Fire Contract Association MOU Final 2024.doc

09/2024

Pacific Northwest Wildfire Coordinating Group

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

BETWEEN

FIREFIGHTING CONTRACTOR ASSOCIATION

AND

PACIFIC NORTHWEST WILDFIRE COORDINATING GROUP

I. PURPOSE

The Pacific Northwest Wildfire Coordinating Group (PNWCG) has broad responsibility for coordination of firefighting resources within the Pacific Northwest Geographic Area. These responsibilities include oversight of training management and providing certified fire training and ICS position certification for member agencies. The PNWCG believes that to provide the highest level of safety and productivity, all resources utilized on fire suppression incidents within the Pacific Northwest must meet or exceed all training, experience, and physical fitness standards identified in the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, (PMS 310‑1). Firefighting Contractors Association desires to provide NWCG wildfire training and ICS position certification to non‑agency personnel.

PNWCG will only recognize non-agency personnel trainees, instructors or firefighters' certifications when formal agreements are in place with the Firefighting Contractor Association.

PNWCG will only recognize NWCG courses that have covered all course objectives and included all of the prescribed course material and has been presented by an instructor who meets NWCG instructor qualifications.

THE FIREFIGHTER CONTRACTOR ASSOCIATION has individuals who will meet or exceed the NWCG instructor qualifications.

The PNWCG will recognize and accept the training provided by and ICS incident qualification certifications verified by the Firefighting Contractor Association when all of the provisions of this agreement are met. This agreement will only authorize NWCG fire training courses up to the Strike Team Leader level.

II. AUTHORITY

This MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING, hereinafter referred to as MOU, is made and entered into by and between the FIREFIGHTER CONTRACTOR ASSOCIATION, hereinafter referred to as FCA, and the PACIFIC NORTHWEST WILDFIRE COORDINATING GROUP, hereinafter referred to as the PNWCG under provision of the charters and/or other authorities of each organization.

RESPONSIBILITIES

A. PNWCG agrees to:

1. Recognize NWCG instructor qualification requirements for wildland fire training courses that meet or exceed the NWCG Standards for Course Delivery, (PMS 901-1) for FCA instructors.

2. Identify to FCA the source for obtaining training materials and other supporting materials necessary to meet the provisions of this MOU.

3. Monitor a representative sample of the training provided by FCA to ensure quality and standard of training.

4. Verify FCA certified instructor qualification records meet current PMS 901-1 and PMS 310-1 requirements.

5. Recognize FCA Certificates of Course Completion issued to students under this MOU.

6. Recognize FCA instructors who have been certified in accordance with NWCG standards and this MOU.

B. PNWCG will not:

1. Qualify or certify any FCA or its members' instructors or students.

2. Authorize FCA to use any federal or state shield, agency/group/working team name or insignia unless a license for such use is obtained in advance.

3. Authorize FCA to use NWCG Certificates of Course Completion for any training conducted. PNWCG shall request NWCG certificates that are issued without authorization, be reissued on appropriate forms.

C. Firefighting Contractor Association agrees to:

1. Provide wildland firefighter training that meets or exceeds NWCG standards for course content and objectives. Course materials may be enhanced with appropriate related materials and/or information. Required course material shall not be substituted with non-standard material or information.

a. Supply course/student training and NWCG Course Evaluation.

b. Maintain student records for a minimum of five years. As a minimum, these records shall contain the following: course title, hours of instruction, location and dates; instructor(s) name(s), level of instructor certification, and company affiliation; and trainee name and ID number.

Provide PNWCG MOU representative written notification of course dates, time schedule, location, and Lead Instructor for all NWCG courses presented. Such notification shall be provided at least seven (7) working days in advance of the course starting date. Electronic notification forms are available on the Contract Operations page found at: Region 6 - Contracting (usda.gov)

c. Provide PNWCG’s designated MOU representative access to student records upon request to the extent permitted by law.

d. Use only instructors who meet NWCG instructor standards identified in PMS 901-1. Bilingual interpreters, when used, will either meet NWCG instructor standards or will be paired with a qualified instructor. "Paired with" means that a qualified instructor shall be present at all times during instruction when presented by a bilingual interpreter who is not instructor certified.

e. Issue Certificates of Course Completion to individuals successfully completing training. Certificates shall display course number and title, course completion date, hours of instruction (total classroom and field exercise), location, lead instructor name, and the Association's logo. The certificate shall be signed by the Lead Instructor. Member companies may add their logo and/or name to the Association's certificate.

2. Verify instructor records to ensure that instructors meet or exceed NWCG Instructor qualifications listed in PMS 901-1 and certify that these standards are met.

a. Maintain qualification records for a minimum of five years on all Unit and Lead Instructors certified by FCA to instruct courses presented by FCA or its membership. These records must contain documentation necessary to verify the instructor meets the requirements in the PMS 901-1 for the courses and level of instructor qualifications (Unit Instructor and/or Lead Instructor).

b. Annually, by January 15, provide PNWCG a current list of instructors that shows their level of qualification (Unit Instructor and/or Lead Instructor) for each of the courses for which they are qualified and that are covered by this MOU. The list shall give their full name, company affiliation if any, and an example of their signature. As instructors are added or certifications change, a new list shall be provided to the MOU Representative.

c. Provide PNWCG’s designated MOU representative access to student records upon request to the extent permitted by law.

3. Assure that a minimum of one qualified Lead Instructor is present to ensure the delivery of each course presented by the FCA. The Lead Instructor and/or Course Coordinator may also perform the following responsibilities: screen students to ensure they meet all prerequisites (training and experience) to attend training course; evaluate and recommend certification of unit instructors; hold cadre meetings as necessary; assure unit, final exams are administered properly as identified in each course Instructor's Guide; provide course evaluations; and student roster to the instructor at the end of each course presentation.

4. Monitor the quality of the training provided and records maintained by their certified instructors to verify that the training and records are in compliance with the established standards.

5. Provide course evaluations and student rosters to the PNWCG MOU representative, upon request.

D. PNWCG and FCA mutually agree that;

1. Both Parties will meet prior to January 1, to have an annual program review of this MOU and previous calendar year’s activities.

2. Revisions to this MOU will be made by the issuance of a written modification signed and dated by both parties.

3. FCA must obtain permission from the verification provider to utilize electronic or conforming signatures, prior to using them within a training database to produce an incident qualification card with an electronic or conforming signature.

4. Either party may terminate this agreement by providing a 30-day written notice.

5. Failure by FCA, its membership, or its recognized instructors to meet the requirements of this MOU may result in PNWCG taking the following actions: requiring remedial action by FCA to eliminate reoccurrence of the deficiency, suspending this MOU until the deficiency/deficiencies are corrected, not recognizing affected certificates of completion of training and/or incident qualification cards issued by FCA, suspension of the MOU for non-compliance, or cancellation of the MOU.

a. PNWCG will give written notice to FCA when a failure to comply with the provisions of this MOU is discovered and verified through an appropriate investigation of the facts.

b. The written notification will provide the detailed findings of non-compliance, recommended corrective action necessary and a time frame for FCA to correct the deficiency.

III. DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVES

A. The PNWCG representative to contact for questions or issues arising out of this MOU is:

Kevin Toombs

Contract Operations Program Specialist Cell: 541-419-7039 kevin.toombs@usda.gov B. The Firefighting Contractors Association representative to contact for questions or issues arising out of this MOU is:

Name:

Phone:

E-mail:

Address:

IV. EFFECTIVE DATE

In WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this MOU as of the date last below written. This MOU will expire on January 15, 2030.

Representing: (Firefighting Contractor Association)

(Name: Please Print)

(Date)

(Signature)

Pacific Northwest Wildfire Coordination Group, Chairperson

(Name: Please Print)

(Date)

(Signature)

APPENDIX A

Sources For Obtaining Training Materials

NWCG Training Catalog https://www.nwcg.gov/publications/training-courses NWCG Position Catalog https://www.nwcg.gov/positions NWCG Publication Catalog https://www.nwcg.gov/publications Wildland Fire Safety Training Annual Refresher Catalog https://www.nwcg.gov/publications/training-courses/rt-130/wfstar-catalog FEMA Course Information https://www.nwcg.gov/fema-nims-training