Provides support to both the Aviation and Logistics Branch Chiefs In September an article on Fire Aviation about this current presolicitation included an opinion from the vendor of a Type 3 helicopter who requested to remain anonymous in order to avoid retribution from the agency. Helicopters can often refill with water from a nearby lake or tank, making 5 to 15 minute turnarounds. Have a fire aviation news tip? National Incident Management Organization (NIMO) Support Maybe in talking to a 3rd party lender the FS would learn more about these challenges that industry is facing due to the well intended, but poorly delivered solicitation requirements? Sounds like a great schedule to buy a next gen helicopter. The USFS has determined there is not enough time for an adequate response from industry, a complete evaluation by the government, and ultimately timely award prior to the start of 2022 mandatory availability periods. Y63 u3e11iQfkbKT?cx6Yi>#/@ G6 For senior high and older readers. The BOA will be used as noted for both Exclusive Use (EU) and CWN Type 1 contracts in 2022. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. An official website of the United States government. Aye, Laddie. PAY the vendor to include the STCs, FAA 337s, time the office folks have to catch up on the logbooksOnce again the Agency simply does not know what it takes to run a fleet of helicopters at the vendor level. I think the word escape needs to be looked at a little deeperthat is what I do as a housewife hiker. Like in 2020, this solicitation has the unusual provision of limiting the 20 surge contracts to the participants of the existing Forest Service Type 1 Basic Ordering Agreement. My sympathies lean towards the contractors who despite expending capital, training pilots and mechanics etc. They should change their contract terms should change if theyre forcing companies to buy X aircrafts. A lock ( OAS-64A Interagency Airplane Pilot Evaluation Application Form, OAS-64BInteragency Helicopter Pilot Evaluation Application Form, 5700-20Airplane Pilot Qualifications and Approval Record, 5700-20aHelicopter Pilot Evaluation Application, Cost Comparison Travel Worksheet(FS 5700-11), Flight Request Justification Approval Administrative Use Aircraft Form (AUA-1), National and Regional Report of Annual Administrative Flight Use (AUA-2), 2021,2020,2019,2018,2017,2016,2015,2014,2013,2012, Amphibious Water Scooper Aircraft Operations Plan, Administrative Use of Aircraft Desk Reference, Airworthiness Assurance Guide for Aerial Firefighting &Natural Resources Aircraft, Aviation Management Handbook - FSH 5709.16, C-23B+/SD3-60 Aircraft Change Management Implementation Plan, Federal Excess Personal Property Guide(11/05/2021), Fire Imaging and Mapping Guide (coming soon), Forest Service Standards for Airtanker Operations 2022, Forest Service Standards for Short-Haul Operations (January 2022), Forest Service Standards for UAS Operations, National Aviation Safety and Management Plan, (2022 - 2023), National Aviation Safety Management System Guide, National Rappel Operations Guide,(2019 Approval Letter), National Type I and Type II Exclusive Use Helicopter Operations Plan, Working Capital Fund Aircraft Users Guide, Basic Weather Information on Manifests and Use of Belt Weather Kits (IATB 2015-02), Clarification of the HOGE Power Check requirement(IATB 17-01), Airtanker Base Directory (Located on the Fire Enterprise Geospatial Portal), DOT Special Permit Authorization 9198 Forest Service DOT SP-9198 Grantee Letter, Emergency Helicopter Extraction Source List, Guide to Preventing Aquatic Invasive Species Transport by Wildland Fire Operations, Interagency Airplane Pilot Practical Test Standards 2012 (Revision 2.0), Interagency Aviation Life Support Equipment Guide 2021, Interagency Helicopter Pilot Practical Test Standards 2015, Interagency Smokejumper Pilot Operations Guide, ISMOG Forest Service Section Forest Service National Smokejumper Training Guide, National Aviation Safety Management System (NASMS) Guide, NWCG Aviation Mishap Response Guide and Checklist, NWCGStandards for Airtanker Base Operations, NWCGStandards for Aviation Transport of Hazardous Materials, RAM-Air Parachute Training Guide Forest Service RAM-Air Canopy Evaluation Plan, Standards for Fire and Aviation Operations (Red Book), https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/fire/aviation/publications, Guide to Preventing Aquatic Invasive Species Transport by Wildland Fire Operati, Flight Request Justification Approval Administrative Use Aircraft Form, National and Regional Report of Annual Administrative Flight Use, Forest Service Standards for Short-Haul Operations, National Aviation Safety and Management Plan, Basic Weather Information on Manifests and Use of Belt Weather Kits, Clarification of the HOGE Power Check requirement, Forest Service DOT SP-9198 Grantee Letter, Forest Service National Smokejumper Training Guide, Forest Service RAM-Air Canopy Evaluation Plan, Standards for Fire and Aviation Operations, U.S. Forest Service and Interagency Aviation Publications. The agency felt the surge helicopters were necessary to mitigate a possible decrease in the effectiveness or numbers of their ground forces engine and hand crews. They essentially want a Sky Crane to do a Jet Rangers job. . Some helitack crews are trained to rappel from helicopters to fires in remote locations. These helicopters are the largest that are used for fighting wildfires and can carry between 700 and 3,000 gallons of water or fire retardant. But you better pay for it, USFS says! One of our readers whose company has been providing helicopters on the previous contracts has some opinions about the changes the Forest Service is pushing. Moving to 10-year contracts for firefighting aircraft was mentioned several times in an April 15 hearing before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, featuring U.S. Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen and her testimony. On the contractor side, if you want to bid on a contract without those things, fine, lets see how important they really are for the mission by whether the FS still go for the low bid or walk the walk and share the expense of upgrades. Carson said the hell with the USFS, more money servicing the war machine in Afghanistan. As a former FS aviator I can confidently say that every single FS Aviation Officer from the WO to the ROs needs to be fired or reassigned. You want a loud hailer, fork it over. Its playing out exactly like we (helitack crews who actually do the work and are face to face with the vendors every day) predicted at the beginning of this season. The fleet remained at that level until the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020 when they added an additional 22 ships for a total of 50. Very Large Airtankers (VLAT)are capable of delivering over 8,000 gallons of fire retardant to support firefighters on the ground. Forest Service and interagency publications are the primary vehicles by which Forest Service and Interagency policy and standards are transmitted. Time to take care of my health morehave my brain ss procedure soon. The U.S. Forest Service (FS) is expecting to contract for 48 Type 1 helicopters for the 2021 wildfire season. Have a fire aviation news tip? Jeffrey McGinley, Associate Branch Chief, Aviation Most smokejumpers work from late spring through early fall. Todd thanks for chiming in. They can be fitted with tanks or buckets to deliver water and fire retardant to the fireline. Just like how the new GM Suburban for Diplomates costs millions of dollars each and the contract went to the one company that can make it. Fire managers recognized the value of helicopters to rapidly transport personnel and cargo to a fire, especially in remote locations. Faintly, what are the advertisement you see posted on this site? helicopter services hourly flight rates, fuel consumption, and weight reduction chart effective february 16, 2019 for contracts awarded 2018-2021 (cwn/exclusive use) In addition, the federal land management agencies said last year they were going to limit the number of less-than-full-suppression fires and attack new ignitions aggressively. What light twin replaces a 407? Does anyone smell a red herring or see a strawman waving his arms? As this is being written, the politicians we elect to represent us in Washington are trying to put together a last minute (literally) federal budget that will keep the government from shutting down again tonight. Continual outflanking of the crews. National Helicopters (Large Fire Support, Initial Attack, Call-When-Needed) Refer to the NRCG Incident Business Management . Smokejumper STC 3. Enter your email address to subscribe and receive notifications of new posts by email. What do you do with an expensive asset like a helo when youre only customer suggests to just not submit? These large helicopters are beloved by wildland firefighters, since they can strategically drop with pinpoint accuracy thousands of gallons of water or retardant while working close air support with ground personnel. Typos, let us know, and please keep in mind the commenting ground rules before you post a comment. In 2018 when the Forest Service began issuing one-year contracts for air tankers we wrote: Few if any vendors can simply write a check to purchase and convert an air tanker, so they have to convince a lender to give them large sums of money usually even before they have a contract with the USFS. Although I dont know if this counts as a legacy platform. This document provides errata to the 2022 Red Book. The NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Resource Typing establishes minimum typing standards for aircraft, crews, and equipment for national mobilization to wildland fire incidents. Enter your email address to subscribe and receive notifications of new posts by email. And they are cheap azzs that wont pay much for anything. Examples include an ax or pulaski, tire chains, 5-person first aid kit, and rollover protection. In my lifetime, I will not see the beauty I once hiked. An official website of the United States government. Office: (208) 387-5252 Mobile: (208) 866-0417 Like in 2020, this solicitation has the unusual provision of limiting the 20 surge contracts to the participants of the existing Forest Service Type 1 Basic Ordering Agreement. Until thenenjoy this fine day. I will agree to have a different look at the Fires. Thats my Commo unit helibase pictured in the photo, and yes we were required to have a PA system to yell at the fire The U.S. Forest Service has 18 large air tankers on exclusive use (EU) contracts this year. U.S. Forest Service employees (Forest Service Internal Link), U.S. Department of Interior (DOI Internal Link). Aviation for Region 2 These are the largest helicopters used for fighting wildland fires in the United States and can carry between 700 and 3,000 gallons of water. Through the use of Preseason Agreements and by partnering with the U.S. Forest Service Region 6 Fire Aviation Contracting Team (FACT), through VIPR contracts, DNR is able to pull in outside resources quickly if needed. Please help us improve by taking a few moments to complete our voluntary USFS Fire Industry feedback form. Thank you. Additionally, these aircraft have a unilateral option to extend for an USFS Aviation Safety Center FAA Safety Program(SPANS) FAA Risk Management Handbook Aviation Mishap Response Guide(2021) Unmanned Aircraft Systems Agency Guides/Manuals BLM Aviation Library USFS Aviation Library Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations EIS Aerial Retardant Application Information Aerial Application of Fire Retardant Air Navigation DO NOT listen to your bosses, DO THE RIGHT thing and pull this RFP back and get it rightMILLIONS of U.S. citizens are expecting that you will. Helicopters were first used on wildfires in 1947. National Exclusive Use Helicopters (Large Fire Support/Initial Attack) People will write their Congressional Reps and lowly GS grade bureaucrats will get mushroom stamped for creating an untenable contracting environment that leads to a massive shortage of rotors when homes are burning. So a one year contract with each additional option year at the discretion of the agency with unreliable congressional funding is not a concept that makes potential vendors feel all warm and fuzzy. I would be interested to see more reporting on why the USFS is making this transition now and how they made the decisions. We can only hope the upcoming DOI on-call helicopter RFP due out later this year isnt so crazy. A current helicopter solicitation that is now paused was offering 1-year contracts. This would raise the total military budget for the next two years to $1.4 trillion. In 2016 the FS hired 34 Type 1 helicopters but starting in 2017 reduced the number to 28. National Maintenance Agreement, Robert Hoffman,Contracting Officer Things like long term stability, Banking considerations and finance never enter into the Governments equation. To request access to this page, submit request to, Forest Service Acquisition Management Incident Procurement, Solicitations on Federal Business Opportunities, Flight Rate Charts Effective February 16, 2021for contracts awarded 2013-2017, Flight Rate Charts Effective February 16, 2021 for contracts awarded 2018-2021, Crews Type 2 IA, Standard Form 1449, 2022 Summary, National Type 2-IA Crew COR Designation Letter, National Type 2-IA Crew Performance Evaluation, Type 2 Crew Generic Agreement 1202SC21Q0001, 2020 COVID-19 Modification for Mobile Shower Facilities, Mobile Shower Performance Evaluation Form, 2020 COVID-19 Modification for Mobile Food Services, Retardant Contractor Performance Evaluation Form, Retardant Contracts COR Designation Letters, National Mobile Shower COR Designation Letter, National Long Term Fire Retardant Contract.