VIPR I-BPA for Vehicle with Driver for Region 5 - Pacific Southwest Region

The purpose of this amendment is to 1) extend the due date for responses to March 31, 2020 at 1400 PDT, 2) clarify the language found at D.16 regarding pre-award inspections, 3) to amend D.2.1--Equipment Typing to exclude Sport Utility Vehicles and Passenger Vans, and 4) to remove the requirement found at D.2.2.5 -- Vehicle Identification from agreements issued in Region 5. All other terms and conditions remain the same.

The Department of Agriculture (USDA), US Forest Service (USFS), Pacific Southwest Region 5 (California) is soliciting quotes (RFQ) for Vehicle with Driver 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.

Agreements will be competitively awarded within Region 5. The Government anticipates awarding multiple Incident Blanket Purchase Agreements (I-BPA) using set asides for: Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB), 8(a) Small Businesses, Women Owned Small Business (WOSB), HUBZone Small Businesses, and standard Small Business as defined under NAICS Code 485999. The Small Business size standard is $15 million. Only small businesses (with active SAM account verifying small business status under advertised NAICS 485999 will be considered for award).

The solicitation has been issued using the Virtual Incident Procurement (VIPR) system. To use VIPR you must have access to a computer with internet capabilities. Basic information about the VIPR system and a Vendor User Guide is located at: http://www.fs.fed.us/business/incident/vipr.php.  Vendors must register in this application on the web at http://www.fs.fed.us/business/incident/Vendorapp.php.

Other information pertinent for vendors:

1) Vendors must have a valid e-mail since VIPR communications are conducted via e-mail. An e-mail address is also required for the registrations applicable to the VIPR Vendor Application.

2) Vendors must have a valid DUNS number. Request a free DUNS Number from Dun and Bradstreet on the web at: http://iupdate.dnb.com/iUpdate/companylookup.htm

3) Register in the System for Award Management (SAM) as stated in the solicitation. Vendors can access SAM at https://www.sam.gov/. IMPORTANT: Contractors account must be active in SAM as it is directly related to receiving an award under this solicitation and any payment for orders placed under the awarded Agreement. SAM must be updated annually. Registering in SAM is FREE.

4) Vendors are required to have a USDA Level 2 eAuthentication account that provides the ability to conduct official electronic business transactions. Information for obtaining a Level 2 eAuthentication account is available on the web at http://www.fs.fed.us/business/incident/eauth.php

The Solicitation will only be available electronically. Electronic responses must be transmitted in the VIPR Vendor Application (http://www.fs.fed.us/business/incident/Vendorapp.php) no later than 2:00 PM PST, on March 20, 2020. NO PAPER COPIES WILL BE ISSUED AND NO TELEPHONE REQUEST FOR TRHE SOLICITATION WILL BE ACCEPTED.  Failure to meet the date and time will result in no award.

6) Region 5 will not host any pre-quote meetings.  See C.11 of the solicitation.

7) Photo Inspections will be required.  See vendor check sheet (as attached to the solicitation) and provision D.16 for more information and instructions.

8) Vendors must select the closest Host Forest Dispatch or Interagency Coordination Center closest to their equipment location, and must meet the mileage requirement at clause D.5.1 in the solicitation.  Vendors with equipment located outside California must sign up at the California Dispatch Center closest to their equipment location and must meet the mileage requirement as noted in the solicitation.

Information on Dispatch Center locations can be found at:  https://www.fs.fed.us/business/incident/dispatchlookup.php?tab=tab_d#no

Contracting Office Address:
US Forest Service
3237 Peacekeeper Way,
Suite 101
McClellan, CA  95652

Contracting Point of Contact:
Lydia Moore-Ward
Lydia.Moore-Ward@usda.gov

Technical Point of Contact:
Cheryl Raines
Cheryl.Raines@usda.gov