West Zone Heavy Equipment with Water for Regions 3, 5 and 6

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation is for heavy equipment with water (skidgines, pumper cats, and softtracks) for local, regional, and nationwide fire suppression, all-hazard incidents, and prescribed fire project work. The resulting agreements will be Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs) that may be used by multiple State and Federal wildland fire agencies. An "open season" on-ramping process is being initiated to ensure adequate resources.

• Heavy equipment with water (skidgines, pumper cats, softtracks) meeting specific equipment requirements (e.g., backup alarm, tank security, baffling, pump capabilities, foam capability).

• Specific minimum standards for Skidgines, Pumper Cats, and Softtracks are detailed, including tank capacity, pump flow, hose length, and pump and roll capabilities.

• Equipment must be licensed and legally operable, with specific requirements for transports.

• Contractors must provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and ensure personnel are trained and qualified (e.g., RT-130 Annual Fireline Refresher, Commercial Driver's License if required).

• Personnel must be able to communicate in English.

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

• The contract type is not specified, but it will result in multiple agreements.

• The period of performance for agreements is 4 years from the date of award, with annual reviews.

• The dollar limitation for any individual order is the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT).

• Placement of orders is not guaranteed.

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

• Vendors must be registered in SAM.gov.

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

• A 5% advantage is applied for socioeconomic categories (HUBZone, SDVOSB, 8(a), WOSB, EDWOSB).

• Technical evaluation pictures and documents are required for each resource type.

• Offerors must hold prices firm for 60 calendar days from the date specified for receipt of offers.

• Offer due date: April 23, 2026, 07:00 PM MST.

• This acquisition is set aside for Small Business.

• NAICS code: 115310.

• Awards are prohibited for Government employees or entities owned by Government employees.

• Awards to a Government Entity are prohibited.

• Exhibit H details geographic area terms and conditions, with specific regions opting out of certain resource types.

• Exhibit M details minimum equipment inventory requirements.

• The solicitation incorporates FAR clauses by reference, including 52.212-1, 52.212-3, and 52.212-5.

Amendment / Modification

• This amendment re-opens Solicitation 12569R25Q7003 for an open season Onboarding period.

• Vendor quote responses are now due by 04/23/2025 at 17:00 MST.

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

• The 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 I BPA awards issued through Onboarding will be identical to the original awards, including 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 ("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.

• 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.

• 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, newly awarded Contractors or resources added to existing agreements will be eligible for dispatch and BPA Calls.

• Solicitation 12569R25Q7003 is re-opened.

• Exhibit H – Special Contract Requirements is referenced for Onboarding.

• Proposal deadline extended to 04/23/2025 at 17:00 MST.

• Submission method changed to VIPR NextGen application.

• New Offerors can submit quotes; existing awardees can revise rates or resources.