The USDA Forest Service is reopening Solicitation 129J6125Q7000 for multiple-award Incident Blanket Purchase Agreements for water handling resources in Region 5, the Pacific Southwest Region, to support fire suppression and all-hazard incident response under a 100% small business set-aside. The scope includes providing qualified water handling resources such as engines and water tenders, and the solicitation also covers prescribed fire project work and Burned Area Emergency Response support. Proposed resources must meet the original solicitation’s acceptability requirements, and any new awards will use the same evaluation factors and contract terms as the original five-year agreements, with annual reviews and potential price adjustments. This open-season onboarding runs alongside the annual rollover review, and vendor quotes are due by 04/24/2026 at 14:00 Pacific through the VIPR NextGen application.

Amendment - 129J6125Q7000 - 0001.pdf

The USDA Forest Service has issued Amendment 0001 to Solicitation 129J6125Q7000, reopening the 

Solicitation - 129J6125Q7000 - 0001.pdf

This government solicitation, 129J6125Q7000-0001, seeks services for fire suppression, all-hazard incidents, and prescribed fire project work, including Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER). It aims to establish Blanket Purchase Agreements for resources like engines (Type 3, 6) and water tenders (Type 1, 2, 3). The agreements are for five years, with annual reviews and potential price adjustments. Awards are based on operational acceptability, price reasonableness, and past performance, prioritizing small businesses. Contractors must comply with federal regulations, including worker protection laws like MSPA and INA, and maintain SAM registration. Specific equipment requirements, safety standards, and operational guidelines for personnel and equipment are detailed, ensuring readiness for extreme environmental conditions.

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The Department of Agriculture (USDA), US Forest Service (USFS) ESB West Zone (Region 5 Only) anticipate soliciting quotes (RFQ) for Water Handling Equipment for use during local, regional, nationwide fire suppression, all-hazard incidents, and RX Prescribed Project Work. Region 5 will only accept quotes for: Engines Type 3, and 6; Support Water Tenders Type 1, 2 and 3. Section D.2 within the solicitation will contain equipment & personnel requirement details. The Contractor is responsible for all equipment, materials, supplies, transportation, lodging, managed/supervised/trained/certified 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, all-hazard incidents, and RX Prescribed Project Work.

Optional awarded Agreement use by Interagency Cooperators (DOI, NPS, BIA, State etc..) are subject to that agency's payment and administrative terms.

The USFS Fire and Aviation Management (F&AM) 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.

RATES: Proposed rates should be based on up to a 16-hr daily shift and include all within B.2 -- PRICING AND ESTIMATED QUANTITY. 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 the advertised and available regional dispatch centers. Agreement intent and Government guidance is for quoters to select the available dispatch center closest to their resource location 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. Since wildland fire support and locations are unknown at time of award, selection of a host dispatch center/zone outside of where the resources reside may result in loss of opportunity and failure to meet Government's critical and timely need at time of incident. Map link: https://www.nifc.gov/nicc/

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

****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 Login.gov account that provides the ability to conduct official electronic business transactions. YOU WILL NEED THIS TO CREATE A VIPR ACCOUNT. Information: https://www.eauth.usda.gov/eauth/b/usda/faq?gid=PublicCustomer&qid=PublicCustomerComingSoonFaqItemId12

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

Total Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5)

VIPR I-BPA for Water Handling for Region 5 - Pacific Southwest Region

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Amendment 0001 is being issued: To ensure compliance with Executive Orders 14148 and 14208, a FAR class deviation has been issued by the USDA Forest Service amending the solicitation clauses with FAR Class Deviation (FEB 2025). This amendment removes all references to Executive Order 14057, "Catalyzing Clean Energy Industries and Jobs Through Federal Sustainability" along with removal of 52.223-22, Public Disclosure of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Reduction Goals-Representation. In addition, 7 CFR 3201 "Guidelines For Designating Biobased Products For Federal Procurement references" is now replaced with 7 CFR 4270 "USDA BIOBASED MARKETS PROGRAM: FEDERAL PROCUREMENT AND VOLUNTARY LABELING". Informational Links: https://www.acquisition.gov/sites/default/files/caac/CAAC_Letter_2025-01_Supplement-1.pdf & https://www.acquisition.gov/sites/default/files/caac/CAAC_Letter_2025-02_Supplement-1.pdf The following clauses are removed: 52.212-3 Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Products and Commercial Services (MAY 2024) 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required To Implement Statutes or Executive Orders-Commercial Products and Commercial Services (JAN 2025) 52.223-1 Biobased Product Certification (MAY 2024) 52.223-2 Reporting of Biobased Products Under Service and Construction Contracts (MAY 2024) 52.223-23 Sustainable Products and Services (MAY 2024) 52.222-21 Prohibition of Segregated Facilities (APR 2015) 52.222-26 Equal Opportunity (SEP 2016) The following clauses are inserted: 52.212-3 Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Products and Commercial Services (MAY 2024) [(DEVIATION FEB 2025)] 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required To Implement Statutes or Executive Orders-Commercial Products and Commercial Services (JAN 2025) [(DEVIATION FEB 2025)] 52.223-1 Biobased Product Certification (MAY 2024) [(DEVIATION FEB 2025)] 52.223-2 Reporting of Biobased Products Under Service and Construction Contracts (MAY 2024) [(DEVIATION FEB 2025)] 52.223-23 Sustainable Products and Services (MAY 2024) [(DEVIATION FEB 2025)]

The Government is re opening Solicitation 129J6125Q7000 for an open season Onboarding period. Vendor quote responses are due no later than 04/24/2026 at 14:00 Pacific. Vendors must submit responses through the “VIPR NextGen” application located at https://www.fs.usda.gov/business/incident/vendorapp.php?tab=tab\_d
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service (USFS), originally issued this requirement for Water Handling – West Zone, Region 5 only to support local, regional, and national fire suppression and all hazard incidents.
This amendment re opens the original solicitation to conduct Onboarding in accordance with Exhibit H – Special Contract Requirements.
Onboarding is not a new procurement action. It is conducted under the terms of the original solicitation and issued as an amendment to that solicitation. The original solicitation requires that award decisions during open season Onboarding use the same evaluation factors and sub factors as the original solicitation. It also requires that any new I BPA awards issued through Onboarding be identical to the original awards, including all terms, conditions, and the period of performance. While the Government will review industry feedback, significant changes are not anticipated, particularly regarding evaluation factors or contract terms.
This amendment applies to a Multiple Award Incident Blanket Purchase Agreement (I BPA) issued as a 100% Small Business Set Aside.
The open season Onboarding period will run concurrently with the USFS Contracting Officer’s annual I BPA review—commonly referred to as the “Rollover” modification process. During this period, existing I BPA awardees may revise rates, modify resources, or add new resources, and new Offerors who meet all eligibility requirements may submit quotes for consideration.
All proposed resources must meet the criteria established in the original solicitation. New quote submissions must meet all Acceptability Pass/Fail requirements and will be evaluated using the same evaluation factors as the original solicitation. Any resulting new I BPA awards will be identical in terms and conditions to the original agreements. After the Onboarding and annual review/rollover processes are complete, any newly awarded Contractors or newly accepted resources added to existing agreements will be eligible for dispatch and BPA Calls in accordance with the ordering procedures in the agreements.

Water Handling for Region 5 - Pacific Southwest Region

The Government is re opening Solicitation 129J6125Q7000 for an open season Onboarding period. Vendor quote responses are due no later than 04/24/2026 at 14:00 Pacific. Vendors must submit responses through the “VIPR NextGen” application located at https://www.fs.usda.gov/business/incident/vendorapp.php?tab=tab\_d

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service (USFS), originally issued this requirement for Water Handling – West Zone, Region 5 only to support local, regional, and national fire suppression and all hazard incidents.

This amendment re opens the original solicitation to conduct Onboarding in accordance with Exhibit H – Special Contract Requirements.

Onboarding is not a new procurement action. It is conducted under the terms of the original solicitation and issued as an amendment to that solicitation. The original solicitation requires that award decisions during open season Onboarding use the same evaluation factors and sub factors as the original solicitation. It also requires that any new I BPA awards issued through Onboarding be identical to the original awards, including all terms, conditions, and the period of performance. While the Government will review industry feedback, significant changes are not anticipated, particularly regarding evaluation factors or contract terms.

This amendment applies to a Multiple Award Incident Blanket Purchase Agreement (I BPA) issued as a 100% Small Business Set Aside.

The open season Onboarding period will run concurrently with the USFS Contracting Officer’s annual I BPA review—commonly referred to as the “Rollover” modification process. During this period, existing I BPA awardees may revise rates, modify resources, or add new resources, and new Offerors who meet all eligibility requirements may submit quotes for consideration.

All proposed resources must meet the criteria established in the original solicitation. New quote submissions must meet all Acceptability Pass/Fail requirements and will be evaluated using the same evaluation factors as the original solicitation. Any resulting new I BPA awards will be identical in terms and conditions to the original agreements. After the Onboarding and annual review/rollover processes are complete, any newly awarded Contractors or newly accepted resources added to existing agreements will be eligible for dispatch and BPA Calls in accordance with the ordering procedures in the agreements.

Water Handling for Region 5 - Pacific Southwest Region

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