Enter your email address to subscribe and receive notifications of new posts by email. The reason your seeing all the blackhawk bucket ships is because you can buy a milsurp bird for less than 2$ million and be flying on a fire for less than 5. Other candidates would be the 412, and the other twin engine mediums on the market from AW and Airbus/Eurocopter. Steve Peterson, Contracting Officer ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Basic Equipment Requirements: Each piece of equipment has a minimum required equipment inventory that must be on the equipment at the time of hire. The States contracted for Fed approved airtankers so just like we all share resources like engines and shot crews now we can share airtankers too. Give us folks in the field a little credit for the same credit you so richly deserve, Have a fire aviation news tip? Aviation for Regions 3,4,6,8 HMS8:A[>!Leq`dXfgo$av`w*ldevq7mXm`F,s}PA.?|ZA[7lY7z rCXB:Y;M7\c>]-kFt^j1_>ey)4?haGUEX5M7IW? xt*9b`w,$$B.vc&8Hx.Yjf9N3 |B^gW?.n}tZ8 Provides support to both the Aviation and Logistics Branch Chiefs Nap time seems more like it versus getting too much into Fire Season 2021 and my thoughts. Dont you? The FS contracting office posted more than a dozen versions of the presolicitation between July 7 and December 6. The Bush fire WAS aggressively IAd, however given the fuel and weather conditions at the time escaped rather quickly. Candidates include the Bell 429, Airbus/Eurocopter H135 or H145 or other light twins on the market. National Pilots I am curious as to your solution on how to better handle the fire season? Woodbury Fire, I cannot speak to. Meanwhile, the defense of our Homeland gets cut. What a crock of crap! They almost seem to be writing rules to make the use of Firefighting Aircraft, impossible . Bill wrote 3 sentences without even putting his opinion in, the overwhelming response is that the only people happy or satisfied with this RFP are the people who wrote it. Office: (208) 387-5609 Mobile: (208) 616-5550 Office: (208) 387-5350Mobile: (208) 258-1450, Tessa Bach, Contract Coordinator These devices have their place but has any downed firefighting aircraft actually been located by one? 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. I also assume that the CO just channeled the PM and HSs needs for the program. Objectives, Policy, Scope of Operations and Administration Chapter 10 1 1 Chapter 10 - Objectives, Policy, Scope of Operation and Administration 2 3 Mission Statement 4 The principal mission for theCalifornia Geographic Area Coordination Centers (GACC) is cost-effective 5 and timely coordination of wildlandprotection agency emergency response for fire and all risk Other helicopters may or may not be procured on a Call When Needed (CWN) contract. Here is the full text from the December 13 update: The intent of the USFS for acquiring helicopter services for 2022 is as follows: 1. in the Black Hills between Custer and Hill City and having one of these is a much needed and necessary thing especially given the dead and down Pine and Spruce trees from the Bark Beatle infestation we suffered through. National Call-When-NeededHelicopters (Large Fire Support/Initial Attack)Flight Rate Charts Effective February 16, 2021for contracts awarded 2013-2017Flight Rate Charts Effective February 16, 2021 for contracts awarded 2018-2021Region 5 Aviation In March, 2017 when it was revealed that the six helicopters were being cut, U.S. Forest Service spokesperson Jennifer Jonesexplained the agencys rationale: At this time, the agency has determined 28 to be the appropriate number of Type 1 helicopters on EU contracts given current types and numbers of other aircraft in the fleet. 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. Each time I go to sleep, wondering will I awake? HmmmThey say its for aggressive initial attack but we know that has not been working out, (e.g. Do any of you FS boys understand how capitalism works? Aviation Safety. There just isnt enough. Nor is it actually clear to me that is what is happening. Puuuullleeezethe Agency surely has gotten a response. The administrative bases of the helicopters will be at 48 locations. The companies willing to make adjustments will do just that and end up with contracts. CTS Language Link (On-Demand Remote Interpreting (OPI & VRI) and Document Translation) PADD202000297. That means NO helitack, NO rappelers, ONLY flight crew and bucket work. Hopefully it wont be used to often but should the need arise its great to have one right here locally to answer the call. Its coming, and sooner than you expect. Little to no way to sock away money for these required upgrades to bid on the contract. Here is an excerpt: This draft Request for Proposal is such a massive and violent change from what has been requested in previous contracts that most operators arent going to be able to handle it. Do you know anything that can replace the current platforms? No. 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. I also think your comments are short sighted on Bills pandering to industry. Doing business with the feds is not for the faint of heart. Great response, fellas. You must be USFS this sounds exactly like the Q&A session Language will remain as written. Last year the U.S. Forest Service reduced the number of Type 1 ships by 18%. These proposed contract changes have made working for USFS impossible for most all operators especially restricted categories that will all be phased out when the new 2000 or newer requirement takes affect. Helicopters also deliver firefighting crews called helitack crews to fires for initial attack. 0 |2020 Executive Summary 2 Table 1 - CY 2020 Forest Service Aircraft Fleet Summary Number of Aircraft Helicopters Exclusive Use (EXU) 102 Call When Needed (CWN) 520 Agency Owned 3 Airtankers A 407 isnt a twin, even tho a 407hp will outperform all the above as a type III. Response from industry-leading? They can typically carry 700 gallons of water or retardant via a bucket or a snorkel that fills an internal tank. The work will be performed at United States. Office: (208) 616-5548 Mobile: (208) 616- 5548, Training Centers Support (Main Contact) Forest Service and interagency publications are the primary vehicles by which Forest Service and Interagency policy and standards are transmitted. The question and answer document shows the USFS is unwilling to be understanding its our way or the highway, thanks for nothing. The Q&A period is a nicety, but rarely ever provides valuable responses to industry. >> EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS. In December, 2017 the US Forest Service cancelled a five-year EU contract it had issued the previous year for two CL-415 water scooping air tankers. U.S. Forest Service employees (Forest Service Internal Link), U.S. Department of Interior (DOI Internal Link). The agreements and contracts you are about to view have been established for government aviation users whose agencies have formal agreements with DOI, Interior Business Center, Acquisitions Services Directorate (AQD) and are authorized to order services from those agreements and contracts. We dont fly in 58Ts (which I saw on exclusive use contract as an unrestricted as late at 2006) Llamas, etc. Dr. Dominic Mijele, KWS vet darting an elephant !om a KWS helicopter in Narok, Mara Ecosystem - Charles Ooro, Kenyan Wildlife Service [ BOTTOM ] Plate 43. With this new one-year contract policy, obtaining those funds could be even more difficult. There is no cost, and in case you change your mind each email has an unsubscribe button. The Logistics Branch provides support for WO Fire & Aviation Operations customers (located at NIFC) with the procurement of (urgent/immediate)incidentresources, such as retardant chemicals and related services, mobile food services, mobile shower facilities, firefighting crews, Critical Incident Stress Management Services (CISM) and National Videographer/Photographer Services. Large, heavy-lift helicopters can fill their water tanks with a snorkel that siphons water from lakes, rivers, or other sources. There is obviously some back door dealing going on with this RFP as it very specifically pushes money to certain equipment providers and tips the hat to certain helicopter companies. Thanks and a tip of the hat go out to Brian. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Max Graham, Space for Giants_ CONTENTS A fixed wing air tanker that has to refill at an airport takes much longer. Im not convinced that either trying to do an abrupt transition is appropriate NOR is standing still while other more modern aircraft are available. Air resources were cancelled at the Forest level, isnt that correct? 2. There is a question and answer phase that allows anyone to submit questions and the answers will be posted on the SAM site. Getting older with health concerns doing my best to stay on top of current events has not been a smooth path. Coulson pilots in Chile are aided by translators in the cockpits, Erickson converting an Air-Crane to haul military cargo without a pilot in the cockpit, Lockheed looks ahead to advancing capability in wildland firefighting, Aerial Firefighters Association to promote safety, standards, innovation, Coulson tanker down in Western Australia, pilots okay, Helicopter crash kills 2 in Chilean fires. An official website of the United States government. Finally on December 13 they threw in the towel, saying, 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.. The agency has posted a second draft of a new Request for Proposals (RFP) and will hold a virtual meeting about the contracts on September 29. I agree, to me aggressive initial attack means sending aircraft during initial response, but thats not happening anywhere except CA, that I know of. Access to the U.S. Forest Service Contracting, Incident Support Branch, DOI SharePoint Page must be granted individually. Region 6 Cache Freight Services hour: $1.31 : 8011: Air Compressor Its killing aviators, driving people from the agency and putting our only vendors/partners in impossible positions. Type 1 helicopters are the largest, fastest flying and the most expensive helicopters used on wildland fires. The U.S. Forest Service (FS) is expecting to contract for 48 Type 1 helicopters for the 2021 wildfire season. 64 2021 National Interagency Mobilization Guide . (like everything they do) or does this mean there will be a shortage of helicopters available for fires?.. Chinas new amphibious air tanker conducts ground test of water drop system, More rotor wing help arrives in California, Lockheed looks ahead to advancing capability in wildland firefighting, Aerial Firefighters Association to promote safety, standards, innovation, Coulson tanker down in Western Australia, pilots okay, Helicopter crash kills 2 in Chilean fires. That wind yesterday has me in a sinus pressure headache today. Hows about an STC for personal electronic devices, only available from one company, nobody else in the industry even knows what the hell the STC is or is for! hmo0?n'*$hKjA RHPJX)T|~C}""HFB g R1F$\^=$F~s~m:lLNUy?$4(ci1agLZ^O;js"Yt4cRdQAWx~)x=("B|5df/ed%4&lCh$+M/ooXS{RNrdt Enter your email address to subscribe and receive notifications of new posts by email. There is no cost, and in case you change your mind each email has an unsubscribe button. The S-70 could work but again, at what cost? 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. 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. A lock ( Enter your email address to subscribe and receive notifications of new posts by email. Maybe the PM, HS and the CO should talk to some a/c financing companies/banks to better understand the reality of upgrading or buying new equipment? The Agencys incompetence and self sabotage never fails to amaze. DOI/OAS & Interagency Aviation Bulletins. . Once we get all of that figured out, turns out that the increase in performance specifications at 7,000 / 30C combined with the added equipment pretty much eliminates legacy ships from meeting performance requirements. LockA locked padlock In 2016 the FS hired 34 Type 1 helicopters but starting in 2017 reduced the number to 28. I would encourage folks to contact their Congressional Representatives (once again) about problems with government contracting for fire-fighting aircraft. They just laugh at us.. He replied: The existing Call When Needed (CWN) Basic Ordering Agreement (BOA) will be utilized for both Type 1 and Type 2 CWN helicopters. Most smokejumpers work from late spring through early fall. 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. Office: (208) 387-5665 Mobile: (208) 616-5549, NIFC Operations Support This change will be a double edged sword..as operators cannot meet requirements or afford changes they will shut their doors and then already limited resources will be permanently removed for fire. The stats are in for the use of firefighting helicopters in 2017. Local Small Business Specialist How do you Initial Attack (IA ) for forty plus miles from the Four Peaks turn off to the Roosevelt Lake turn off? Aerial Supervision Module (ASM) Lead Planes And the hits just keep on coming. helicopter services hourly flight rates, fuel consumption, and weight reduction chart effective february 16, 2019 for contracts awarded 2018-2021 (cwn/exclusive use) 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. endstream endobj 14 0 obj <>stream 2023 us forest service airtankers - schedule of items (mar 1, 2023) next generation airtankers 2.0 How the five and ten year contracts youre looking at will affect us and benefit us and what we need to put into our budget to so that the Forest Service has the necessary equipment to address these wildfires?, We are studying the question about going to a 10-year contract, what the pros and cons are, Chief Christiansen said. Were nearly complete with that report. Cell phone gps location, sat phones and ADSB are far more useful. To request access to this page, submit request to FS-FS AQM ISB. Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) Focal Point, Mike McFarlane,Contracting Officer The U.S. Forest Service, the agency responsible for awarding federal contracts for large air tankers and firefighting helicopters, is proposing a number of very significant changes to the helicopter contracts. 6-month Exclusive Use (EU) contract extensions for 34 - Type 2 helicopters with contracts expiring in 2022, utilizing BOAs for remaining EU line items. So do we get balanced journalism here. Just more bureaucratic nonsense,and incompetence form the USFS. Aircraft Type: DC-10. Thats rarely happened before b/c a) its a lot of $$$ and b) the states also believed that they would get aerial resources when needed, but they got burned by that hope, literallyyou may think you can grab it, but think again in tough times.State will think about State first before sharing the resource.it will get more interesting when France, Spain, Greece and Turkey take these assetssleep well FSyou guys are managing the LATs and Type 1s welltheyll always be there for you.keep up the good workwell done. Office: (208) 387-5610 Mobile: (208) 867-5073, Tonya Campbell,Contracting Officer Large Jet Transport U.S. Forest Service and Interagency Aviation Publications Forest Service and interagency publications are the primary vehicles by which Forest Service and Interagency policy and standards are transmitted. Although I dont know if this counts as a legacy platform. 25 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<4B96358E361BA0CE76F6294DEFAC0978>]/Index[10 25]/Info 9 0 R/Length 79/Prev 92044/Root 11 0 R/Size 35/Type/XRef/W[1 2 1]>>stream 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. What light twin replaces a 407? Type IIs? Cost Code Equipment Specifications Capacity or Size HP Notes Unit 2021 Rate; 8010: Air Compressor: Air Delivery: 41 CFM: to 10: Hoses included. This would raise the total military budget for the next two years to $1.4 trillion. Oh, and dont glance over the cockpit camera, which they want even on restricted category bucket ships. For an operator to be competitive in the LPTA world, you need to amortize the cost of the a/c over 10 years or more. Looks like CH-47s at Jeffco (2) and Rifle, and Durango and Kmax at Monument. CONTRACTING FOR FIRE. Bill do you have access to USFS decision makers? Perhaps thats the point: There are available alternatives on the market that can replace the legacy platforms for type II and III, so we should continue upgrading the fleet as we can. Obviously another FS fella here. FS is gonna end up with a heavy National Guard helicopter fleet next year. Aviation Guides/Publications. In addition to just a one year guarantee, there were new requirements for equipment to be added to the aircraft requiring significant additional expenditures for the private companies bidding on the services. . I am trying to figure it out each Fire Season how to keep men and women safe Office: (208) 387-5670 Mobile: (208) 616-5547 I find it interesting that the WFT crowd is pro a next gen, advanced air tanker fleet (including the funding required) but is up in arms about a next gen, advanced helicopter fleet. A 212 is a twin, performs better than a 412 is all aspects but is a little older and only has two blades. The FS is a sinking ship by every measurable metric and the aircraft contracting department is clearly no exception. Very Large Airtankers (VLAT)are capable of delivering over 8,000 gallons of fire retardant to support firefighters on the ground. Bush fire, Heavy IA and A/C response, not much daylight left when start was dispatched. Just curious on what you think would have made the difference as the Initial Attack IC? 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. More insanity from the USFS ! Vendors do not drive the requirements the customer does. do you wear briefs under boxers; jackson jeffcoat salary; associate director, regulatory affairs salary merck; dodane: 23.06.2022 00:13:52 usfs type 1 helicopter contracts 2021 Too busy feathering their own nests and grade-hopping they couldnt care less about the program at large. My look and details are just that- my perception. . Okay, what is the best way to answer that question of yours *** , How about-Actually allow aggressive initial and extended attack, including effective air support and reasonable and responsible firing operations. Interested vendors must get their offers to the FS by March 3, 2021. We all understand that. The cheapest camera we could find is $10,000. Theyre only offering a one-year contract, said Ron Hooper, president of Missoula-based Neptune Aviation. Nope. Helicopters can often refill with water from a nearby lake or tank, making 5 to 15 minute turnarounds.
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