usfs type 1 helicopter contracts 2021

A lock ( I say all you vendors simply BOYCOTT the USFS. If we have an aircraft on the market that give us a better margin of safety in the high and hot environment the USFS works in why wouldnt we pursue it other than money? But it refers to astudy conducted from 2007 to 2009, theNIAC Interagency Aviation Strategy, which concluded that the optimum number of Type 1 helicopters on EU was 34. Today the U.S. Forest Service announced the contract awards for 48 Type 1 helicopters. Federal Contract Opportunity for National Exclusive-Use Type 1 and Type 2 Helicopter Modernization SN-2021-01 . Access to the U.S. Forest Service Contracting, Incident Support Branch, DOI SharePoint Page must be granted individually. 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. And CWN aircraft cost the government much more to operate than EU resources. 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. 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? The biggest issue overall is that this contract is a prerequisite for our other federal and state work such as state fire and wildlife survey, etc. LockA locked padlock Bill would rather not take his private industry advertisers $$$, but he should and needs to get paid for the hard work he puts in and he knows you Government boys cant/wont pay him to tell the truth. Here is an excerpt from the Washington Post, February 9, 2016: On Tuesday, the International Institute for Strategic Studies released its Military Balance 2016 report, which seeks to examine closely the changing nature of military power. As this is being written, the politicians we elect to represent us in Washington are trying to put together a last minute (literally) federal budget that will keep the government from shutting down again tonight. Hopefully it wont be used to often but should the need arise its great to have one right here locally to answer the call. 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. Basic Ordering Agreements (BOAs) for 28 - Type 1 helicopters having 120-day mandatory availability periods. Until thenenjoy this fine day. while simultaneously saying that they fully intend on moving to modern helicopters that are built after the year 2000 and are all twin engine. Federal Contract Opportunity for National Exclusive-Use Type 1 and Type 2 Helicopter Modernization SN-2021-01. It is very different from putting out an RFQ for an item that a company bids on based on their own estimation of costs that will meet the specification, where nothing has yet been manufactured and nobody really knows what things will cost until they research the bid spec. Type 1 helicopters are the largest, fastest flying and the most expensive helicopters used on wildland fires. The stats are in for the use of firefighting helicopters in 2017. My look and details are just that- my perception. IBC's Acquisition Services Directorate (AQD) is responsible for the acquisition of a full suite of commercial aviation services supporting each bureau in the Department of the Interior, as well as many external customers. Anyone else seeing a trend, that they like to spend money on the most expensive piece of equipment they can find, including fixed wings. Firewatch Cobra (Bell 209-AH-1) Aerial Supervision Helicopter Provides support to both the Aviation and Logistics Branch Chiefs We operate Type III helicopters and are now faced with 40+ pounds of equipment (costing over $60k per aircraft) to meet minimum requirements things that we really dont need like a Traffic Avoidance System (but the ADS-B they required last year isnt good enough) and a loudspeaker (because yelling at the fire helps?). Fire.every.last.one.of.them. Is that some new type of aggressive attack? You guys (and gals) should possess enough experience to influence how contracts are conceptualized, and bring some common sense back to the process, Nobody should bid, then when everything is on fire and the USFS comes begging then youd have some leverage on them.. Calfire is seeing right now how much NOT an upgrade they really are and how they are just too big for some things. Have a fire aviation news tip? Web portals include key information that is updated on a continuous schedule. Aviation Safety. Each bucket has a release valve on the bottom controlled by the helicopter crew. With a defense budget of around $597 billion, it was almost as much as the next 14 countries put together and far larger than the rest of the world. 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. So do we get balanced journalism here. It also recommended a total of 35 air tankers by 2018, which included three water-scooping air tankers. 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. usfs type 1 helicopter contracts 2021. Your input here is really helpful. Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) Focal Point, Mike McFarlane,Contracting Officer A fixed wing air tanker that has to refill at an airport takes much longer. Aircraft Type: DC-10. Click here. 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. 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.. Click here. I think the word escape needs to be looked at a little deeperthat is what I do as a housewife hiker. Two discussions, one one year, the other 2019. Forest Service contracted Type 1 helicopters are a strategic National Resource, contracted to support the national firefighting effort. 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. 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. A current helicopter solicitation that is now paused was offering 1-year contracts. Senator Mark Kelly may be interested in hearing comments about FS & DOI aircraft contracting: The U.S. Forest Service (FS) is expecting to contract for 48 Type 1 helicopters for the 2021 wildfire season. The list this year includes what has become their standard in recent years, 28 ships, plus an additional 20 surge helicopters. Each time I wake up in excruciating pain hoping my brain ss procedure soon helps alleviate some of those immediate areas. Woodbury, Bush, and other fires)., As sharedThe Tonto NF blatantly cancelled requests for aggressive initial attack on the Woodbury Fire., I think the Forest Service has zero comprehension of the new breed of forensic fire weather folks quietly documenting all these actionsI hope they understand many savvy folks are watching in prior years and they will continue to do so, Me. We all understand that. The companies willing to make adjustments will do just that and end up with contracts. 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 One important change in 2017 was the 18 percent reduction in the number of Type 1 helicopters on exclusive use (EU) contract. . Id guess many of them follow your websites, but if not and you have access to them, it would be good to alert them to the commentary here on this pageif anyone else feels strongly negative about this, chime in!! hbbd``b`~@q3`~$X@ "7 0%Hd) 7 a&(F? I can see daily availability rates sky rocketing, which it sounds like is expected. Enter your email address to subscribe and receive notifications of new posts by email. Mulcher / Masticator - Boom Mounted Checklist, U.S. Forest Service, Contracting With the twin engine requirement would a K-Max also be DQd? 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. You want a loud hailer, fork it over. Melinda Draper, Associate Branch Chief, Logistics, We all understand that. If you knew just one thing about contracting it may help. The Bush fire WAS aggressively IAd, however given the fuel and weather conditions at the time escaped rather quickly. The administrative bases of the helicopters will be at 48 locations. The Branch is comprised of two teams; aviation and logistics. There is no cost, and in case you change your mind each email has an unsubscribe button. 3833 S. Development Avenue Our suggestion is to prioritize the defense and protection of our citizens, homeland, forests, parks, grasslands, refuges, prairies, and wildlands FIRST, before considering spending trillions on the other side of the world. 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. Local Small Business Specialist 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. They just laugh at us.. 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. 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. Just curious on what you think would have made the difference as the Initial Attack IC? The Governor's proposed budget for the following fiscal year beginning July 1, 2022 includes exclusive use contract funding over the next three years for 10 Type 1 helicopters, but that. You have to love the obvious FS sycophants on here making contemptuous, defensive and specious arguments. Ignoring the facts of what that aircraft can actually carry, not what the vendor claims. What do you do with an expensive asset like a helo when youre only customer suggests to just not submit? They will tell you they have their smerfs.SMEs ( who typically are cradle to grave beuracrats as well), who are supposedly dialed in on the subject matter surerightlmao Much of the defense budget is spent in countries on the other side of the world. Temp Tower Ordering Guidance - Central Service Area (ND) (2022-2027) Interagency Emergency Helicopter Extraction List. Hopefully it wont be used to often but should the need arise its great to have one right here locally to answer the call. Basic Ordering Agreements (BOAs) for 28 Type 1 helicopters having 120-day mandatory availability periods. Maybe they could have figured out a better transition, maybe not. 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. Add to this that they are wanting us to throw all of this money into our aircraft to get on the contract (which is now a 10 year contract!) Vendors do not drive the requirements the customer does. The FS is certainly aware of Mr. Gabbert who has reached out to public affairs folks within the agency on numerous occasions. Several vendors opted for EU contracts with states instead of the USFS. The Surge helicopters will be available for a 120-day contract availability period, beginning June 1, 2021 (except for the Santa Fe Surge). National Exclusive Use Helicopters (Large Fire Support/Initial Attack) What do you do with an expensive asset like a helo when youre only customer suggests to just not submit? The FS requirements are out of synch with the financial obligations of the companies they want to hire. The U.S. Forest Service had estimated there were as many as 150 of the . Response from industry-leading? Deere & Company (Ground Maintenance Equipment) PADD20231336. Office: (208) 616-5548 Mobile: (208) 616- 5548, Training Centers Support (Main Contact) Theres the rub! The administrative bases of the helicopters will be at 48 locations. See what happens when the arrogant customer has no place shop! We can only hope the upcoming DOI on-call helicopter RFP due out later this year isnt so crazy. These devices have their place but has any downed firefighting aircraft actually been located by one? Enter your email address to subscribe and receive notifications of new posts by email. Im waiting for airbags..oh no, wait, they have an explosive charge generator so youll need the whole hazmat approval, and track the squib date to have that particular safety device. We really love being on Team USFS. While Im sure you and the FS believe that all the operators swim in pool fulls of cash and take $$$$millions home every year, that fact of the matter is that Mother Nature and worsening Contracts just dont allow that to happen, so no one can ever just pay for a new a/c with cash from operations. If a vendor doesnt like the requirements, they can choose not to submit a proposal. Through the use of Preseason Agreements and by partnering with the U.S. Forest Service Region 6 Fire Aviation Contracting Team (FACT), through VIPR contracts, DNR is able to pull in outside resources quickly if needed. 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. 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? SD3-60 Sherpas;Avionics; Maintenance 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. What you all have put out leaves these folks in harms way.you guys ok with that on your souls. In each case, only the first year is guaranteed. One has to write to the audience who butters their bread!. Thats discouraging as it suggests that the customer really isnt listening and just providing the perception of doing so.your point of just not choosing to submit if an operator doesnt like it is incredibly insensitive and uninformed. How do you Initial Attack (IA ) for forty plus miles from the Four Peaks turn off to the Roosevelt Lake turn off? Getting older with health concerns doing my best to stay on top of current events has not been a smooth path. 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. helicopter services hourly flight rates, fuel consumption, and weight reduction chart effective .