VIPR I-BPA for Water Handling for Region 9 - Eastern Region

Maintenance Cycle #19-05 adds the manifest that was missing from Exhibit M for Water Handling (per CR0345). (boj)

AWARDS UNDER THIS SOLICITATION ARE NOT EXPECTED UNTIL JANUARY 1, 2020.

The Department of Agriculture (USDA), US Forest Service (USFS), Eastern Region 9 intends to solicit quotes (Request For Quotes) for WATER HANDLING resources (Engines, Support Water Tenders, and Tactical Water Tenders) for use during Local, Regional, and Nation-wide fire suppression and all-hazard incidents. This area consists of the following states: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin, and West Virginia. 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 9. 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) 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 April 12, 2019.

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 Eastern Time on May 31, 2019. NO PAPER COPIES WILL BE ISSUED AND NO TELEPHONE REQUESTS FOR THE SOLICITATION WILL BE ACCEPTED.

AFTER REVIEWING THE SOLICITATION please EMAIL specific questions to:

Contracting Point of Contact:

Melissa Johnson

melissaajohnson@fs.fed.us