Well not quite, imho. Airtankers Todd more well informed insight here. The NWCGcategorizes information on fire apparatus into logical groups and provides common options often requested by fire managers. Calfire is seeing right now how much NOT an upgrade they really are and how they are just too big for some things. 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. The FS is a sinking ship by every measurable metric and the aircraft contracting department is clearly no exception. Firewatch Cobra (Bell 209-AH-1) Aerial Supervision Helicopter SD3-60 Sherpa Avionics Upgrade, Dave Hershey, Contracting Officer To meet this commitment, we continue to monitor and update our content to make sure our documents meet these standards. 34 aircraft in this category operate in the US, mainly Bell 205 and 212. 0000047667 00000 n Office: (208) 387-5627 Mobile: (208) 985 6266 Nobody should bid, then when everything is on fire and the USFS comes begging then youd have some leverage on them. The Incident Command System (ICS) uses this system based on the equipment capability. They simply never had to deal with these considerations. Application of gel, foam or retardant? Thanks and a tip of the hat go out to Bob. There is a question and answer phase that allows anyone to submit questions and the answers will be posted on the SAM site. Boise, Idaho 83705-5354 Office: (208) 387-5665 Mobile: (208) 616-5549, NIFC Operations Support The Chinooks were mainly operated with a Bambi Bucket but three companies, Helimax, Columbia Helicopters and Billings, now use internal bunkers developed by subcontractors, including Simplex, a well-known manufacturer of HBE kits, which allows these aircraft to have a higher intervention speed while taking up to 12,000 liters of water internally. Region 6 Cache Freight Services trailer 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. I am concerned that it will reduce resources in a way that will harm the communitys we generally get to help. The West coast of America was once again hit by fires this year, the intensity and devastation of which have rarely been seen so far, even though the 2017 season had already been long and dramatic. Some helitack crews are trained to rappel from helicopters to fires in remote locations. PDF USDA Forest Service Aviation Strategy Implementation LockA locked padlock Qualification Category. Oh and theres a reason for the price difference, all the vendors you see with blackhawks have restricted category aircraft. Basic Ordering Agreements (BOAs) for 28 - Type 1 helicopters having 120-day mandatory availability periods. In addition the Logistics Branch provides procurement support for eleven National Cachesfor wildland fire suppression and prevention, as well as other emergency incident response activities. Scurit civile: the Dragons in the early hours of Rostec signed dealership agreements on supplying VRT500 Mi-38: successful test in extreme conditions, Wiking Helikopter Service adds an H145 to its fleet. The Incident Support Branch (ISB) at the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) is located in Boise, Idaho. agency that, more and more, is becoming its own worst enemy, as well as ours! So this all begs a question maybe how do we bridge the gap here? Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Entities without current agreements may contact the IBC-AQD Business Management Specialist at 208-433-5025. 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. 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. Calculator, GPS Potentially an EU ship could sit all season and never turn a rotor and they would only collect the daily rate. Office: (208) 387-5610 Mobile: (208) 867-5073, Tonya Campbell,Contracting Officer Forest Service says there's not enough time to issue new helicopter It seems nothing is making sense anymore, and we are destined to fail if this shortsightedness is allowed to continue. For aircraft in the first two categories, fire-fighting equipment consists of efficient and versatile ventral kits . I think you answered your own question with why are they only replacing type II and III legacy platforms and not type I? The most spectacular heavy-duty helicopters have long been the Erickson AirCrane, the CH-54 refurbished by the Oregon-based company that has developed for them a constant-rate and controlled-release airdrop that is considered one of the most efficient and reliable. 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. For point-to-point flights, AFF flight following may be used as well. Click here. 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. AMD-23E v2.0. Comments, questions, and recommendations shall be submitted to the appropriate agency representative assigned to the steward for each resource. The end result is fewer options for the government, but maybe that is what they want. 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. Us, Northern Rockies Coordination 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. Incident Contacts . 0000001055 00000 n What replaces the 212? 310-1 Wildland Fire Qualification System Guide. Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) Focal Point, Mike McFarlane,Contracting Officer Thats what happens when non-aviation people get put it charge of aviation programs. 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? 0000010826 00000 n Nope. National Type 1 and 2 CWN Contract: To meet this commitment, we continue to monitor and update our content to make sure our documents meet these standards. Well said Maghreb.sadly, doing so would guarantee financial disaster/bankruptcy for the industry while also ensuring that the country and its citizens in fire prone states would be without helos for many more years than just one season.I do love the idea as it would send a message for suremaybe a few calls to the White House make sense here? Home | About Phone: (208) 387-5670 Cooperative Agreements - National Interagency Fire Center These may be local governments seeking to preserve a territory, but also counties or even states. For type 3 helos it may be possible, providing the USFS can double the budget because thats what vendors are going to bid for a new aircraft with higher maintenance cost and complexity, additionally operating hot and high im sure the load charts are going to have to be quite conservative to ensure OEI is landing safely and not just crashing slower, Everything has to be in balance, you cant spend unlimited money, and you cant eliminate all risk, the safest and most inexpensive helicopter is one that sits on the ground. As for air assets, Tankers dominate the sky. Sounds like a great schedule to buy a next gen helicopter. The Q&A period is a nicety, but rarely ever provides valuable responses to industry. 6-month Exclusive Use (EU) contract extensions for 34 - Type 2 helicopters with contracts expiring in 2022, utilizing BOAs for remaining EU line items. What do you do with an expensive asset like a helo when youre only customer suggests to just not submit? Why arent fixed wing on CWN awarded a offered daily minimum? So given these facts, what do you think they are trying to achieve in ultimately reducing the number of a/c in a time when we need more of them? Type 2 helicopters are very effective initial attack resources. Note, however, that the civil versions of the bi-rotor, Boeing Vertol 234, have been flying against fire, sometimes within the same companies, for many years, with close performances and operational costs equivalent to the AirCrane, ($ 24,000 / day + $ 7394 per flight hour for a CH-47D, $ 22,150 / day + $ 7,776 / per flight hour for a CH-54B, 2016 rate). If the income is lower and lower due to LPTA and the job security is year to year with no guarantee, most lenders will tell you to try another house to mortgage your house. Great to see that ole S-58T N1168U workhorse from Aris is still getting after it! Typos or errors, report them, Rappeller training in Idaho modified for COVID-19, Contracts to be awarded for 28 Type 1 firefighting helicopters, 41 Companies on $1B Forest Service Helicopter Support Contract, Updates on Nob Fire and WatchDuty is looking for help, North Carolina: Great Lakes Fire burning in footprint of 2012 fire. Incident Awareness and Assessment (IAA) DOI PROGRAM - ACQUISITION SERVICES. Flight Rate Hourly Daily Availability # OF UNITS TOTAL COST Exclusive Use Helicopters Type 1 HEL1 $ 4,290 $ 13,950 Type 2 HEL2 $ 1,760 $ 5,030 Type 3 HEL3 $ 1,050 $ 2,325 Call When Needed Helicopters Type 1 HEL1 $ 4,200 $ 26,600 Type 2 HEL2 $ 1,960 $ 7,150 . National Maintenance Agreement, Robert Hoffman,Contracting Officer =Wd{,,}[bx`3j2Fyyn y } The FS is certainly aware of Mr. Gabbert who has reached out to public affairs folks within the agency on numerous occasions.

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