VIPR I-BPA for Chipper for Regions 1, 2, 4

The purpose of Amendment 0002 is to further clarify the process for submitting the technical portion of your quote. Please see section E.2 for updated information concerning the Technical Quote Submittal Process. General questions concerning this solicitation can be sent to the following email address: SM.FS.VIPRQuestion@usda.gov.

The purpose of Amendment 0002 is to further clarify the process for submitting the technical portion of your quote. Please see section E.2 for updated information concerning the Technical Quote Submittal Process. General questions concerning this solicitation can be sent to the following email address: SM.FS.VIPRQuestion@usda.gov.

This amendment is to add language to Section E.2 INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMITTING TECHNICAL QUOTES:

Per B.7 ? SUMMARY, quotes are due on or before the close of this Solicitation through the VIPR Vendor Application. An extension of 7 days from the closing date of this Solicitation is being issued for external technical submittal supporting documents only (technical quote checklist, etc.). Instructional video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTAeF-EX8X8

The Department of Agriculture (USDA), US Forest Service (USFS), East Side, Equipment and Services Branch ? Regions 1, 2, and 4, is soliciting quotes (RFQ) for Chippers for use during Local, Regional, and nationwide fire suppression and all-hazard incidents. The Contractor is responsible for all equipment, materials, supplies, transportation, lodging, trained/certified personnel, and supervision and management of those personnel, necessary to meet or exceed the Agreement specifications. Optional use by Interagency Cooperators (subject to that agency?s payment and administrative terms). The resources may be used in the protection of lands, to include but not be limited to, severity, fire suppression and all-hazard incidents.

RATES: Proposed rates should be based on up to a 16hr. Daily Shift and include all within B.2 -- PRICING AND ESTIMATED QUANTITY.

DISPATCH CENTER: Agreements will be competitively awarded within the Regional dispatch centers. Agreement intent and Government guidance is for Quoters to select the available dispatch center closest to their resource location in order to reasonably meet the Government?s (Host Agency?s) date and time needed for emergency incident support, as well as offer best value to the Government for travel costs for each potential dispatch/BPA Call. Since wildland fire support and locations are unknown at time of award, selection of a host dispatch center/zone outside of where the resources reside may result in loss of opportunity and failure to meet Government?s critical and timely need at time of incident. Map link: https://www.nifc.gov/nicc/

INSPECTIONS: Pre-award inspections will not be conducted. Please see technical quote submittal requirements listed in SECTION E -- SOLICITATION PROVISIONS; E.1 -- INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS; 52.212-1 -- Instructions to Offerors -- Commercial Items. Failure to submit a technical quote package for review according to the instructions within the solicitation will result in non-award.

SET-ASIDES: The agreement will be competitively awarded. The Government anticipates awarding multiple preseason Incident Blanket Purchase Agreements (I-BPAs) using a total Small Business set aside with further consideration for SDVOSB, SDB, EDWOSB, WOSB, 8(a) & HUBzone. See Section B.6 -- SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS ADVANTAGE APPLICABLE TO DPL RANKING.

****The solicitation will be issued using the Virtual Incident Procurement (VIPR) system****

1) Vendors must have a valid e-mail address; all VIPR communications, to include rate negotiations and award notification, are conducted via e-mail.

2) Vendors must have a valid DUNS Number. Request a free DUNS Number from https://iupdate.dnb.com/iUpdate/companylookup.htm.

3) Vendors must have active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM): https://www.sam.gov/SAM/.

4) Vendors are required to have a USDA Level 2 eAuthentication account that provides the ability to conduct official electronic business transactions. Information: https://www.fs.fed.us/business/incident/eauth.php. Fraudulent Level 2 eAuthentication accounts will be handled by the USDA Office of Inspector General (OIG) and/or the Forest Service?s Law Enforcement and Investigations Division (LEI).

5) Vendors must submit a quote electronically using the VIPR Vendor Application: http://www.fs.fed.us/business/incident/vendorapp.php.