VIPR I-BPA for WATER HANDLING for Region 5 - Pacific Southwest Region

The purpose of this amendment is to provide clarification regarding inspections, as well as the technical contact information, Cheryl Raines (craines@fs.fed.us).
Regarding inspections, at D.16.3 REMOVE
"SEE ALSO EXHIBIT H.
Quotes must be submitted in VIPR by the solicitation closing date and time.
The documentation Check Sheet to be submitted for each resource is available as an attachment to the Notice at the Federal Business Opportunities website (www.fbo.gov). Find by searching www.fbo.gov for the solicitation number, 129J6119Q7005.
You will be contacted by Contract Operations AFTER SOLICITATION CLOSING in order to schedule a compliance inspection by the end of November 2019. Do not call to schedule an inspection or inquire about inspection dates or locations, this will only delay the process.
WATER TENDERS: Vendors are REQUIRED to submit the documentation stated in the checklist for EACH truck NO LATER THAN THE SOLICITATION CLOSING DATE.
ENGINES: Vendors are REQUIRED to submit the documentation stated in the check sheet for EACH Engine, as well as the required personnel training records, NO LATER THAN THE SOLICITATION CLOSING DATE.."
AND REPLACE WITH--
"SEE ALSO EXHIBIT H.
Quotes must be submitted in VIPR by the solicitation closing date and time.
The documentation Check Sheet to be submitted for each resource is available as an attachment to the Notice at the Federal Business Opportunities website (www.fbo.gov). Find by searching www.fbo.gov for the solicitation number, 129J6119Q7005.
You will be contacted by Contract Operations AFTER SOLICITATION CLOSING in order to schedule a compliance inspection by the end of November 2019. Do not call to schedule an inspection or inquire about inspection dates or locations, this will only delay the process.
All resources, even those previously signed up under a VIPR agreement, are subject to solicitation inspection requirements, including submission of documentation (technical proposal).
WATER TENDERS: Vendors are REQUIRED to submit the documentation stated in the check sheet for EACH truck so that it RECEIVED NO LATER THAN THE SOLICITATION CLOSING DATE. Send only documentation requested in the check sheet.
ENGINES: Vendors are REQUIRED to submit the documentation stated in the check sheet for EACH Engine, as well as the Individual Employee Training Verification Form and the Contract Engine Personnel Summary form along with the supporting personnel training records, so that it is RECEIVED NO LATER THAN THE SOLICITATION CLOSING DATE.
Any documentation packet sent incomplete, i.e. without forms and/or missing documentation, is considered unacceptable. There will NOT be an opportunity to make corrections/updates to the technical proposal (forms and documentation) after the due date for receipt. Documentation must be clear/legible. The vendor is responsible for verifying complete packets prior to sending. The contractor or program office will not return requests to verify complete packets after submission or receipt. If a vendor would like to verify delivery of a documentation package, send with tracking.".

AWARDS UNDER THIS SOLICITATION ARE NOT EXPECTED UNTIL FEBRUARY OF 2020.
The Department of Agriculture (USDA), US Forest Service (USFS), Pacific Southwest Region 5 (California) intends to solicit quotes (Request For Quotes) for WATER HANDLING resources (Engines and Support Water Tenders) for use during Local, Regional, and Nation-wide fire suppression and all-hazard incidents. Vendors are 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 limited to, severity, fire suppression, and all-hazard incidents.
The agreement will be competitively awarded within Region 5. The Government anticipates awarding multiple Incident Blanket Purchase Agreements (I-BPA) using set asides for standard Small Business as defined under NAICS Code 115310. The Small Business size standard is $19.0 million. Only small businesses (with active SAM account) verifying small business status under advertised NAICS 115310 will be considered for award.
The solicitation will be issued using the Virtual Incident Procurement (VIPR) system. Basic information about the VIPR system and a Vendor User Guide is located at: http://www.fs.fed.us/business/incident/vipr.php.
Other information pertinent for vendors:
1) 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
2) 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.
3) 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
4) INSPECTION DOCUMENTATION MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE CLOSING DATE. For details, see provision D.16 of the solicitation when published. For those responsive vendors whose resource(s) pass documentation inspection, contact will be made for physical equipment inspections by the end of November 2019.
5) Vendors must use the VIPR Vendor Application to view and respond to the solicitation. Vendors must register and submit a quote electronically in this application. Vendors must register in this application on the web at http://www.fs.fed.us/business/incident/Vendorapp.php.
The solicitation will only be available electronically and will be posted to the FBO website on or about March 29, 2019.
In addition to inspection documentation, electronic quotes must be transmitted through the VIPR Vendor Application (http://www.fs.fed.us/business/incident/Vendorapp.php) no later than 2:00 PM Pacific Time on April 30, 2019. NO PAPER COPIES WILL BE ISSUED AND NO TELEPHONE REQUESTS FOR THE SOLICITATION WILL BE ACCEPTED.
6) Vendors must meet the distance requirement at clause D.5.1 in the solicitation, AS AMENDED. For information on dispatch locations refer to VIPR Dispatch Center Lookup web page (https://www.fs.fed.us/business/incident/dispatchlookup.php?tab=tab_d).
AFTER REVIEWING THE SOLICITATION please EMAIL specific questions to the appropriate contact.
Contracting Point of Contact:
Wendy Whiteman
wwhiteman@fs.fed.us
Technical Point of Contact:
Cheryl Raines
craines@fs.fed.us
https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r5/fire-aviation/management/?cid=stelprdb5303034.

AWARDS UNDER THIS SOLICITATION ARE NOT EXPECTED UNTIL FEBRUARY OF 2020.
The Department of Agriculture (USDA), US Forest Service (USFS), Pacific Southwest Region 5 (California) intends to solicit quotes (Request For Quotes) for WATER HANDLING resources (Engines and Support Water Tenders) for use during Local, Regional, and Nation-wide fire suppression and all-hazard incidents. Vendors are 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 limited to, severity, fire suppression, and all-hazard incidents.
The agreement will be competitively awarded within Region 5. The Government anticipates awarding multiple Incident Blanket Purchase Agreements (I-BPA) using set asides for standard Small Business as defined under NAICS Code 115310. The Small Business size standard is $19.0 million. Only small businesses (with active SAM account) verifying small business status under advertised NAICS 115310 will be considered for award.
The solicitation will be issued using the Virtual Incident Procurement (VIPR) system. Basic information about the VIPR system and a Vendor User Guide is located at: http://www.fs.fed.us/business/incident/vipr.php.
Other information pertinent for vendors:
1) 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
2) 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.
3) 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
4) INSPECTION DOCUMENTATION MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE CLOSING DATE. For details, see provision D.16 of the solicitation when published. For those responsive vendors whose resource(s) pass documentation inspection, contact will be made for physical equipment inspections by the end of November 2019.
5) Vendors must use the VIPR Vendor Application to view and respond to the solicitation. Vendors must register and submit a quote electronically in this application. Vendors must register in this application on the web at http://www.fs.fed.us/business/incident/Vendorapp.php.
The solicitation will only be available electronically and will be posted to the FBO website on or about March 29, 2019.
In addition to inspection documentation, electronic quotes must be transmitted through the VIPR Vendor Application (http://www.fs.fed.us/business/incident/Vendorapp.php) no later than 2:00 PM Pacific Time on April 30, 2019. NO PAPER COPIES WILL BE ISSUED AND NO TELEPHONE REQUESTS FOR THE SOLICITATION WILL BE ACCEPTED.
6) Vendors must meet the distance requirement at clause D.5.1 in the solicitation, AS AMENDED. For information on dispatch locations refer to VIPR Dispatch Center Lookup web page (https://www.fs.fed.us/business/incident/dispatchlookup.php?tab=tab_d).
AFTER REVIEWING THE SOLICITATION please EMAIL specific questions to the appropriate contact.
Contracting Point of Contact:
Wendy Whiteman
wwhiteman@fs.fed.us
Technical Point of Contact:
Cheryl Raines
craines@fs.fed.us
https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r5/fire-aviation/management/?cid=stelprdb5303034.