Fallers for West Zone Regions 5 and 6

Other / Unclassified

This document outlines the National Fireline Qualification Verification Process for Regions 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 9. It details specific regional procedures for verifying the fireline qualifications of employed responders.

Vendors will receive an email from vendor.verification@usda.gov with instructions for submitting training verification information. The document also specifies distinct processes for Region 1 and Region 6:

• Region 1 (Montana, Northern Idaho, North Dakota): Requires annual verification by a Northern Rockies (NR) MOU Inspection provider. A list of providers is available on the NRCC website. Signed inspection documentation must be submitted to the Contracting Officer before the first incident order. Vendors will also receive an email to confirm R1 vendor status, after which no further action may be needed.
• Region 6 (Oregon and Washington): Requires wildland fire training to be obtained from Region 6 accepted MOU Training Providers or vetted through the PNWCG Training Committee if obtained elsewhere. FFT2 records must be verified by an MOU Provider, with costs borne by the vendor. Incident Identification Qualification Cards must be signed by both the MOU Provider and VIPR Vendor before an employee can accept an assignment. Failure to validate employees could result in equipment release at the incident and non-payment of travel. Region 6 Forest Service Contract Operations will not validate/approve employee records. Vendors will also receive an email to confirm R6 vendor status, after which no further action may be needed.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation seeks to obtain services for faller module(s) for local, regional, and nationwide use in wildland fire suppression, all-hazard incidents, and prescribed fire project work, including Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) projects. The resulting Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs) may be used by multiple State and Federal wildland fire agencies.

• Services include fire suppression, all-hazard incidents, prescribed fire project work, and BAER projects.

• Resources furnished must meet specified standards and may be operated in strenuous environmental conditions.

• Contractors must comply with NWCG Standards for Interagency Incident Business Management (Work/Rest Guidelines).

• Specific Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is required, including boots, hard hats, gloves, chaps, eye and hearing protection, headlamps, and fire shelters.

• Chainsaws (minimum 30" bar, 67cc, functional chainbrake, spark arrester) and wedges are required.

• Dependable ground transportation meeting all State and Federal laws is required, including 4-wheel or all-wheel drive capability.

• Vehicles must have appropriate tires and a securely mounted, accessible fire extinguisher.

• Personnel must meet minimum training and experience requirements, including 3 years of commercial logging or wildfire faller experience, RT-130 Annual Fireline Refresher, and an Arduous Work Capacity Fitness Test.

• English proficiency is required for communication.

• This solicitation will result in multiple agreements (I-BPAs).

• The estimated value is $34,000,000.00.

• The agreement period is for 2 years from the date of award, with annual review modifications.

• No orders or payments are guaranteed.

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

• Quotes will be evaluated based on operational acceptability, price reasonableness, and past performance dependability risk.

• Awards will be made to responsible quoter(s) whose quotes are advantageous to the Government.

• Socioeconomic status (small business, HUBZone, SDVOSB, EDWOSB) provides a dispatch priority advantage.

• Offerors must submit technical quotes including pictures and documents as specified.

• Resumes for each faller are required.

• The offer submission deadline is April 23, 2026, 05:30 PM MST.

• This acquisition is set aside for small business.

• Exhibit H contains Geographic Area Terms and Conditions.

• Exhibit K provides the Faller Resume template.

• The document references numerous NWCG publications and FAR clauses.

Amendment / Modification

This amendment re-opens Solicitation 12569R23Q7002 for an open season Onboarding period for Fallers and Faller Modules. The original solicitation was issued by the USDA Forest Service for Regions 5 and 6 to support fire suppression and all-hazard incidents.

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

• 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 in terms, conditions, and period of performance to the original awards.

• Vendor quote responses are now due no later than 04/023/2026 at 17:00 MST.

• Responses must be submitted through the VIPR NextGen application.

• Existing BPA awardees may revise rates, modify resources, or add new resources.

• New Offerors who meet eligibility requirements may submit quotes.

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

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

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