VIPR I-BPA for WATER TENDER (Support) for Region 5 - Pacific Southwest Region

THE 2019 WATER TENDER ADVERTISEMENT IS CANCELLED AND WILL BE RE-ISSUED UNDER 2019 WATER HANDLING. PLEASE MONITOR THE FEDERAL BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES WEBSITE FOR THE NEW ADVERTISEMENT.

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The Department of Agriculture (USDA), US Forest Service (USFS), Pacific Southwest Region 5 (California) intends to solicit quotes (Request For Quotes) for Water Tenders (Support) for use during Local, Regional, and Nation-wide 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. 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. 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.
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
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 January 10, 2019. Electronic responses 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 February 21, 2019. NO PAPER COPIES WILL BE ISSUED AND NO TELEPHONE REQUEST FOR THE SOLICITATION WILL BE ACCEPTED. Failure to meet the date and time will result in no award.
6) A pre-quote meeting may be held. See provision C.11 of the solicitation.
7) Equipment inspections will be held and DOCUMENTATION MAY BE DUE BY THE CLOSING DATE AND TIME (failure to meet the date and time will result in no award.). For details, see provision D.16 of the solicitation when published.
8) Vendors must meet the mileage 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 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.