Kootenai NF OU3 Fire Suppression Module

This is a Request for Information (RFI) being released pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Part 10 Market Research. This is NOT a Request for Proposal, Invitation for Bid, or an announcement of a solicitation, and nothing shall be construed herein or through the RFI process to commit or obligate the Government to further action as a result of the RFI. In addition, contractors responding to this RFI shall bear all risk and expense of any resource used to provide the requested information. The information collected through this process is considered to be market research as described by FAR 2.101 and in accordance with FAR 10.002. The USDA Forest Service, Region 1, is seeking information and capabilities for planning purposes regarding commercially available services for a suppression module (size of module and crew qualifications are provided below) for fire severity/preparedness and suppression activities in the Operable Unit 3 (OU3) Fire Response Area of the Libby Superfund as designated by the Environmental Protection Agency. The Contractor would be responsible for furnishing and managing all equipment, supplies, transportation, lodging, and trained/certified personnel necessary to meet/exceed the contract specifications. The categories of work contemplated would include wildland fire preparedness through pre-suppression Severity/Preparedness and fire suppression with an emphasis on Initial Attack and large fire support. Description of Requirements The U.S. Forest Service engages in the suppression of wildland fires on a large scale on an annual basis utilizing firefighting crews provide by the agency and crews hired under contract. Firefighting crews typically perform work utilizing hand tools to construct fire line. Power saws are utilized to clear brush and fall trees. In addition crews often construct hose lays to bring water to the fire area. The hand tools, power saws, and hose lays are also utilized during mop-up once the fire has been contained. The work environment would be forested and is often in steep terrain that is uneven, rocky, and covered in vegetation. Working conditions are often extreme due to smoke and hot, dry weather conditions while working near the radiant heat of the fire environment. The hazardous nature of the work requires that personal protective equipment be utilized at all times during work hours. In addition, the work area identified for this RFI includes Operable Unit 3 (OU3) of the Libby Superfund as designated by the Environmental Protection Agency. The area, which is approximately 30,000 acres in size, has documented presence of Libby Amphibole Asbestos (LAA) in the tree bark, duff, and soil. LAA is known to cause asbestos related diseases. Additional information is available at: https://cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/cursites/csitinfo.cfm?id=0801744 Due to the known presence of LAA in OU3 firefighting personnel would be required to wear respiratory protection and go through decontamination prior to leaving the OU3 Fire Response boundary. Objectives - Provide qualified firefighters to be on standby at a Government assigned location, and respond to wildfires in the Libby Superfund Operable Unit 3 Fire Response Area (OU3). - Contractor would be required to provide five (5) personnel on duty per day, with a minimum staffing of one (1) qualified Crew Boss (CRWB), three (3) qualified Firefighters (FFT2), and one (1) qualified Intermediate Faller (FAL2) at all times. - As requested by the Forest Service, the contractor would need to be able to provide, and have on site, an additional 5 firefighters within 24 hours upon order. If all 10 personnel ((5) full time stand by personnel and (5) additionally ordered personnel) are on shift, the module would, at a minimum, consist of one (1) qualified Crew Boss (CRWB), one (1) qualified Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1), six (6) qualified Firefighter Type 2 (FFT2) and two (2) Intermediate Fallers (FAL2). - The contract crew would be available on standby for a minimum of 90 days (estimated June 15-Sept 12), 7-days per week, and 8-hours per day with longer work shifts expected during a fire event. - All personnel would be required to wear respiratory protection while engaged in ground disturbing activities within the OU3 Fire Response Area. - During periods of standby, the contractor would be expected to participate in trainings intended to: improve overall conditioning for firefighting while wearing a respirator; to be proficient at donning and doffing personal protective equipment; and to properly conduct decontamination procedures. The contractor would be encouraged to participate in other fire readiness training on their own as a crew and with Forest Service personnel. Position Qualifications Requirements This section outlines the qualifications that each firefighter must have before they can be certified in each Incident Command System (ICS) position required. The qualifications defined are for the ICS positions of Single Resource Boss-Crew (CRWB); Firefighter/Squad Boss (FFT1); Firefighter (FFT2); and Intermediate Faller (FAL2). These position requirements listed below are in accordance with the most current version of the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) Wildfire Qualification System Guide PMS 310-1 and are subject to change. (a) SINGLE RESOURCE BOSS-CREW (CRWB) (1) REQUIRED TRAINING - ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents (ICS-200) - Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior (S-290) - Crew Boss (Single Resource)(S-230) - Annual Fireline Safety Refresher (RT-130) (2) ADDITIONAL TRAINING WHICH SUPPORTS DEVELOPMENT OF KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS - Followership to Leadership (L-280) - Basic Air Operations (S-270) - Interagency Incident Business Management (S-260) - Firing Operations (S-219) (3) EXPERIENCE Satisfactory performance as Advanced Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1) AND Completion and Certification of PTB as a Crew Boss, Single Resource (CRWB) on a wildfire (4) PHYSICAL FITNESS Arduous *Each firefighter must have at least one qualifying assignment every five (5) years to maintain a current certification in this position. (b) ADVANCED FIREFIGHTER (FFT1) (1) REQUIRED TRAINING - Firefighter Type 1 (S-131) - Annual Fireline Safety Refresher (RT-130) (2) ADDITIONAL TRAINING WHICH SUPPORTS DEVELOPMENT OF KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS - Firing Operations (S-219) - Portable Pump and Water Use (S-211) - Power Saws (S-212) (3) EXPERIENCE Satisfactory performance as Firefighter (FFT2) AND Completion and Certification of PTB as a Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1) on a wildfire incident (4) PHYSICAL FITNESS Arduous *Each firefighter must have at least one qualifying assignment every five (5) years to maintain a current certification in this position. (c) FIREFIGHTER (FFT2) (1) REQUIRED TRAINING - Basic Firefighter training - Introduction to ICS (I-100) - Human Factors on the Fireline (L-180) - Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior (S-190) - Firefighting Training (S-130) - Annual Fireline Safety Refresher (RT-130) Note: Not required for first year FFT2 - National Incident Management System (NIMS) and Introduction (IS-700.a) (2) ADDITIONAL TRAINING WHICH SUPPORTS DEVELOPMENT OF KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS None (3) EXPERIENCE None (4) PHYSICAL FITNESS Arduous *Each firefighter must have at least one qualifying assignment every five (5) years to maintain a current certification in this position. (d) Intermediate Faller (FAL2) (1) REQUIRED TRAINING - Annual Fireline Safety Refresher (RT-130) (2) ADDITIONAL TRAINING WHICH SUPPORTS DEVELOPMENT OF KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS - Facilitative Instructor (M-410) - Firefighter Type 1 (S-131) - Firing Operations (S-219) - Portable Pumps and Water Use (S-211) (3) EXPERIENCE - Satisfactory performance as an Basic Faller (FAL3) - Completion and Certification of PTB as an Advanced Faller (FAL2) on a wildfire incident (4) PHYSICAL FITNESS Arduous *An initial certification is required for all falling position (FAL1, FAL2, FAL3) qualifications, and every three years following initial certification. Specialized Non-Fire Training Required For All Personnel Contractors shall have HAZWOPER (Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response) training as required in 29 CFR 1910.120(e). Additional information is available at: http://www.osha.com/courses/hazwoper.html Contractors shall meet all requirements for respirator protection as described in 29 CFR 1910.134. https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=standards&p_id=12716 Contractor shall meet all requirements for working with asbestos as described in 29 CFR 1910.1001. https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=standards&p_id=9995 Decontamination Personnel would be required to go through decontamination after working within the OU3 Fire Response area. Items with porous surfaces such as clothing, gloves, hose, etc. would require disposal at the end of each shift or at the end of the incident. If the equipment can be left within OU3, or properly contained and stored in closed containers which prevent dispersion of the asbestos outside the container and are properly labeled, the items may be reused for the duration of the incident and properly disposed of at the end of the incident. Items that cannot meet these requirements would be disposed of at the end of each shift. Respirator filters would be disposed of at the end of each shift. Any air filters used in equipment (e.g. chainsaws, vehicles, UTVs, etc) that goes off-road would be disposed of at the end of each incident or prior to leaving the OU3 Fire Response area. Vehicles and other equipment would be required to go through decontamination prior to leaving OU3 Fire Response area or as determined by the Incident Commander. Decontamination of vehicles and other equipment would be the responsibility of the contractor. The Forest Service would provide a pressure washer, water source, and collection of contaminated water if necessary. Equipment Contractor would be required to provide the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), fire shelters, and the minimum number and types of serviceable tools specified in the table below. Hand Tool Description. Number Required Per 5-person Module 5 Pulaskis 3 - lb. Head, 36" Handle 3 Combi/ Reinhardt/ Hazel Hoe or Mcleod 3 lb. Head, 36" Handle 1 Power Saw (Chainsaw) With Fuel, Oil, and Kit 1 First Aid Kit 10 Person, Belt Type Contractor would provide a handheld programmable radio for each crewmember with programming cables and software to facilitate communications between other incident and crew personnel. Only radios listed on the National Interagency Incident Communications Divisions' website http://www.nifc.gov/NIICD/index.html are approved. Contractor would provide each crewmember with a full-face, tight fitting, powered air-purifying respirator for arduous activities within the OU3 Fire Response area. Other types of respirators meeting 29 CFR 1910.134 and 29 CFR 1910.1001 would be approved for non-arduous activities such as decontamination or transportation in the zone. The contractor would provide all spare parts, batteries, HEPA filters, and cleaning supplies necessary to meet requirements in 29 CFR 1910.134 and 29 CFR 1910.1001. Contractor would be responsible to ensure all personnel arrive fully outfitted with the proper personal protective equipment: boots, hardhat with chinstrap, leather gloves, eye protection, hearing protection, head lamp, drinking canteens, fire shelter, flame resistant shirt and pants, and chainsaw chaps for each firefighter operating a chainsaw. Crew Ground Transportation Contractor would provide vehicles for ground transportation that meets all applicable state and Federal laws. Contractor would be required to provide a sufficient number of vehicles to allow for division of the crew into subunits. Responses Responses must be submitted as MS Word or Adobe pdf, as attachments to an email to jbgardner@fs.fed.us such that they are received at that electronic address no later than the closing date/time of this posting. All communications regarding this RFI shall be directed to Jeff Gardner, Contracting Officer, USDA Forest Service, Region 1 Regional Office, at the contact information listed in this posting. Questions must be submitted by email to jbgardner@fs.fed.us such that they are received at that electronic address no later than June 21, 2017 at 1200 MDT. Answers to questions that are timely received will be aggregated and attached to this FedBizOpps notice prior to the closing date/time of this notice. All communications regarding this notice shall be in writing and directed to Jeff Gardner, Contracting Officer, USDA Forest Service, at the contact information listed in this posting. NOTE: This RFI is issued for the purpose of determining market capability of sources and does not constitute an indication that the Government will contract for any of the items and/or services contained in this notice. All information received in response to this notice that is marked Proprietary will be handled accordingly. Responses to this notice will not be returned. No reimbursement will be made for any costs to provide information in response to this announcement or any follow-up information requests. Information contained herein is based on the best information available at the time for publication, is subject to revision, and is not binding upon the Government. Availability of any formal solicitation will be announced under a separate Federal Business Opportunities announcement.