United States Department of the Interior 

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE 

Fire Management Program Center 

 3833 S. Development Avenue 

Boise, Idaho 83705-5354 

IN REPLY REFER TO: 

Y14 (9560) 

December 16, 2010 

Memorandum 

To: Regional Fire Management Officers 

 Attention: All FMOs 

From: Branch Chief, Wildland Fire /s/ William Kaage

Subject: Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) – Next Phase 

Please ensure distribution to park fire management officers. 

I am happy to say the NPS was successful during the implementation phase of IFPM; the efforts 

of all are greatly appreciated. As we move into the next phase Wildland Fire Management 

working in cooperation with Human Resources, still has a significant role making sure we 

maintain the integrity of IFPM. To aid in that process I would like to remind you of several key 

points that will help us be successful. 

Selective Factors (Screen Outs) – Effective October 1, 2010 all NWCG incident management 

qualifications and additional required training identified for each of the 13 key IFPM positions 

must be included in all associated vacancy announcements. All applicants must meet the 

selective factors before they enter into an IFPM position. 

Currency – IFPM identifies “currency required” for several of the key positions; however an 

applicant would not be “screened out” if they were not “current” in one or more of the NWCG 

requirements. Currency could be used as a justification by the hiring official when selecting one 

applicant over another. 

Seasonal Rehires(grades GS-5 and above) – Hiring officials must verify that all “1039” 

temporary employees with rehire rights to an IFPM position, meet the NWCG incident 

management qualifications for that position before they can be rehired into that position. If they 

do not, they cannot be rehired back into that IFPM position next fire season. 

Wildland Fire Recruitment Checklist – To ensure fire management is providing Human 

Resources with all the information needed for a recruitment action a checklist for the supervisor 

to use is available on the IFPM website. 

Standard Vacancy language – To ensure recruitment actions for all IFPM positions are 

consistent, standard vacancy announcement language has been developed and is available on the 

** ELECTRONIC COPY ONLY. NO HARDCOPY TO FOLLOW **
IFPM website. I encourage you to familiarize yourself with the standard language so that you 

correctly verify the accuracy of your recruitment action prior to posting. 

IFPM Website – The IFPM website will continue to be maintained and updated. Please utilize 

the website to make sure you have the most current IFPM information. 

Incident Qualifications and Certification System (IQCS) – All employees, including seasonal 

and temporary, occupying an IFPM position must be identified in IQCS. 

To ensure the NPS can fill IFPM positions in the future I encourage all managers and supervisors 

to work with their employees to develop an Individual Development Plan (IDP) that clearly 

outlines the employee’s short and long-term goals and how those goals can be achieved. 

Similar guidance to Human Resources through NPS Personnel Bulletin has not yet been 

distributed. Please ensure dialogue regarding IFPM with Human Resources personnel occurs. 

Please make sure this memorandum is forwarded to all supervisors. If you have questions please 

contact Mark Koontz at 208-387-5090 or mark_koontz@nps.gov. 

Attachment

Cc: Tom Nichols, Division Chief, Fire and Aviation Management, FMPC 

 Dan Buckley, National Program Lead, Wildland Fire Operations, FMPC 

 Mark Koontz, Qualifications and Training Manager, Wildland Fire Branch, FMPC 

 Melissa Anglin, HR Specialist, WASO-HRSD-Franchise 

 Christine Peters, Administrative Officer, FMPC