Fredonia, Ariz., Dec. 8, 2016 — For Immediate Release. The USDA Forest Service Southwestern Region announces two information meetings for vendors interested in providing resources to support wildfires and other emergency incidents.

The first meeting is scheduled for Jan. 17, 2017, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. MST via video teleconference at Forest Service offices throughout Arizona. The first meeting will focus on Tents, Fuel Tenders, and Mechanics with Service Truck resources.

The second meeting is scheduled for Jan. 24, 2017, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. MST via video teleconference at Forest Service offices throughout Arizona. The second meeting will focus on Heavy Equipment resources.

The meetings will discuss a variety of topics including the following:

·        How to become a government vendor

·        How to locate and respond to solicitations through the Virtual Incident Procurement (VIPR) system

·        How to read and understand contract requirements for specific equipment

For fiscal year 2017, the Southwestern Region is seeking competitive quotations for the following resources to support wildfires during the course of a three-year agreement:

·        Heavy Equipment (dozers, excavators, and transports)

·        Tents

·        Fuel Tenders

·        Mechanics with service trucks

Interested vendors can obtain copies of the solicitations at https://www.fbo.gov. Type VIPR into the keyword search box and press search to obtain a list of VIPR solicitations from all over the country.  Look for the ones from the Southwestern Region, Region 3.  You may also search for Solicitation Numbers: AG-8371-S-17-7000 (Heavy Equipment), AG-8371-S-17-7001 (Tents), AG-8371-S-17-7002 (Mechanic with Service Truck), AG-8371-S-17-7003 (Fuel Tender).

Vendors may attend the meeting at the following Kaibab National Forest office location:

North Kaibab Ranger District

430 South Main, Fredonia, AZ

(928) 643-7395

If planning to attend at the North Kaibab Ranger District location, please email notification with intent to attend to both davidjhercher@fs.fed.us and erhiatt@fs.fed.us.

For additional information regarding VIPR, please visit http://www.fs.fed.us/business/incident/vipr.php or contact Stephanie Archuleta, Region 3 Fire Contracting Officer at snarchuleta@fs.fed.us.  

Other Forest Service office locations in Arizona that will be hosting the session are as follows:

·        Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest - Supervisor’s Office, 30 S. Chiricahua Drive, Springerville, AZ

·        Coconino National Forest - Flagstaff Ranger District, 5075 N. Highway 89, Flagstaff, AZ

·        Prescott National Forest - Prescott Fire Center, 2400 Melville Road, Prescott, AZ

·        Tonto National Forest - Supervisor’s Office, 2324 East McDowell Road, Phoenix, AZ

·        Coronado National Forest - Tucson Fire Center, 2646 E. Commerce Center Place, Tucson, AZ