Potential contractors have until April 26 to submit proposals
The Bureau of Land Management Alaska Fire Service (BLM AFS) is accepting contract proposals for Type 2 wildland firefighting hand crews based in Western Alaska villages for the 2021 fire season. Multiple contractors may be selected to base crews in communities in the Galena Fire Management Zone covering much of Western Alaska for quick response to fires. The official solicitation notice is posted at https://beta.sam.gov/ (Reference 140L0621R0005). The solicitation period is open for 30 days.
Last year, the BLM AFS awarded three contracts for Type 2 crews based in the Upper Yukon and Tanana Fire Management Zones for quick response to fires within BLM AFS protection areas covering the northern half of the state.
The contract crew concept intends to meet the need for Type 2 wildland firefighting crews in Alaska and the Lower 48 in response to the changing complexity of managing federal emergency firefighter (EFF) crews, which are hired only as needed. Unlike EFF crews, contracted crews can work outside of fire suppression, such as fuels mitigation and other funded projects. Contract crews may also provide more stable employment than the current EFF program, as well as additional opportunities for Alaska Native Corporations and Alaska tribes to manage their own wildland fire crew program and play a larger role in wildland firefighting in Alaska and the Lower 48.
The contract crews will adhere to national qualifications for Type 2 hand crews. Assistance in building contract proposals is available through https://www.aptac-us.org/.
The solicitation process is competitive and open to qualified entities to ensure program success. Contracts may be awarded for Type 2 crews in one or more of the existing BLM EFF crew regions in the Galena Zone depending on the number of qualified offers. The BLM AFS will continue to administer Type 2 EFF crews in regions where no contracts are awarded as long as enough qualified responders are available.
For more information regarding the contract solicitation, contact BLM Contracting Officer Theresa Coffenberry at the National Operations Center (BLM NOC) at (303)236-5437 or tcoffenberry@blm.gov. For other inquiries, contact BLM AFS Public Affairs Specialist Beth Ipsen at eipsen@blm.gov or (907)356-5510.
The BLM NOC and AFS will host a pre-proposal conference via Zoom for potential contractors at 11 a.m. (Ak Time) on March 31. See attachment for conference instructions.
Categories: AK Fire Info, BLM Alaska Fire Service
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 