Review of Long-Term Retardant Specification

The contract concerns the ongoing requirement by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) for sufficient and effective long-term fire retardants to support safe and efficient wildland firefighting activities. These retardants must comply with the USFS testing and approval process, meeting or exceeding the standards set forth in Forest Service Specification 5100-304c, which is regularly reviewed and updated. The contract emphasizes the importance of product qualification through this established procedure and encourages suppliers and users to submit specific, written suggestions aimed at improving both the specification and the performance of fire retardant products. These inputs are welcomed and will be considered by USFS technical staff located at the Missoula Technology & Development Center. The contract, identified by solicitation number AG-3187-S-11-6304 and posted in July 2011, falls under NAICS code 325188, relating to surface active agents and detergents manufacturing, which aligns with chemical production. The primary point of contact for procurement matters is Ron Schilz, Procurement Analyst, reachable via phone and email. Technical leadership for fire chemical testing and specification updates is coordinated through Shirley Zylstra, the Project Leader, and Ceci Johnson, a Fire Chemical Technical Specialist. The contract’s purpose is to maintain and improve long-term retardant specifications ensuring that fire management efforts remain effective and aligned with evolving safety and environmental standards.