm with the experienced owner/key personnel be considered?

Answer: The performance of an individual is not the performance of the firm. As an employee of another firm your performance is not relevant to your new firm. Offerors without a record of relevant past performance or for whom information on past performance is not available will receive a neutral rating for this evaluation factor

2. Section E.3 states: (ii) Organizational Experience. Experience is a matter of the number of opportunities an Offeror has had to do similar work and to encounter the kinds of problems that the Contractor is likely to encounter in the performance of this agreement. The Government will evaluate your organization’s experience on the extent to which you have performed services with similar size and scope as the ones described in this solicitation. Only your firm’s experience as an organization will be considered. The Government will also evaluate your organization’s experience on your ability to furnish the required minimum qualified Key Personnel identified in Section C.9. Quotes not demonstrating Experience with similar size and scope of the ones described in this solicitation and not providing sufficient Key Personnel will receive a no go rating for this subfactor.

The Firm’s experience is the Owner of the firm and is the Key Personnel (Crew Boss with experience with T2-IA Crews since 2003). I can provide more than enough key personnel but no experience as an organization, although I run several other businesses. Is this sufficient to satisfy the Organizational Experience requirement?

Answer: No. The experience of an individual is not the experience of the firm. The Organizational Experience requires you to address how long you have been in business, and how relevant the work is and any fire assignments your firm has been assigned to and the key personnel with qualification, training, and experience. See updated solicitation document 1202SC21R0001 Amendment 1 Conformed 2-3-21.

3. Question: We are compiling the information for the Key Personnel Resume template. Along with that we need to provide the Employee Wildland Fire Experience list. The two forms require many of the same data components, but both have additional bits of information not on the other form.

The main difference is the fire number and the number of hotline shifts is on the resume form but not on Wildland Fire Experience form. Over the years we have used many forms provided by the various contracts we had in place at the time to compile basically the same information (with some of the info bits not asked for). Then we began using the NWSA Event History form and have been using that to compile the list of fire history. We have been using this form for many years. This form lists the; Fire name - job code- activity code- fire date- number of shifts. It does not have the; agency - state - management type - fuel type- fire size from the Wildland Fire Experience form. It does not have the Incident # or hotline # from the Key personnel Resume Template.

Do you want contractors to transfer all info for fire fighters to the Wildland Experience form in the solicitation and add the additional information( fire number and # of hotline shifts) to the Key Personnel Resume Template OR can we use any fire experience history list we may already have and add in the number of hotline shifts?

Then on the Resume Template the training records section it says to provide official documentation. Will you want to see every certificate and copies of the task books?

Answer: The information requested is required for verifications of key personnel. The Employee Wildland Fire Experience lists all the experience for individuals fire assignments, not just the experience needed for this contract. This form along with the template provides the information needed for validation. The training certificates, Task book Initiation page, Certification page and Evaluation pages are also required. The forms provided in the Exhibits are to facilitate the verification of Key Personnel. If your firm has a form that provides at least the same information requested in the Exhibit it may be used in substitution.

4. Question: Are newly formed Organizations going to be considered or excluded?

The Firm’s experience is the Owner of the firm and is the Key Personnel (Crew Boss with experience with T2-IA Crews since 2003). I can provide more than enough key personnel but no experience as an organization, although I run several other businesses. Is this sufficient to satisfy the Organizational Experience requirement?

Answer: No. The experience of an individual is not the experience of the firm. The Organizational Experience requires you to address how long you have been in business, and how relevant the work is and any fire assignments your firm has been assigned to and the key personnel with qualification, training, and experience.

5. Question: In the Type 2 IA Contract Page 67 under Additional Requirements (1).

The question is why there is a different standard for these two when the VIPR agreement refer you back to the agency and we were told that if topics are covered a minimum of 4 hours is acceptable. Also, BIA and BLM as well as ODF requirements for RT 130 are minimum of 4. The issue is that if you train to BIA/BLM/ODF standard and then that person is hired or utilized under the USFS Type 2 or Type 2 IA do they have to go back and do two additional hours even if all topics were covered.

The PMS 901-1 refers you to the Red Book for minimum hours and there is no reference into the minimum hours required.

So, while this is not a new requirement in the Type 2 IA it raises issue with different standards for different federal agencies and even different forms of contracting within the USFS. We want to be able to tell our instructors what they should train to so vendors are complying, but with the very vague reference that makes it hard to do. If someone could show us the reference for the 6-hour requirement it would be helpful. Also, what standard does the agency train to?

Thank you for assistance in this matter and helping clarify what the minimum standards or if it is intentional to have higher standards in these contracts/agreements.

Answer: See amendment 1: The minimum requirement for RT-130 is required to cover the core topics as outlined in the Interagency Standards for Fire and Fire Aviation Operations:

Forest Service Fireline Safety Refresher Training Annual Fireline Safety Refresher Training (RT-130) is required for all positions as identified in FSFAQG and the Wildland Fire Qualifications System Guide (NWCG 310-1). Forest Service has extended this requirement to 13 months. Annual Fireline Safety Refresher Training is provided in order to recognize hazards and mitigate risk, maintain safe practices and to reduce accidents and near misses. The intent of the annual fireline safety refresher training is to focus suppression and prescribed fire personnel on operations and decision-making issues related to incident safety. Annual Fireline Safety Refresher Training must include the following core topics: Core Topics Examples Avoiding Entrapments Use training and reference materials to study the risk management process as identified in the Incident Response Pocket Guide as appropriate to the participants, e.g., LCES, Standard Firefighting Orders, Eighteen Watch Out Situations, Wildfire Decision Support System (WFDSS) direction, Fire Management Plan priorities, etc. Current Issues Review and discuss identified “hot topics” as found on the current Wildland Fire Safety Training Annual Refresher (WFSTAR) website. Review forecasts and assessments for the upcoming fire season and discuss implications for firefighter safety. Fire Shelter Review and discuss last resort survival including escape and shelter deployment site selection.

Conduct “hands-on” fire shelter inspections. Practice shelter deployments in applicable crew/module 18 configurations. Other Hazards and Safety Issues Choose additional hazard and safety subjects, which may include SAFENET, current safety alerts, site/unit specific safety issues and hazards. These core topics must be sufficiently covered to ensure that personnel are aware of safety concerns and procedures and can demonstrate proficiency in fire shelter deployment. The Forest Service has No minimum refresher training hour requirements. Core topics shown above should reflect the quality of the material used and not the quantity. Further guidance can be found in the most current version of the Interagency Standards for Fire and Fire Aviation Operations located on the Forest Service Fire & Aviation Management Publications website:

http://www.fs.fed.us/fire/publications/index.html Additional information can be found on the Wildland Fire Safety Training (WFSTAR) website:

http://www.nifc.gov/wfstar/index.html

The solicitation has been updated to reflect the above changes.

6. Question: NCC Type 2IA Solicitation 1202SC21R0001 C.22 Employment of Eligible Workers (h)

Housing (1) 1. The govt. allows the contractor to house workers, which is contrary to MSPA, OSHA laws governing Migrant worker housing. See Migrant, Seasonal, and H-2A Farmworker Housing and Resource Guide.

Answer: The Government does not allow the contractor to house workers unless they meet the Inn Keeper Exemption Requirements as follows:

Generally, a person or business that owns or controls a facility or real property used for housing migrant workers must comply with federal and state safety and health standards. Additionally, a written statement of the terms and conditions of occupancy must be posted at the housing site where it can be seen or be given to the workers.

These requirements, however, do not apply to any person who, in the ordinary course of that person’s business, regularly provides housing on a commercial basis to the general public and who provides housing to migrant agricultural workers of the same character and on the same or comparable terms and conditions as is provided to the general public. (See 29 U.S.C. § 1823).

Any MSPA or H-2B workers being utilized on this contract must meet housing requirements stated in Section C.22 of the solicitation.

7. Question: Do we need to resubmit qualification and training information on each FFT1/ICT5 &

CRWB on the previous contract and MODS for the key personnel on this contract?

Answer: Yes. This solicitation stands on its own. The required information is utilized for evaluation purposes, in determining best value. Offerors are encouraged to submit their most competitive offer initially as the Government intends to award without discussions. Key Personnel qualifications is listed as an evaluation factor that may be utilized to find the best combination of price and technical factors. Without that information the qualification/training/experience of your key personnel can not be determined.

http://www.fs.fed.us/fire/publications/index.html http://www.nifc.gov/wfstar/index.html

8. Question: Can we submit the training documents pertinent to advancement from their previous position only?

Answer: See answer to question 7 above.

9. Question: Regarding RX training, for documentation, are we able to submit Fire Histories?

Answer: This question is not clear as RX training does not apply to this solicitation. If one were to assume you meant RX/Wildland Fire Experience instead then the answer is: Fire history may be used to represent fire experience as long as the same information is provided as listed on the Exhibit D.9 Key Personnel Resume Template.

10. Question: Is the requested information only pertinent to the supervisory position qualification?

e.g., all required Rx/Wildfire prerequisites and training used for position advancement?

Answer: See answer to question 7 above.

11. Question: Do we need to include all certifications for names submitted?

Answer: Only certification relative to the requirements of this solicitation will be considered.

12. Question: Are these only records reviewed for leadership advancement, e.g., CRWB, FFT1, ICT5?

Answer: Key personnel requirements are only needed for initial proposal and any substitution in accordance with the key personnel clause. This contract does not provide for leadership advancement unless a substitution is required.

13. Question: What is the period time you are requesting, 3, 5, 7 years back?

Answer: Period of time for key personnel is not limited.

14. Question: In the first column, "job code," what is the required input on the form?

Answer: this column is optional.

15. Question: B.3 Mandatory Availability Period: Can the MAP for CLIN(s) 15, 16, and 17 be changed to 5/15 – 6/30? I am familiar with weather in Susanville and Yreka during April and May. Typically, there is snow and ice and the likelihood of a local fire call, other than a one-day wonder from a controlled burn is very unlikely. Most contractors have 2IA crews available for local or out of the area dispatches when they are not in a MAP, so finding a crew is within reason. Holding a crew available means they will be within proximity and cannot be out of the area working on project jobs and their likelihood of work on a fire call during 4/15 – 6/1 is extremely low.

Answer: See amendment 1.

16. Question: Can the Alternate Key Personnel be used on the Type 2IA contract and Type 2 contract? Example: I have a squad boss or a crew boss that is a backup on the IA contract, can they be the main squad boss or crew boss on the type 2 contract?

Answer: No. Primary Key Personnel are not interchangeable between the Type 2 and Type 2IA requirement (See answer to question 7). The Government will use all evaluation factors in determining best value at each location and those are the merits by which an offeror receives an award. However, alternate key personnel may be used interchangeable if they have sufficient Qualification/Training/Experience. The alternate key personnel is to allow the contractor flexibility in maintaining compliance with the terms and conditions of their contract. An alternate would not be used if the primary were available. The Governments intent is to evaluate, and award based on an offeror ability to provide the services(number of crews) they stated in their offer.

17. Question: Are H2B eligible workers now allowed to perform work on Wildland Fires?

Answer: Current USDA Forest Service Policy as stated in Section C.22 and C.30 state that it is allowable if all requirements stated in those sections and the relevant certification at Section E.13 of the solicitation is provided.

18. Question: C.29 iv: The amount of travel time using Google Maps is not sufficient at 110%.

Considering a train of 4-5 vehicles and 20 bladders. Doing a scenario of a 230-mile trip for a 20-person crew; the crew departs, after 2 hours crew stops for fuel, use bathroom and stretch legs (20 min), then crew stops again to use bathroom and stretch legs (20 min), crew arrives close to ICP and crew stops for fuel and use bathroom (20 min), combined with construction or road hazards along the way this is a minimum of 60 minutes. 110% only calculates out to 30 minutes.

Answer: The Government has determined this as the most reasonable and effective way to calculate travel time on this requirement. Google maps takes into consideration bathroom breaks, fuel stops, and road/traffic conditions. Furthermore, you can specify the date and time the travel will begin. The additional 10% is provided due to there being more than one vehicle. This calculation is used to determine the amount of compensation received for travel time being paid at a fully burdened suppression rate.

The calculation will remain 110%.

19. Question: C.29 h 2 (a): Will the CONUS rate for different areas apply? Can this section state to use the CONUS rate for whatever location you are in? This section lists the standard CONUS rate and does not say anything about following the CONUS rate in a location if it is higher than the standard CONUS rate. The standard CONUS rate for lodging and meals would not be enough in many locations. Example: tourist locations in California.

Answer: This requirement remains unchanged from the previous contract cycle. The Standard Conus Per Diem rates have always been used on this contract. The terms and conditions allow for hotels to go up to double occupancy rate when the rooms are occupied by two individuals. Locality rates will not be used for Per Diem on this contract.

20. Question: D.1.3 & D.1.5 & Table D.2: Clarification that the 3- Incident Sawyers working on a

NCC 2IA can be either a Faller level 1, 2, or 3?

Answer: The minimum requirement is Faller Level 3, higher faller levels can be utilized to fill the incident sawyer positions. However, the work being performed is limited to what is stated in the solicitation/resultant Contract.

21. Question: Exhibit D.9 Key Personnel Resume Template: Should we attach another document supporting the key personnel training and assignments if so, how far back would you like us to go? Key Personnel will typically have more RX/WF Experience and Training then can be listed on this form.

Answer: See the answer to Question 7, additional forms/pages may be used if needed.

22. Question: E.2 (i) Instructions: Would you clarify the requirement “all submittals shall be in

Adobe Acrobat pdf” for example if our technical proposal is written in word and excel would a scan copy as a pdf file meet this requirement?

Answer: Scanned documents in pdf format are allowable. However, it is the submitters responsibility to ensure that the document is readable. Zip files are also acceptable as long as the file naming convention is followed.

23. Pg. 7. B.5.4 Identification of Key Personnel Offerors shall identify (In accordance with Exhibit

D.1) at least one (1) qualified Crew Boss (CRWB) and at least three (3) qualified Squad Bosses (ICT5) who will be assigned to leadership positions within each proposed crew. Clarification is requested -Does each firefighter by name need designated to a proposed crew, or a pool of qualified personnel are to be provided and verification of enough qualified individuals to provide the required minimum leadership for each crew proposed? Please define will be assigned.

Answer: See answer to question 7. Furthermore, each company shall specify/identify their capacity by labeling their offered crew (i.e XYZ Company Crew 1) and the key personnel assigned to that crew.

24. Pg. 25 “Note: Vehicles involved in interstate commerce under a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination rating of 10,000 pounds are not required to follow the Department of Transportation hours of service regulations.” Comment: F350 Crew Cab vehicles weigh more than 10,000 lbs. Does the solicitation have the right to waive established DOT safety driving guidelines? As the solicitation states contractor shall provide vehicles for ground transportation of NCC’s that meet all applicable state and federal laws relating to motor vehicles on page 59 D.1.2. A vehicle over 10,000 lbs. has to follow truck law in highway speeds:

• Each work week begins after the last legal reset. For example, if a driver begins at 6 a.m.

on a Tuesday, then their 168-hour work week continues until 6 a.m. the next Tuesday.

• Drivers can work a maximum of 60 hours on-duty over seven consecutive days.

• Drivers can be on duty for up to 14 hours after being off-duty for 10 hours—but they will be limited to 11 hours of actual driving time.

• The 14-hour duty period cannot be lengthened with off-duty time for breaks and stops.

• Drivers can only restart the 7-day period once every 168-hour work week. And they must take at least 34 consecutive hours off with two consecutive periods of 1 a.m. to 5 a.m.

• Any period of 34-consecutive hours off-duty will restart the 168-hour week.

Answer: No, we do not provide exception to any State, Federal, Local laws relating to motor vehicles. If you choose to use an F350 in performance of this contract you shall comply with any laws, applicable to the increased weight. The note referenced on page 25 applies when a vehicle is under 10,000 lbs.

25. Pg. 43 C.25 Government Liability. The Crew Boss is responsible for managing the Crew within its operating limits, responsible for safety of their employees and cargo and shall comply with the directions of the Government, except when in the judgment of the Crew Boss such compliance will be a violation of applicable Federal or State regulations. The Crew Boss shall refuse any operation considered hazardous or unsafe.

Comment: This language appears to hold the CRWB personally liable in order to provide enough liability protection for these employees within the organization it is recommended “(b) General Liability. The Contractor shall have bodily injury liability insurance coverage written on a comprehensive form of policy of at least $500,000 per occurrence”.

Comment: Insurance coverage should be increased in recognition of the risk involved in firefighting and the social and moral responsibility for organizations to provide sufficient protections for their employees. Additionally, the need to increase automobile liability coverage amounts is also suggested.

Answer: The Crew Boss is the representative (as specified in Section D.1.17) of the Company (decision maker with boots on the ground). That is why they assume that liability (for the company). The insurance requirements remain unchanged from previous requirements.

26. Pg. 43 C.26 Incident behavior Possession or use of Non-prescription unlawful drugs and alcohol are not permitted at the incident fire camp, violations will result in the Contractor or its employees being released from the incident.

Comment: With the recent federal movement to legalize marijuana employer clarification on the enforcement of this clause and the added language surrounding prescription drugs that also may alter fitness for duty.

Answer: This section C.26 covers Incident behavior and fitness for duty. Regardless of federal legalization anytime fitness for duty is altered it will result in the contractor or its employees being released from the incident.

27. Question: Pg. 46 C.29 Payment Procedures:

(iv) Travel Time will be measured using the most direct route taken from Google Maps rounded up to the nearest 15-minute increment multiplied by a factor of 1.1 (110%).

The additional 10% is provided to compensate for travel conditions that google maps does not take into consideration) With the above calculations example, a fire crew mobilizing from Eugene, Oregon responding to Helena, Montana google maps states this takes 12 hours 1 minute. 12 hours x 1.10=13.2 Allowing 13.25 hours of travel time.

The old method of travel time calculation was based on mileage divided by 45 miles per hour.

To account for crew in-route breaks for fuel, restroom, food and traffic congestion, accidents, road constructions etc. The above example calculated with this methodology would calculate as follows 769 miles divide by 45mph=17.09 hours of travel time.

(v) No additional costs will be paid for mobilization and demobilization (This clause does not account for in-route traffic delays the crew may encounter in-route) A crew that encounter an in-route alteration from the defined route may be left in a state of travel on behalf of the government with the inability to be paid for this time.) Bidders would need to pay their employees for this time with no way to be reimbursed by the government. Additionally, Google maps calculates travel time based on time of travel in the day/real time road conditions.

Example at time of dispatch travel is calculated crew leaves at 0600 hits rush hour in a city at 0800 and other variable congestion throughout the day. Google time is based on travel condition variables such as congestion, time of day, etc. However once arriving at the incident if operations uses google map to look back to calculate travel time it took the crew to arrive it may calculate a different number of hours based on that day’s travel conditions.

Answer: See answer to question 18.

28. Pg. 49 Off-Shift Duties. No additional payment will be made for costs associated with crew support such as tool sharpening, equipment maintenance, invoice reconciliation, laundry service, check out, or any other off-shift activities related to crew readiness beyond the guarantees set forth herein.

Comment: The 2020 fire season with COVID-19 created camp environments that were much more spread out and at times the check out facility was located several hours away from the incident location. This led to long hours of unpaid “check out” time for Fireline personnel while under the direction of the government.

Answer: In this example the time spent traveling to the check out facility would be compensable, but the time spent going through the checkout process would not be.

29. Pg. 50 Determining if NCC is in a travel status. Determining if NCC is in a travel Status: Per Diem is only authorized if the travel is greater than 12 hours and the worksite exceeds 35-mile radius.

Comment: The above clause appears to contradict the meal allowance being approved after the first date of dispatch (2) Meal Allowance page 49 The second day of travel may not be greater than 12 hours.

Answer: These are two different requirements. A meal allowance will never be given until after the first date of dispatch unless the crew is reassigned. To be entitled to ever get reimbursed for a meal allowance the crew must meet the requirements to be defined in a travel status.

30. Pg. 67 (7) NCC members shall not perform in trainee positions other than those positions listed in Section D.1.5

Comment: In the best interest of the Government to facilitate the further development of key personnel when all leadership roles remain filled within a crew. Other Single Resource trainee positions other than those positions listed in section D.1.5 be recognized such as FIRB, etc.

Fireline experience should allow personnel to remain current in their experience qualifications for positions in which they have been certified.

Answer: The intent of this solicitation and any resultant contract is not to provide an opportunity for development or maintaining qualifications of any position not listed within.

31. Pg. 71 Incident Identification/Qualification cards. English language proficiency Is English language proficiency noted on red cards based on exhibit D.7 English language proficiency evaluation that have occurred on the Fireline or contractor self-assessment?

Answer: The English Language proficiency is a certification by the contractor on the Incident Identification Qualification. The Exhibit D.7 as stated in paragraph (a) of that exhibit is used for inspection/compliance purposes.

32. Page 113 (ii) Work assignments on which you had crews during the last five years (2015-2020).

This date range covers 6 calendar years is this an error?

Answer: Amendment 1 this is updated to reflect five years (2016-2020).

33. Table D.1 Required Hand Tools: Only two first aid kits required for a crew.

Comment: A 2IA crew may be split into three squads. Working in separate locations as in the need for 3 ITC5’s It is recommended this be increased to 3 belt first aid kits.

Answer: The minimum requirement is 2 10-person first aid kits per crew.

34. Question: Due to the large file size requested in response to the solicitation to be sent via email.

Can the file be zipped using WinZip or an alternative approved Zip (file compression) program?

The senders approved file size for their individual email program may not support the document size.

Answer: PDF is the only acceptable format. If your files exceed you email program requirements, then you can submit multiple emails/documents. These documents will need to be labeled accordingly i.e. 1 of 5, 2 of 5 etc. Zip files are also acceptable as long as the file naming convention is followed.

35. How will the Government confirm the receipt of submitted proposals to the requested email address?

Answer: It is the offerors responsibility to ensure their offer is submitted with adequate time to make it through the email process. Late deliveries will not be considered.

Offerors may request a confirmation from the CO (bryce.pitchford@usda.gov )prior to the closing date and time to confirm receipt. This request must specify all parts of the offer submitted i.e. 1 of 5, 2 of 5 etc. if more than one email/document is submitted.

mailto:bryce.pitchford@usda.gov

36. Question: Section E II Technical Proposal Instructions Based on the Instructions does the Government want the response document to begin with Equipment, and Vehicles and Quality control/safety/training plan as Assent to Terms is the first measurable factor.

Does the Government request the RFP response be submitted in the following order as listed in E.2?

(1) Offer Acceptability 1.Assent to terms, 2. Equipment, and Vehicles, 3. Quality

Control/Safety/Training Plan followed by Past Performance and Organizational Experience?

Answer: Section E.2 provides the format to which the offer shall be submitted.

37. Pertains to both Type 2 and Type 2 IA Solicitations Hypothetical We quote

Joe Smith CRWB as Key personal as NCC Type 2 IA---- Redmond, Ore. and you award us this National T2IA Crew. At the same time, because we don’t know if we are going to be awarded the T2IA Redmond Crew, We use Joe Smith CRWB as T2C Key personnel, we cannot replace nor change any Key personnel for the first 90 days.

Joe Smith cannot perform on two contracts at the same time.

Will you allow us to re-adjust after awarded if any Type 2 IA?

Answer: See answer to question 16.

38. Question: Will the contracting officer increase the annual rate as wage determinations increase?

Answer: The contracting officer may increase the firm fixed priced rates if the requirements at FAR 52.222-43 are met.

39. Question: Can a Crew Boss or a ICT5 Squad Boss that is not listed as the primary key personnel, but are listed as alternates on one-Type 2IA contract also be listed as alternates on another Type 2IA contract?

Example: If I am proposing on 5- Type 2IA CLINs with 5 separate key personnel teams consisting of (1-CRWB and 3-ICT5), can I submit as the alternate Crew Boss or the alternate ICT5 Squad Boss the same two individuals as alternates on all 5 CLINs on which I am proposing?

Answer: Yes. However, the same limits apply.

Since an Alternate Crew Boss or Alternate ICT5 Squad boss are not being evaluated as the primary key personnel for award, can alternates be added after an award, in lieu of a key personnel substitution?

Answer: Yes. However, the same limits apply

Can a primary key personnel ICT5 Squad Boss also be listed as an alternate Crew Boss on the same 2IA contract if an alternate ICT5 Squad boss has been listed?

Example: Often crews have 2 qualified crew bosses and one of these crew bosses operate as a ICT5 Squad Boss on this crew, so can a primary squad boss on crew- 1 also be listed as the alternate crew boss on crew- 1 if there is an alternate ICT5 squad boss listed?

Answer: The intent is for the primary Key Personnel to perform in the position. Primary key personnel cannot be listed as alternate key personnel.

Can an alternate Crew Boss on a National Type 2IA contract be a primary Crew Boss on a National Type 2 crew?

Example: Since the alternate crew boss is not being evaluated as primary key personnel for a Type 2IA award, this would allow opportunity for this crew boss to fulfill their position as a crew boss.

Answer: Primary key personnel are not interchangeable.

Request for change on the National Type 2IA Contract: If a company is awarded more than one CLIN, after 90 days the company will be allowed to use any listed alternate Crew Bosses or alternate Squad bosses as needed on each awarded CLIN.

Example: If a company is awarded 4-CLINs and have submitted for alternate Crew Bosses and alternate ICT5 Squad Bosses on all 4 CLINs, the company would be allowed to use all alternates as needed on any of the awarded 4 CLINs, in lieu of substitution.

Answer: One alternate crew boss and one alternate ICT5 are allowed per crew awarded.

The same individual can be listed as an alternate for all but are not interchangeable between crews if not listed as key personnel for that crew, unless a replacement or substitution is needed in accordance with the key personnel clause.

40. Question: We noticed a paragraph in part iii. of section E.2 (page 113) that talks about financial history. Are you looking for anything in particular as it pertains to 'References from Financial Institutions' as highlighted below?

(5) Financial History:

(i) Specify the financial capacity, working capital and other resources available to perform the contract without assistance from any outside source. References from Financial Institutions are recommended. Financial statements are not required.

(ii) Provide the name, location, and intercompany pricing policy for other divisions, subsidiaries, parent company, or affiliated companies that will perform work or furnish materials under this contract.

Would a letter from our primary bank suffice? A letter from a company official? What would be the ideal format according to the USFS to show our companies Financial Capability?

Answer: This information is used for determining responsibility. Sufficient documentation representing your firms ability to perform is what’s required.

41. Question: Has the government determined a maximum “page limit” for the subject proposal?

Based on the expected documentation required for each Key Personnel, this potentially could be near 1,000 pages for our company.

Answer: There will not be a limit to the number of pages. However, information submitted that is not called for in the solicitation will not be considered. All relevant training for key personnel may be submitted on one document with certification from the contractor to the accuracy of the required information (Year, Course Number, Subject, and Location).

42. Question: C.9 key personnel: During the first 90 days, the Contractor shall make no substitutions of key personnel unless a substitution is necessitated by illness, death, or termination. The Contractor shall notify CO within 15 days after the occurrence and provide the information required (c).

Does this mean we substitute with alternate and send in the information within 15 days? The contract doesn’t say we have to have pre-approval to substitute alternate for a dispatch; is this correct?

Answer: If you wish to list an alternate CRWB then you must submit sufficient documentation for the Government to verify that individual meets the minimum stated requirements. The CRWB position is a key personnel requirement, no individual not listed on the crew summary (primary or alternate) can perform in that position. If you have one alternate CRWB you would submit all information for that individual and state which crew(s) you want that individual to be listed as an alternate. There is not an opportunity to have a pool of alternates, alternates must be assigned to a crew and listed on the crew summary in that manner.

For example if John Smith is listed as an alternate CRWB on XYZ Company – Crew 1, and Dave Jones is listed as an alternate CRWB on XYZ Company – Crew 2, then Dave Jones can only perform on XYZ Company Crew 2 he cannot perform on XYZ Company Crew 1.

However, if John Smith is listed as an alternate CRWB on XYZ Company – Crew 1 and on XYZ Company – Crew 2 then John Smith could perform on either XYZ Company – Crew 1 or XYZ Company - Crew 2.

Notification of the use of an approved alternate listed in the crew summary is not required.

43. Question: Are T2IA crews going to be guaranteed top priority for dispatches at their HUCC over all other contract crews? It would be unacceptable for the dispatcher to say that there was a request for a T2 crew and pass over a T2IA crew. T2IA crews are T2 crews and need to have priority at an HUCC over T2 Crews.

Answer: The only preference given is outlined in Section C.3.1(b)(2).

44. I am looking for clarification on the use of Key personnel on the T2IA crews. Why are we not allowed to use all of our key personnel to staff our crews as we see fit? As we are currently. The format of requiring primary key personnel dictates that a person’s availability is far more valuable than their seniority, experience or performance.

If your key personnel have been verified and accepted under this contract why does the contractor not have the ability to use any of those key personnel to fulfil the requirements of the contract. By requiring the contractor to use specific people in specific roles you put them in a position of being beholden to individuals, even though you have already accepted multiple other qualified people. We are running a business every employee is replaceable.

Can an alternate Crew Boss who is also an FFT1/ICT5 be used as either a replacement for a Crew Boss or as a replacement FFT1/ICT5?

If a company has 2 crews in a HUCC with 2 alternative crew bosses and 2 alternative ICT5s and they have another 2 crews at a different HUCC who also have the 2 alternative crew bosses and 2 alternative ICT5s. Would that mean that company has 8 alternates that could move between all four crews awarded?

Under the current T2IA contract we have received calls for multiple crews all throughout the year. The need for fire crews across the country expands and contracts throughout the year with the seasons which is why we have mandatory availability periods under this contract and even Type One crews have off season months where seasonal employees take time off. During these off season months we have been able to provide multiple quality crews due in large part to flexibility in staffing. With the restrictions that you have put in place on the use of specific key personnel you are limiting our ability to consolidate multiple summer crews into fewer crews to meet off season requests.

We are currently still in the middle of a pandemic. Occasionally people get hurt or sick. Maybe someone is just tired after a long season or crew chemistry needs to be modified. Also Fire fighters have lives outside of work such as weddings, funerals, babies being born, or even an important meeting or appointment. Without flexibility in staffing crews any one for the listed above situations that makes key personnel unavailable will result in companies not being able to provide the support you are asking for in this contract.

Please consider maintaining the current standard for use of key personnel. Allow the contractor to provide their best people not just their most available people.

Answer: We understand your concern about the Key Personnel requirement in this solicitation and any resultant contract. Key Personnel are a material requirement of this solicitation and resultant contract. Offerors are evaluated on their ability to provide the services as outlined in the solicitation. The capacity (number of crews) of an offer is defined by the ability to supply Key Personnel. The Government has provided flexibility in the key personnel requirement by allowing an alternate crew boss and the ability to substitute or replace either the primary or alternate if the requirement in Section C.9 are met. If Key Personnel are being pulled from other capacity (crews) to meet the requirements of the agreement, then the crew being ordered would be unavailable. The availability of the Crew is directly linked to the Key Personnel. If a Company is awarded 5 crews then the expectation is that those five crews could perform to the extent, they are willing and able.

45. Question: Since the MAP's for the Type 2Ia are at different times of the year, can key personnel be on two different Type 2Ia crews that don't overlap? For example can the North Carolina MAP of 3-15 thru 4-30 have the same personnel as the California 5-15 thru 6-30 ?

Answer: No. Key personnel are not interchangeable. The intent of this solicitation and any resultant contract is to gain the capacity of 42 type 2IA Crews.

46. Question: And if this is possible ,why can't the same key personnel be on the Type2 BPA crews outside of the Type 2Ia MAP as long as the key personnel aren't statused available at the same time for both Typ2 2Ia and Type 2 resources.

Answer: See answer to question 44 above.

47. Question: Outside of MAP for the Type 2IA crews, why can’t we be awarded a Type 2 Crew using the key personnel from an awarded Type 2IA crew to have a crew available, as long as we do not status the Type 2IA available. Reasoning being, that in the fringe seasons, like January, when we do not have all our key personnel available, we could get a Type 2 crew out with a Crew Boss from a Type 2IA crew if he/she was awarded a Type 2 crew. The reason why we ask is that you said a Primary CRWB can not be used as an alternate. So if Crew Boss Smith is awarded a Type 2IA as a primary, we can not use him as an alternate on a Type 2 crew in the fringe seasons (outside of MAP for the type 2IA crew). Or can we use Smith as an alternate or a primary on a Type 2 crew outside of MAP?

Answer: See answer to question 44 above.