VIPR I-BPA for East ESB Zone Heavy Equipment Task Force (HETF) for Region 1 and Region 4 ONLY

The Department of Agriculture (USDA), US Forest Service (USFS), ESB East Zone (Regions 1 and 4), anticipate soliciting quotes (RFQ) for a consolidated requirement of Heavy Equipment Task Force (HETF) for use during Local, Regional, and nationwide fire suppression and all-hazard incidents.

The HETF will consist of one (1) Job Site Foreman with 4-wheel drive transportation, one leveling Feller Buncher, one rubber tired Skidder, one Type II Dozer equipped with a 6 way blade (PAT) or manual angle with hydraulic tilt, one drop tank Skidgine or Pumpercat that can also skid logs, and all transportation required to move entire HETF ordered equipment to and from a wildland fire incident. In addition a second Feller Buncher, an Excavator, or a Boom Mounted Masticator may be ordered as options within the HETF agreements. Section D.2 within the solicitation will contain equipment details.

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. 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. Note transportation requirements within solicitation.

DISPATCH CENTER: Agreements will be competitively awarded within the hosting R1 and R4 Regional dispatch centers. 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. Technical Quote Checklists can be located here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/fire/contracting.  The technical quotes will be submitted externally from the VIPR Vendor Application to a designated email address within the solicitation.

SET-ASIDES: The agreements 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 per Section B.6 -- SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS ADVANTAGE APPLICABLE TO DPL RANKING.

The Government will award enough I-BPAs to cover their foreseeable need for HETF in Regions 1 & 4.

NOTE: 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. WILL NEED THIS TO CREATE A VIPR ACCOUNT. Information: https://www.fs.fed.us/business/incident/eauth.php.

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

The Department of Agriculture (USDA), US Forest Service (USFS), ESB East Zone (Regions 1 and 4), anticipate soliciting quotes (RFQ) for a consolidated requirement of Heavy Equipment Task Force (HETF) for use during Local, Regional, and nationwide fire suppression and all-hazard incidents.

The HETF will consist of one (1) Job Site Foreman with 4-wheel drive transportation, one leveling Feller Buncher, one rubber tired Skidder, one Type II Dozer equipped with a 6 way blade (PAT) or manual angle with hydraulic tilt, one drop tank Skidgine or Pumpercat that can also skid logs, and all transportation required to move entire HETF ordered equipment to and from a wildland fire incident. In addition a second Feller Buncher, an Excavator, or a Boom Mounted Masticator may be ordered as options within the HETF agreements. Section D.2 within the solicitation will contain equipment details.

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.

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. Note transportation requirements within solicitation.

DISPATCH CENTER: Agreements will be competitively awarded within the hosting R1 and R4 Regional dispatch centers.

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.

SET-ASIDES: The agreements 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 per Section B.6 -- SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS ADVANTAGE APPLICABLE TO DPL RANKING. The Government will award enough I-BPAs to cover their foreseeable need for HETF in Regions 1 & 4.

NOTE: 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. WILL NEED THIS TO CREATE A VIPR ACCOUNT.

Information: https://www.fs.fed.us/business/incident/eauth.php.

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

Technical Quote portion will require separate email of supporting tech documents to Government's designated email address within the solicitation. Tech Review Checklists can be found here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/fire/contracting

The Department of Agriculture (USDA), US Forest Service (USFS), ESB East Zone (Regions 1 and 4), anticipate soliciting quotes (RFQ) for a consolidated requirement labeled Heavy Equipment Task Force (HETF) for use during Local, Regional, and nationwide fire suppression and all-hazard incidents. The HETF will consist of one Job Site Foreman with 4 wheel drive transportation, one leveling Feller Buncher, one rubber tired Skidder, one Type II Dozer equipped with a 6 way blade (PAT) or manual angle with hydraulic tilt, one drop tank Skidgine or Pumpercat that can also skid logs, and all transportation required to move entire HETF ordered equipment to and from the incident. In addition a second Feller Buncher, an Excavator, or a Boom Mounted Masticator may be ordered as options within the HETF agreements. Section D.2 within the solicitation will contain equipment details. 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 R1 and R4 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 per 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. WILL NEED THIS TO CREATE A VIPR ACCOUNT.

Information: https://www.fs.fed.us/business/incident/eauth.php.

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