Oh and theres a reason for the price difference, all the vendors you see with blackhawks have restricted category aircraft. I would be interested to see more reporting on why the USFS is making this transition now and how they made the decisions. 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. 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. Call-When-Needed (CWN) Large Jet Transport, Matthew Olson,Contracting Officer NIFC Janitorial endstream endobj startxref Federal Contract Opportunity for National Exclusive-Use Type 1 and Type 2 Helicopter Modernization SN-2021-01. Helicopters also deliver firefighting crews called helitack crews to fires for initial attack. Incident Procurement Modernization Team Member. Helicopters were first used on wildfires in 1947. The Q&A period is a nicety, but rarely ever provides valuable responses to industry. Free thoughts, free opinions for sure. I do not know of any small operators who can afford to buy new ships, if any are even available. See what happens when the arrogant customer has no place shop! If a vendor doesnt like the requirements, they can choose not to submit a proposal. . The FS doesnt seem to trust the input from the industry on this, so maybe the FS should ask the people who provide the mortgage? Putting more aircraft (fixed and rotor) in the air and cutting corners on Aerial Supervision is a bad, bad recipe. In 2016 the FS hired 34 Type 1 helicopters but starting in 2017 reduced the number to 28. Sadly, this is just another reason why operators will have to get out of the fire fighting business or send the aircraft to other countries where they will actually be treated like the critical assets that they are. They can be fitted with tanks or buckets to deliver water and fire retardant to the fireline. endstream endobj 11 0 obj <> endobj 12 0 obj <> endobj 13 0 obj <>stream Mulcher / Masticator - Boom Mounted Checklist, U.S. Forest Service, Contracting Enter your email address to subscribe and receive notifications of new posts by email. The Branch is comprised of two teams; aviation and logistics. That has to come from Congress to the FS and DOI Chiefs, and then down to them. Aviation for Region 2 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Coordinator The December 13 update did not mention CWN helicopters, so we asked USFS Fire Communications Specialist Stanton Florea about their status. 16, 2020. Budget Coordinator Office: (208) 387-5627 Mobile: (208) 985 6266 These changes are going to put operators who have worked hard for generations, who have tirelessly jumped through USFS hoops for years out of businessthat is a crappy government thanks, with costly and unnecessary changes as the final slap in the face! Well, maybe in some locations. Along with Monitormonkey from above. Posted by the Forest Service (USDA) . I would encourage folks to contact their Congressional Representatives (once again) about problems with government contracting for fire-fighting aircraft. National Pilots 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. So this all begs a question maybe how do we bridge the gap here? Thats what happens when non-aviation people get put it charge of aviation programs. The Blackhawk wont work because they are restricted category. Have a fire aviation news tip? Several vendors opted for EU contracts with states instead of the USFS. Have you sir watched or measured the burn scars to see how many miles apart the fires were on the Bush or any of the fires from last Seasonyou will find the distance between the fire on the ground quite interesting that using the word escape would fail to be a suitable word for the Bush Fire or other fires. Large Jet Transport Click here. Everyone agrees that the military needs to be adequately funded, but in 2016 the amount the U.S. spent on defense was almost equal to what the next 14 countries combined spent. One big caveat to last year is that there will be ZERO dedicated HLCO platforms available as there were last year. They almost seem to be writing rules to make the use of Firefighting Aircraft, impossible . Nor is it actually clear to me that is what is happening. I may be incorrect in this, but I think the less than excited response from industry is based on them providing questions and input to the PM, HS and CO and getting pretty unsatisfactory responses. 64 2021 National Interagency Mobilization Guide . The FS requirements are out of synch with the financial obligations of the companies they want to hire. Thank you. In fact, for the helicopter operators engaged in aerial firefighting, the Type-1s have become the preferred helicopter type, as they transition away from aging, smaller Type-2 and Type-3 modelsboth types with 9 seats or less, and with respective certified internal gross weights of 7,000 to 14,000 pounds (Type 2), and under 7,000 pounds (Type 3); 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. Please help us improve by taking a few moments to complete our voluntary USFS Fire Industry feedback form. 10 0 obj <> endobj Boise, Idaho 83705-5354 They are versatile fire management tools. Does a 407 not meet the new requirements? Your last sentence in the nail in the coffin.seeing as that this contract will be LPTA and a year to year option, how do you finance a new a/c that will surely be $2-$4M on the low end? A current helicopter solicitation that is now paused was offering 1-year contracts. Then why are one year contracts with optional years considered a sustainable way for helicopter companies to provide helicopters for fire fighting? Calfire is seeing right now how much NOT an upgrade they really are and how they are just too big for some things. What will replace a 407 for a Type III ship? Some helitack crews are trained to rappel from helicopters to fires in remote locations. 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. %PDF-1.6 % 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. Heres an idea that probably nobody will like. The question and answer document shows the USFS is unwilling to be understanding its our way or the highway, thanks for nothing. . 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. Each year, DNR works ahead of the fire season to improve its access to professional equipment and services for fire suppression. Click here. NIFC Operations Support We live near Custer S.D. It doesnt matter what we say if we dont pay the price , the US Forest service only go and hire the Canadians to do our job. Thanks and a tip of the hat go out to Brian. Besides the cost for the new equipment will be passed on the FS through the increase in Daily Availability rates. And just a side note, the CO in charge of the solicitation has pointed out these things that are unrealistic but gets told to shut up and color from the mucky mucks in DCso please stop blaming Contracting and if you dont have a clue about contracting it maybe you should take some time to learn a little about contracting. 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. Continual outflanking of the crews. The U.S. Forest Service (FS) is expecting to contract for 48 Type 1 helicopters for the 2021 wildfire season. With the twin engine requirement would a K-Max also be DQd? It will be going through clearance in a matter of a few days and it will be getting to the committee here shortly. 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. Office: (208) 387-5695 Mobile: (208) 860-7334 They requested to remain anonymous in order to avoid retribution from the agency. Buying a/c is a lot like buying a house. coleman 533 stove carry case; trumpets in the sky alaska; replica designer swimwear vendors; Typos, let us know, and please keep in mind the commenting ground rules before you post a comment. Financing a new (2000+) aircraft with a one year contract will be the nail in the coffin for most operators considering what they have to sell will get pennies on the dollar. At least two CL-415s were removed from USFS contracts and placed on a state contract this year too. The USFS cooperates with CAL FIRE, US Department of Interior agencies Bureau of. Jeffrey McGinley, Associate Branch Chief, Aviation Little to no way to sock away money for these required upgrades to bid on the contract. We can only hope the upcoming DOI on-call helicopter RFP due out later this year isnt so crazy. 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 Sucks that theyre limiting their choices on the RFP. Do any of you FS boys understand how capitalism works? They are all tied to contractors in the business. Publications include manuals, handbooks, standards, guides, plans, and other documents. I agree, to me aggressive initial attack means sending aircraft during initial response, but thats not happening anywhere except CA, that I know of. The U.S. Forest Service announced on October 27 they intend to sign contracts with three companies to add five Next Generation large air . Do you know anything that can replace a CH-54/S-64 or an S-61? National Incident Management Organization (NIMO) Support Helicopters can often refill with water from a nearby lake or tank, making 5 to 15 minute turnarounds. does this mean that this program,or whatever it is simply failed? Nope. What about the forty plus miles along the highway- was that part of the aggressive initial attack or the aggressive firing operations? 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. Aviation Safety. Erickson wins three USFS 2021 fire contracts 5-Apr-2021 Source: Erickson Erickson Incorporated, a worldwide leading operator, maintainer, and manufacturer of utility aircraft, announces three new USFS Firefighting contracts for the upcoming 2021 wildfire season. In 2020 the agency started out with 13 on . Welcome to the Nation's Logistical Support Center | National . They can typically carry 700 gallons of water or retardant via a bucket or a snorkel that fills an internal tank. We all understand that. 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. Smokejumperstravel all over the country, including Alaska, to provide highly-trained, experienced firefighters and leadership for quick initial attack on wildland fires in remote areas. Smokejumper Aircraft Its killing aviators, driving people from the agency and putting our only vendors/partners in impossible positions. usfs type 1 helicopter contracts 2021. Click here. One has to write to the audience who butters their bread! Dr. Dominic Mijele, KWS vet darting an elephant !om a KWS helicopter in Narok, Mara Ecosystem - Charles Ooro, Kenyan Wildlife Service [ BOTTOM ] Plate 43. Instead of a quick turn around of a week after the invoice closes- the new payment procedure has us waiting the full 30 days. Provides support to both the Aviation and Logistics Branch Chiefs Official websites use .gov LockA locked padlock Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. The FS is a sinking ship by every measurable metric and the aircraft contracting department is clearly no exception. Over and again these career bureaucrats prove their aggressive pursuit of continued failure and abject ineptitude. What you all have put out leaves these folks in harms way.you guys ok with that on your souls. Basic Ordering Agreements (BOAs) for 28 - Type 1 helicopters having 120-day mandatory availability periods. I also assume that the CO just channeled the PM and HSs needs for the program. The blackhawk will not replace the 212 because it cant, and a regular category S-70 would have to bid three or four times the price of a 212 to make financial sense even if you could get a 4 year EU contract. But you better pay for it, USFS says! Fax: (208) 387-5384, https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/fire/contracting, Important Information Regarding the COVID-19 Pandemic, Access to the U.S. Forest Service Contracting, Incident Support Branch, DOI SharePoint Page must be granted individually. For several years the U.S. Forest Service had contracted for 34 EU Type 1 ships, but reduced that to 28 in 2017. usfs type 1 helicopter contracts 2021. SD3-60 Sherpas;Avionics; Maintenance 6-month Exclusive Use (EU) contract extensions for 34 - Type 2 helicopters with contracts expiring in 2022, utilizing BOAs for remaining EU line items. Aircraft types: P2V, HC-130H, BAe-146, MD-87, C-130Q, RJ85, C-130 H & J equipped with Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems (MAFFS). The second highest was 46 percent in 2012. Firewatch Cobra (Bell 209-AH-1) Aerial Supervision Helicopter A lot of the operators that will get pushed out because of this RFP do a lot of irrefutably safe work when fire season peaks, or when resource work is needed, with excellently maintained legacy platforms at great value to the taxpayers. The FS contracting office posted more than a dozen versions of the presolicitation between July 7 and December 6. Access to these sites is restricted and the information and files provided through these sites is not intended for general disclosure or distribution to anyone other than Authorized Government Representatives and solely for the purpose of facilitating the performance of their Official Duties with respect to their administration of these contracts. 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. All the experienced aviation folks leading the latest helo RFP need to know that what youre proposing will lead to less a/c and more accidents/deaths. NICC is the sole source for large transport aircraft holding 14 CFR Part 121 Certificates and for Type 1 and 2 Call-When-Needed (CWN) Helicopters. usfs type 1 helicopter contracts 2021 Try to pass on the cost of newer, more expensive equipment in less than 10 years, than the operator fails on the LPTA front b/c his day rate will be too high. So, because the Forest Service wants to push all but the top tier of their options out, they are essentially putting every government agencys resources at risk. Aerial Supervision Module (ASM) Lead Planes No wonder there is absolutely no concern about the financial impact of this proposal. 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. The what, why and where of this story seems like it warrants additional reporting. Firewatch Cobra (Bell 209/AH-1) Aerial Supervision Helicopter. 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. Its driving us away from government work and Im truly worried about the availability of rotor assets next year if they end up going through with this wish list RFP. The S-70 could work but again, at what cost? 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. swift wart treatment reviews; airport police salary philippines; queen victoria 60th year commemorative medal; cutler anderson architects. Access to the U.S. Forest Service Contracting, Incident Support Branch, DOI SharePoint Page must be granted individually. The Contracting office doesnt make the requirements or evaluation criteria in the solicitation, that is the responsibility of the program office..PERIOD ! Chief Pilot for the USFS, Abraham Fandrich, retires, Ride with a single engine air tanker as it drops near Borger, Texas, 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. Those who can manage might do fineor they might just get tossed out with the bathwater.. 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. We are all for the push for better equipment for our wildland fire efforts but the USFS cant do the change this suddenly and without any industry input. https://www.kelly.senate.gov/, I think many of us do understand the contracting world and the pages put out by the head shed.
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