Chipper for Region 3 - East Zone ESB

Amendment / Modification

• The Government is re-opening Solicitation 1202SB24Q7013 for an open season Onboarding period.

• Vendor quote responses are now due no later than 04/24/2026 at 16:00 MST.

• Responses must be submitted through the "VIPR NextGen" application.

• This amendment re-opens the original solicitation to conduct Onboarding in accordance with Exhibit H - Special Contract Requirements.

• Onboarding is not a new procurement action but is conducted under the terms of the original solicitation.

• Award decisions during open season Onboarding will use the same evaluation factors and sub-factors as the original solicitation.

• Any new BPA awards issued through Onboarding will be identical to the original awards in terms, conditions, and period of performance.

• Significant changes to evaluation factors or contract terms are not anticipated.

• This amendment applies to a Multiple Award Incident Blanket Purchase Agreement (I BPA) issued as a 100% Small Business Set Aside.

• The open season Onboarding period will run concurrently with the USFS Contracting Officer's annual I BPA review (commonly referred to as the "Rollover" modification process).

• During this period, existing I BPA awardees may revise rates, modify resources, or add new resources.

• New Offerors who meet all eligibility requirements may submit quotes for consideration.

• All proposed resources must meet the criteria established in the original solicitation.

• New quote submissions must meet all Acceptability Pass/Fail requirements and will be evaluated using the same evaluation factors as the original solicitation.

• Any resulting new I BPA awards will be identical in terms and conditions to the original agreements.

• After the Onboarding and annual review/rollover processes are complete, any newly awarded Contractors or newly accepted resources added to existing agreements will be eligible for dispatch and BPA Calls in accordance with the ordering procedures in the agreements.

• Solicitation 1202SB24Q7013

• Response due date and time

• Submission method

• The deadline for vendor quote responses has been extended to 04/24/2026 at 16:00 MST.

• Vendors must submit responses through the "VIPR NextGen" application.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation seeks to establish multiple Indefinite-Delivery/Indefinite-Quantity (I-BPA) agreements for Chippers to be used for local, regional, and nationwide fire suppression, all-hazard incidents, and prescribed fire project work. The agreements may be utilized by multiple State and Federal wildland fire agencies. The placement of orders is not guaranteed.

• Procurement of Chippers (Type 1: 18-inch capacity, Type 2: 13-17 inch capacity, Type 3: 9-12 inch capacity).

• Chippers must be hand-fed, designed for woody material, and equipped with a 3-person crew (or 2-person crew if specified on the resource order, with a rate adjustment).

• Contractors must provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as specified, including boots, hard hat, gloves, eye and hearing protection, headlamp, and fire shelter.

• Vehicles must meet specific tire requirements, have a spare tire, and be free of prohibited markings.

• Personnel must meet minimum age requirements and possess English communication skills for safety and operational effectiveness.

• Contractors must comply with the Agricultural Worker Protection Act (MSPA) and potentially H-2B program requirements.

• The solicitation will result in multiple I-BPAs.

• The contract type is not explicitly stated but implies an IDIQ structure.

• The estimated value for any individual order is the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT).

• The agreement period is for 3 years from the date of award, with annual review modifications.

• Offers must be submitted through the Virtual Incident Procurement (VIPR) Next Gen System.

• Quotes will be evaluated based on: Operational acceptability of equipment/resource, Price reasonableness, and Past performance dependability risk.

• A 5% socioeconomic status advantage will be applied for specific categories (e.g., HUBZone, SDVOSB, 8(a)), up to a 10% cap.

• Technical quotes require specific pictures and documentation to demonstrate operational acceptability.

• Offerors must register and maintain active status in the System for Award Management (SAM).

• Offerors must submit quotes by the Offer Due Date: 4/24/2026 at 04:00 PM MST.

• The acquisition is set aside for Small Business concerns, as indicated by the checked box in Block 10 of the SF-1449.

• Specific socioeconomic status advantages are detailed in Section B.6.

• Exhibit H details Geographic Area Terms and Conditions.

• Exhibit I lists Contractor Associations and Public Education Providers.

• Exhibit L provides Geographic Area Maps.

• The solicitation incorporates numerous FAR and agency clauses by reference.