QRF Program Manager Services

The Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) is soliciting Statements of Qualifications (SOQs) from qualified individuals to serve as Program Managers for the Quick Reaction Force (QRF) Program, a regional aerial wildland fire response initiative spanning Orange, Los Angeles, and Ventura Counties. The solicitation, identified as RO2753 and issued on September 15, 2025, covers the period from January 1 through December 31, 2026. OCFA intends to award multiple agreements through this Request for Statements of Qualifications (RFSQ), focusing on candidates with relevant experience who can effectively coordinate multi-agency fire suppression efforts involving aviation crews, fire departments, and contractors such as Southern California Edison and Coulson Aviation. The Program Manager role demands 24/7 operational oversight, including managing aircraft deployment, aviation logistics, crew scheduling, and interagency communication, ensuring rapid and coordinated regional wildfire response during extreme weather events. The solicitation emphasizes non-price evaluation factors, concentrating on the qualifications and experience of offerors rather than cost considerations. SOQs must address OCFA’s interagency certification requirements and demonstrate prior experience with similar programs. The evaluation approach is qualitative, panel-based, without assigned numerical weighting or formal scoring. No specific contract clauses referencing federal acquisition regulations are included; instead, administrative provisions govern certifications, debarment, and compliance with applicable laws, including anti-collusion and non-discrimination assurances. Submission requirements mandate completion of standardized forms such as the IRS Form W-9 and adherence to confidentiality protocols concerning proprietary information. Proposals are to be physically delivered to the OCFA Purchasing Office; electronic or fax submissions are not accepted. The RFSQ does not include pricing schedules, contract value estimates, or detailed invoicing instructions, and places no explicit requirements on contract types, security clearances, or key personnel clauses. Overall, this solicitation seeks to pre-qualify multiple seasoned program managers capable of spearheading a robust, regionally coordinated aerial wildfire response effort for the 2026 fire season under OCFA’s oversight.