Helpful Links

Preseason

Incident

Procurement

A Guide To

Doing Business 

With the

Forest Service

FS-926

Revised 

May 2011

Caring for the Land

and Serving People The relationship between the Forest Service, 

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and 

its vendors is very important. As vendors, you 

play a key role in assisting us in delivering our 

mission.

Keeping you informed of upcoming changes to 

incident procurement processes is just one way 

that we hope to enhance our relationship.

Visit our Incident Procurement Web site 

for current information on business process 

changes.

Forest Service

Provides information about the Forest Service. 

http://www.fs.fed.us

Forest Service Incident Procurement

Provides incident procurement information and tools to 

all current and potential vendors.

http://www.fs.fed.us/business/incident/

http://www.fs.fed.us/business/incident/vendorsupport.php

http://www.fs.fed.us/business/incident/compsolplan.php

http://www.fs.fed.us/business/incident/bestvalue.php

Data Universal Number System (DUNS)

Provides instructions for registering for a DUNS number, 

which is required by the Federal Acquisition Regulations 

(FAR 52.204-6). You must have this number before registering in the CCR.

http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/index.jsp

Central Contractor Registration (CCR)

Provides instructions for registering with CCR, which is 

required before award (FAR 52.212-1).

http://www.ccr.gov/Contractors.aspx 

Online Representations and Certifications Application (ORCA)

Provides instructions for registering online with ORCA.

https://orca.bpn.gov/

FedBizOpps (FBO)

Lists the Forest Service competitive solicitation

opportunities. 

https://www.fbo.gov/

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all 

its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, 

age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, 

parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political 

beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived 

from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to 

all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for 

communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, 

etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and 

TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of 

Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-

9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is 

an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Thank you for your interest

in doing business with

the Forest Service!
Competitive Solicitations

Over the past several 

years, the Forest Service 

has issued competitive solicitations for a variety of 

equipment to help meet 

incident support needs. 

These national solicitations use consistent standards and specifications 

that increase efficiency as 

equipment is used across 

regional boundaries. 

For an updated schedule 

outlining the plan and 

timeframes for specific 

types of equipment, visit 

the Incident Procurement 

Web site: http://www.

fs.fed.us/business/incident/compsolplan.php.

1 Obtain an e-mail address. A valide-mail address is required to register with

the Data Universal Number System (DUNS),

the Central Contractor Registration (CCR),

and eAuthentication.

2 Obtain a D-U-N-S® Number. The DUNS provides each business with a uniquely identifiable number and is required in many systems. 

Your company name must match your “Legal 

Business Name” as it appears on your Tax ID 

document from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

3 Obtain an IRS TIN. For invoicing, payment, and tax purposes, you must have a Taxpayer 

Identification Number (TIN), as required by the 

IRS.

4 Register with CCR. Vendors must register their business in the CCR, and validate the 

registration annually. Your company name must 

match your “Legal Business Name” as it appears 

on your Tax ID document from the IRS.

5 Register for a Level 2 USDA eAuthentication account. The Level 2 USDA

eAuthentication is required for vendors using the 

Virtual Incident Procurement (VIPR) system. It enables e-signature of preseason incident agreements.

6 Register at FedBizOpps (FBO) and watch for business opportunities.

Competitive solicitations for incident support

issued by the Forest Service will be posted to FBO, 

which provides Governmentwide business opportunities. Solicitations differ, so carefully read the 

instructions on how to submit your offers.

7 Certify small business status. Each small business is required to verify, on an annual basis, its small business size and status, if applicable, 

through the Online Representations and Certifications Applications (ORCA) database.

Performance Evaluations

As the vendor, you are required to ensure that 

you receive a performance evaluation prior to demobilization from the incident. Incident support 

personnel will submit the performance evaluation 

to the contracting officer who signed the I-BPA.

For more information, please visit the Incident Procurement homepage at 

http://www.fs.fed.us/business/incident/.

Or, you can contact your field contracting officer. A list of contacts can be found at

http://www.fs.fed.us/business/incident/contacts.php.

Getting Started—New Vendors The Incident Blanket Purchase Agreement (I-BPA) Process

Best Value/ 

Dispatch Priority 

Process

The Forest Service 

awards Competitive Preseason Incident Blanket 

Purchase Agreements (I-BPAs) using a best value 

process that evaluates reasonable price, acceptable 

past performance, qualified personnel, and minimum equipment standards. Choosing by Advantages (CBA) methodology determines the dispatch 

priority. CBA assigns points to key equipment 

criteria, then ranks their value relative to the quoted 

price for each piece of equipment. For more information, visit: http://www.fs.fed.us/business/incident/

bestvalue.php.

Virtual Incident Procurement

(VIPR) System

VIPR is a Web-based incident procurement system designed to award and administer preseason 

I-BPAs. VIPR enables vendors to electronically 

submit their offers in response to competitive 

solicitations and includes electronic signature 

capabilities.

If you are a vendor with an existing competitive 

incident agreement or a vendor submitting an 

offer for new solicitations, complete the requirements listed under “Getting Started—New Vendors” to use the VIPR system. You must obtain a 

Level 2 eAuthentication account prior to completing the solicitation process. For more information, visit: http://www.fs.fed.us/business/incident/

vendorsupport.php.

This section provides overview information only. 

More specific information, including links to pertinent Web sites, is posted to the Incident Procurement Web site.