USDA Forest Service - Acquisition Management

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USDA Forest Service

P.O. Box 96090

Washington , D.C. 20090-6090

(202) 205-8333

FirstGov: the official portal web site of the U.S. government.

Virtual Incident PRocurement (VIPR)

Announcements

News about VIPR

VIPR was successfully introduced to production in January of 2009. Forest Service regions have issued solicitations and awarded agreements for equipment subject to competition. For more information on the types of equipment for which the Forest Service has solicited for this year and in future years, check out the competitive solicitation plan.

Vendors should become familiar with the requirements and complete preparations to be eligible to be awarded an agreement with the Forest Service. For more information on what vendors need to do, visit the "Being a Vendor" page. Vendors should also watch the Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOpps) Web site for the VIPR solicitations to which they want to respond. NOTE: Vendors do not logon to VIPR. They obtain solicitation packages from FedBizOpps.

The Interagency Incident Systems Helpdesk will be available to assist with the VIPR application and eAuthentication account issues such as password resets. The Helpdesk is available by calling 1-866-224-7677 or by e-mail at helpdesk@dms.nwcg.gov.

2007 & 2008 Incident Blanket Purchase Agreements (I-BPA) Are Now in VIPR!

If you have an existing 2007 or 2008 I-BPAs with the U.S. Forest Service, you may have received an e-mail notice from VIPR informing you that the Contracting Officer for your agreement has issued a modification to the agreement. If you wish to continue doing business with the Forest Service under your agreement, you MUST respond to the modification.

Please note that during the process to migrate the 2007-2008 agreements into VIPR, VIPR had to make the following adjustments (these adjustments may not apply to you).

If you had multiple agreements for the same solicitation, they were consolidated into one agreement in VIPR. You will need to compare your hardcopy agreements with the modification package you receive in the e-mail message from VIPR.
If you had multiple sets of information in the different source data sets (EaTIS, CBA, etc.) that were migrated into VIPR, one set of data was chosen for use in VIPR. When responding to the roll-over modification, you can update any incorrect information, except you cannot change the following:
- DUNS number cannot be changed on your Vendor Company Information form.
- Small Business Status check boxes cannot be changed on your Vendor Company Information form.
- Dispatch Center assigned to a resource cannot be changed on any of your resource data entry forms.
- VIN/Serial Number/Equipment ID or Unique Resource Descriptor fields, which are used to identify each resource, cannot be changed on any of your resource data entry forms.

For instructions on how to respond to a modified agreement, you can refer to Section 9, "Responding to a Modified Agreement," in the VIPR Vendor Solution User Guide

Overview

Virtual Incident Procurement (VIPR) is a web-based Forest Service application designed to administer preseason Incident Blanket Purchase Agreements (I-BPAs - formerly referred to as Emergency Equipment Rental Agreements or EERAs). VIPR replaced the Equipment and Training System (EaTIS) piloted by the Northern, Pacific Northwest, and Pacific Southwest Regions. The application supports the 2005 USDA-OIG audit findings requiring the Forest Service to implement a more rigorous approach to managing preseason incident agreements.

VIPR has the functionality to solicit, award, and manage preseason I-BPAs, and was implemented nationwide in January of 2009. In future years, VIPR will automate other preseason incident procurements, such as aviation contracts, crew contracts, and mobile shower and food services.

VIPR is designed to front-end load other systems within the business lifecycle of preseason incident procurements, such as ROSS, I-Suite and the Aviation Business System. Electronically sharing pertinent information through to payment of contractors by the Forest Service will reduce errors and speed transactions.

To learn more about VIPR, use the links on the left menu or send an e-mail to "Ask VIPR" with questions or suggestions.

When to Use VIPR

If you have equipment under an existing Forest Service agreement or plan to respond to a solicitation to offer equipment in the following categories, you’ll most likely be working with VIPR.

In 2009, all vendors with the following equipment will be required to use VIPR:

Clerical Support Units
Fallers
Gray Water Trucks
GIS Units
Hand wash Units
Mechanic with Service Truck

Mobile Laundry
Portable toilets
Potable Water Trucks
Refrigeration Trailers
Tents
Water Handling Equipment (e.g., Engines, Water Tenders, Skidgines, etc.)

Additionally, heavy equipment (e.g., bulldozers, excavators, and tractor plows) that will be offered in the Southern Region (Region 8) will use VIPR in 2009.

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Box 96090 Washington , D.C. 20090-6090 (202) 205-8333 FirstGov: the official portal web site of the U.S. government.	Virtual Incident PRocurement (VIPR) Announcements News about VIPR VIPR was successfully introduced to production in January of 2009. Forest Service regions have issued solicitations and awarded agreements for equipment subject to competition. For more information on the types of equipment for which the Forest Service has solicited for this year and in future years, check out the competitive solicitation plan. Vendors should become familiar with the requirements and complete preparations to be eligible to be awarded an agreement with the Forest Service. For more information on what vendors need to do, visit the "Being a Vendor" page. Vendors should also watch the Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOpps) Web site for the VIPR solicitations to which they want to respond. NOTE: Vendors do not logon to VIPR. They obtain solicitation packages from FedBizOpps. The Interagency Incident Systems Helpdesk will be available to assist with the VIPR application and eAuthentication account issues such as password resets. The Helpdesk is available by calling 1-866-224-7677 or by e-mail at helpdesk@dms.nwcg.gov. 2007 & 2008 Incident Blanket Purchase Agreements (I-BPA) Are Now in VIPR! If you have an existing 2007 or 2008 I-BPAs with the U.S. Forest Service, you may have received an e-mail notice from VIPR informing you that the Contracting Officer for your agreement has issued a modification to the agreement. If you wish to continue doing business with the Forest Service under your agreement, you MUST respond to the modification. Please note that during the process to migrate the 2007-2008 agreements into VIPR, VIPR had to make the following adjustments (these adjustments may not apply to you). If you had multiple agreements for the same solicitation, they were consolidated into one agreement in VIPR. You will need to compare your hardcopy agreements with the modification package you receive in the e-mail message from VIPR. If you had multiple sets of information in the different source data sets (EaTIS, CBA, etc.) that were migrated into VIPR, one set of data was chosen for use in VIPR. When responding to the roll-over modification, you can update any incorrect information, except you cannot change the following: DUNS number cannot be changed on your Vendor Company Information form. Small Business Status check boxes cannot be changed on your Vendor Company Information form. Dispatch Center assigned to a resource cannot be changed on any of your resource data entry forms. VIN/Serial Number/Equipment ID or Unique Resource Descriptor fields, which are used to identify each resource, cannot be changed on any of your resource data entry forms. For instructions on how to respond to a modified agreement, you can refer to Section 9, "Responding to a Modified Agreement," in the VIPR Vendor Solution User Guide Overview Virtual Incident Procurement (VIPR) is a web-based Forest Service application designed to administer preseason Incident Blanket Purchase Agreements (I-BPAs - formerly referred to as Emergency Equipment Rental Agreements or EERAs). VIPR replaced the Equipment and Training System (EaTIS) piloted by the Northern, Pacific Northwest, and Pacific Southwest Regions. The application supports the 2005 USDA-OIG audit findings requiring the Forest Service to implement a more rigorous approach to managing preseason incident agreements. VIPR has the functionality to solicit, award, and manage preseason I-BPAs, and was implemented nationwide in January of 2009. In future years, VIPR will automate other preseason incident procurements, such as aviation contracts, crew contracts, and mobile shower and food services. VIPR is designed to front-end load other systems within the business lifecycle of preseason incident procurements, such as ROSS, I-Suite and the Aviation Business System. Electronically sharing pertinent information through to payment of contractors by the Forest Service will reduce errors and speed transactions. To learn more about VIPR, use the links on the left menu or send an e-mail to "Ask VIPR" with questions or suggestions. When to Use VIPR If you have equipment under an existing Forest Service agreement or plan to respond to a solicitation to offer equipment in the following categories, you’ll most likely be working with VIPR. In 2009, all vendors with the following equipment will be required to use VIPR: Clerical Support Units Fallers Gray Water Trucks GIS Units Hand wash Units Mechanic with Service Truck Mobile Laundry Portable toilets Potable Water Trucks Refrigeration Trailers Tents Water Handling Equipment (e.g., Engines, Water Tenders, Skidgines, etc.) Additionally, heavy equipment (e.g., bulldozers, excavators, and tractor plows) that will be offered in the Southern Region (Region 8) will use VIPR in 2009.
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