VIPR I-BPA for Emergency Medical Responder for Region 13 - National

The Department of Agriculture (USDA), US Forest Service (USFS), ESB National Zone (Region 13 ? which includes all participating regions), anticipates soliciting quotes (RFQ) for Emergency Medical Responders (Fireline and nonfireline EMT, AEMT, Paramedics) for use during local, regional, and nationwide fire suppression and all-hazard incidents. Section D.2 within the solicitation will contain equipment details. 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 be limited to, severity, fire suppression, and all-hazard incidents. The USFS Equipment & Services Contracting Branch (ESB) in tandem with Regional Program Office Representatives will determine annually whether it is in the Government?s best interest to initiate an open season on-ramping process to add additional Contractors and/or resources during the annual Contracting Officer (CO) review period noted in Section C.3.1 of the solicitation. The full solicitation will be tentatively posted on or around March 7, 2023.

RATES: Proposed rates should be based on up to a 16hr. Daily Shift and include all within B.2 -- CONTRACT TYPE AND DOLLAR LIMITATIONS. Note: D.21.8.1 -- Rates of Payments. Payment will be at the rates specified in the agreement that is in effect at the time of the order.

DISPATCH CENTER: Agreements will be competitively awarded within a Regional dispatch center. Agreement intent and Government guidance is for Quoters to select the available dispatch center within the geographic area where their resource is located in order to reasonably meet the Government?s (Host Agency?s) date and time needed for emergency incident support, as well as offer best value to the Government for travel costs for each potential dispatch/BPA Call.

**Please submit all questions to: https://forms.office.com/g/FHrSGduEen

SET-ASIDES: The agreement will be competitively awarded. The Government anticipates awarding multiple preseason Incident Blanket Purchase Agreements (I-BPAs) as unrestricted with further consideration per Section B.6 -- SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS ADVANTAGE APPLICABLE TO DPL RANKING.

The USDA Forest Service East Equipment & Service Branch (ESB) National Zone will host two (2) VIPR Medical Agreement specific virtual Fire Vendor Outreach Sessions (FVOS) utilizing the Microsoft Teams platform. Vendor registration is required by registering at this link: https://forms.office.com/g/XbHqXxF4dd

Meetings will be held through a Microsoft Teams application or through your computer?s browser (no download necessary). There will also be an option to join by telephone only.

1. Thursday, March 16th at 1500 MT

2. Tuesday, March 21st at 1500 MT

A single, national solicitation will be issued to obtain these services.

****The solicitation will be issued using the Virtual Incident Procurement (VIPR) system****

1) Vendors must have a valid e-mail address; all VIPR communications, to include rate negotiations, technical evaluations/photo uploads, and award notifications, are conducted via e-mail.

2) Vendors must have a valid UEI (Unique Entity ID) Number. Request a free UEI Number from the System for Award Management (SAM): https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration

3) Vendors must have active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM): https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration

4) Vendors are required to have a USDA Level 2 eAuthentication account that provides the ability to conduct official electronic business transactions. WILL NEED THIS TO CREATE A VIPR ACCOUNT.

Information: https://www.eauth.usda.gov/eauth/b/usda/registration

5) Vendors must submit a quote electronically using the VIPR Vendor Application: https://www.fs.usda.gov/business/incident/vendorapp.php?tab=tab_d