National Dispatch

Standard Operating Guide

for I-BPA Resources

June 2022 Revision 

A Guide for Dispatchers & Incident Support Personnel

Note: This guide is for VIPR I-BPA 

agreements/resources only. National contracts 

(Caterers, Showers, Firefighting Crews) have their 

own ordering procedures and information about 

those can be found in the respective contract. 

https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/fire

AIMS solicited I-BPAs have a SOG located on the 

NICC page for reference.
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Table of Contents

1.0 Introduction 3

2.0 General Information 3

3.0 Reference Information 4

National Information/Links 4

Geographical Area Information/Links 4

4.0 Types of Agreements (IBPA vs EERA) 5

National I-BPAs 5

Zoned I-BPAs (previously Regional) 5

Incident-only EERAs 5

Types of Agreements: I-BPA vs. EERA 6

5.0 Dispatch Priority 6

Exceptions to Dispatch Priority 6

Dispatch Priority Lists (DPLs) 7

How to Use the DPL 8

6.0 Source List 10

How to Use a Source List 10

Source List / EERA Fill with Agreement in IROC 10

7.0 Mobilization of Contracted Resources 10

Initial Attack 10

Transition from Initial Attack to Extended Attack 11

Extended Attack 11

8.0 Availability of I-BPA Resources 13

9.0 Reassignment of I-BPA Resources 13

Reassigned from Incident to Incident 13

Released to Host Dispatch Center 13

10.0 Demobilization of Contracted Resources 13

11.0 Cancellation of Contracted Resources 14

12.0 IROC Ordering/Filling Procedures for Contracted Resources 14

Additional Tools and Information 14
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1.0 Introduction

The intent of this guide is to provide standard operating guidelines to dispatchers and incident support 

personnel in the mobilization and demobilization of contracted resources under the Incident Blanket 

Purchase Agreement (I-BPA) program. This guide is intended to supplement the National 

Interagency Mobilization Guide (NFES 2092), as well as geographic area & local mobilization guides.

This guide has been developed in accordance with federal agency guidelines for contracted 

resources and established business practices as outlined in the National Interagency Mobilization 

Guide, the Standards for Interagency Incident Business Management, dispatch guides, and in 

accordance with the solicitation language set forth within the I-BPA and the Forest Service 

Procedures, Guidance, and Instructions (PGI).

The guidelines established in this document do not preclude the Government at any time from 

mobilizing agency owned or agency (Federal, state, or local) cooperator resources prior to

mobilizing contracted resources for incident support.

This guide will be reviewed annually and updated as necessary. Annual review will be facilitated by 

WO FAM Contract operations. Draft review will be routed from WO FAM through FAM Contract 

operations and the ESB (Equipment Service Branch) and then to the GACC’s/NICC for final 

comments. This will be posted on the NICC webpage once finalized. For questions related to this 

document please email the VIPR team at sm.fs.vipr@usda.gov.

2.0 General Information

In January of 2009, the Forest Service introduced its web-based application, the Virtual Incident 

Procurement (VIPR) system. This application is designed to solicit, award, and administer preseason 

Incident Blanket Purchase Agreements (I-BPAs). VIPR supports the 2005 USDA OIG audit findings 

requiring the Forest Service to implement a more rigorous approach to managing preseason incident 

agreements and to comply with the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR).

VIPR has an interface to the Interagency Resource Ordering Capability (IROC). This interface allows 

pertinent vendor and resource information to be shared electronically to reduce errors and increase 

the efficiency of dispatching. I-BPA resources are dispatched using the IROC application.

The Bureau of Land Management is using the Procurement Information System for Management 

(PRISM) for establishing preseason agreements but follows the same guiding principles and 

procedures established for the Forest Service and outlined in this guide. 

The standard operating guidelines developed within this guide utilizes both Forest Service and 

Bureau of Land Management guidelines in incident procurement of contracted resources. Other 

federal agencies and state cooperators may have their own established agreements and guidelines

for incident support and may or may not follow these guidelines depending on agency jurisdiction of 

the incident. 
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3.0 Reference Information

The information provided in this section directs the user where to find additional information on 

guidelines and procedures for mobilization and demobilization of contracted resources and 

information pertaining to incident procurement. 

National Information/Links

National Interagency Mobilization Guide 

http://www.nifc.gov/nicc/mobguide/index.html

USDA Forest Service Acquisition Management – Incident Procurement

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

DOI Bureau of Land Management Contracting

https://www.blm.gov/services/national-operations-center

National Interagency Fire Center – National Forest Service Contracting

http://www.fs.fed.us/fire/contracting/

USDA Forest Service – Incident Business Practices

http://www.fs.fed.us/fire/ibp/acquisition/acquisition.html

NWCG Incident Business Working Team

http://www.nwcg.gov/committees/incident-business-committee

Interagency Incident Business Management Handbook (IIBMH)

http://www.nwcg.gov/committees/incident-business-committee/publications

USDA Forest Service Virtual Incident Procurement System (VIPR)

http://fsweb.wo.fs.fed.us/aqm2/wo/incident/vipr/ (internal website)

http://www.fs.fed.us/business/incident/vipr.php (external website)

Geographical Area Information/Links

Geographical Area Coordination Centers (GACC)

http://gacc.nifc.gov/

Information for contracted equipment is provided under the Equipment/Supply link located on 

each GACC website menu.
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4.0 Types of Agreements (IBPA vs EERA)

The Forest Service has developed national solicitation templates for Incident Blanket Purchase 

Agreements (I-BPAs), to provide consistency in the acquisition methodology, methods of hire, and 

equipment typing and standards. The Forest Service national solicitation templates for equipment are 

available at the following website: http://www.fs.fed.us/business/incident/solicitations.php

I-BPAs are awarded preseason using a best value award process and by using the Choosing by 

Advantages (CBA) methodology to determine the dispatch priority. The basis for the award can be 

found in the solicitation template. The CBA determines the priority dispatch order for the equipment 

on the Dispatch Priority List (DPL) based on price and various equipment and/or specified attributes. 

For documenting awarded agreements the Forest Service I-BPAs use the SF-1449 generated by the 

VIPR system. BLM may use the SF-1449 or the OF-294. 

A National Solicitation Plan for I-BPAs has been developed by the Forest Service, identifying a cycle 

for competing equipment that is commonly used to support incidents. I-BPAs are solicited on two

primary levels (national and zone) as identified in the National Solicitation Plan for I-BPAs. This 

solicitation plan is located at the following website: 

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

NOTE: Agencies solicit for contracted resources based on their local and geographic area needs, and 

therefore may not solicit for all contracted resources listed in this guide. Some geographic areas 

have collaborated on the solicitations with their federal and state cooperators by identifying which 

agency will take the lead for specific resource categories. In this case, some contracted resource

categories may or may not be on a DPL provided by the Forest Service or BLM, but on a DPL or 

source list provided by another federal or state cooperator. Dispatch procedures for agreements 

awarded by cooperators may vary from Forest Service and BLM agreements based on the host 

agency policy and other determining factors. In geographic areas where this occurs, follow local and 

geographic area ordering procedures.

National I-BPAs

One single solicitation is issued for all GACCs. Duration is typically five (5) years.

Zoned I-BPAs (previously Regional)

One solicitation is issued for each zone covering all dispatch locations in the zone that will host 

those resources. In special circumstances a Region/GACC may have a dedicated solicitation 

for a unique resource. Duration of the agreement can be three (3) or five (5) years.

Incident-only EERAs

Incident-only EERAs are used to sign up contracted resources not available through the I-BPA 

competitive process due to availability or exhaustion of the DPL, and resources hired through 

other established dispatch ordering procedures. Incident-only EERAs are valid only for the 
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duration of the incident they were assigned to. Once the incident releases the contracted 

resource the agreement is no longer valid.

Forest Service at-incident EERAs will use the OF-294 form. BLM may use the SF-1449 or the 

OF-294 form for incident-only EERAs. 

Types of Agreements: I-BPA vs. EERA

TYPES OF AGREEMENTS

I-BPA EERA

Solicitation? Yes - Competitive Solicitation No – Non-competitive

Duration of Agreement 3-5 Years Incident-only

Form Used SF-1449 OF-294

System Used VIPR (FS) / PRISM (BLM) Not system generated

Note: This guide is for I-BPA agreements/resources only. National contracts (Caterers, 

Showers, Firefighting Crews) have their own ordering procedures and information about those

can be found in the respective contract. https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/fire 

5.0 Dispatch Priority

Dispatch priority will be given to contracted resources under competitive I-BPAs for extended attack 

incidents when ordering contracted resources. The Government intends to dispatch contracted 

resources based on this dispatch priority for other than the initial attack exceptions referenced in 

these guidelines.

Dispatch priority for contracted resources does not preclude the Government from using any agency 

owned or agency (Federal, state, or local) cooperator resources for initial attack or extended 

attack/large fire support before ordering/mobilizing contracted resources under agreement. Agency 

owned and/or agency cooperator resources may be requested at any time.

Exceptions to Dispatch Priority

The following exceptions apply to dispatch priority of competitive I-BPA’s: 

A) Initial Attack (IA) – dispatchers may follow the “closest forces” concept and utilize locally 

available resources (agency, agency cooperators, neighborhood agreements with agency & 

agency cooperators) according to agency and incident needs. The DPL is not required to be 

used during initial attack and Contractor resources may or may not be used.

NOTE: If the DPL is used for IA, the dispatcher may order the closest contracted resource

(closest forces) to the incident to meet date and time needed. Whenever possible, based on 

the availability and date and time needed, the established DPL ranking should be followed. 

B) Tribal preference policy established within reservation jurisdiction.
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C) The Government normally will dispatch contracted resources in accordance with this 

protocol; however, the number of resource requests in process and the actual fire conditions at 

the time of dispatch may require deviation from normal procedures to respond effectively to 

such conditions. Any such deviation will be within the discretion of the Government and will 

not be deemed a violation of any term or condition of the agreement or these guidelines. (D.6 

of the solicitation)

When any of the above identified exceptions are utilized for an incident, dispatchers will 

document all actions and contacts in the appropriate system of record (CAD or IROC).

Dispatchers may not hold contracted resources in reserve as a contingency force in a 

non-pay status when that resource is available.

Dispatch Priority Lists (DPLs)

Dispatch Priority Lists are generated for all contracted resources awarded under competitive IBPAs. Each contracted resource has an identified Host Dispatch Center within their agreement 

and may only be dispatched by their Host Dispatch Center. The Host Dispatch Center may be 

a local dispatch center or Geographic Area Coordination Center (GACC), if the GACC has 

chosen to host contracted resources. A DPL will be posted to the web providing the priority 

listing for each resource category awarded under an I-BPA, and available in IROC via the 

VIPR to IROC interface. Host Dispatch Centers with VIPR Dispatch Priority Lists will see VIPR

I-BPA resources populating the Resource tile and the VIPR tab under the Manage Request to 

Fill tab in IROC. Resource items that are not in VIPR may be hand entered into IROC and 

may be found on a separate tab on the Manage Request screen.

Note: If the VIPR to IROC interface is not available or DPLs are not showing in IROC, please 

email the missing DPL information to the VIPR support team at sm.fs.vipr@usda.gov. In this 

situation dispatchers should utilize the published hard copy DPLs at the following website:

https://www.fs.fed.us/business/incident/dispatch.php. 

Dispatch procedures for cooperator solicitations (state & other federal agencies) may 

vary from Forest Service and BLM solicitations based on the host agency policy and 

other determining factors. In geographic areas where this occurs, follow local and 

geographic area ordering procedures.

Forest Service Dispatch Priority Lists will be linked to the GACC Web sites under 

Equipment/Supplies. This website will provide a link to the Forest Service DPLs at: 

http://www.fs.fed.us/business/incident/dispatch.php. Individual GACC websites may be 

accessed at: http://gacc.nifc.gov/.

Agency Contracting Officers (CO) may notify Host Dispatch Centers and/or GACCs

immediately when any changes occur on the DPL such as equipment replacements, 

suspension of resources, or termination of an agreement. The Host Dispatch Center shall 

ensure the most recent version of their DPL is utilized. This can be accomplished by checking 

the DPL website utilizing the date/time stamp on the published DPLs, comparing the DPL to 

the resource items in IROC and through communications with the Contracting Officer.
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Host Dispatch Centers will follow the established DPL ranking order when ordering contracted 

resources in the following categories: 

• Ambulance/EMT

• Bus, Crew Carrier

• Chipper

• Clerical Support Unit

• Communications Trailer

• Dozer

• Engine

• Excavator

• Faller Module (Single & Module)

• Feller Buncher

• Fuel Tender

• GIS Unit

• Gray Water Truck

• Handwashing Station (Trailer Mounted)

• Heavy Equipment Task Force

• Helicopter Operations Support Trailer

• Incident Base Unit

• Mechanic w/Service Truck

• Mobile Chainsaw Repair

• Mobile Laundry Unit

• Mobile Sleeper Unit

• Mulcher/Masticator (Boom Mounted)

• Mulcher/Masticator (Strip)

• Portable Air Traffic Control Unit

• Potable Water Truck

• Pumper Cat

• Refrigerated Trailer

• Road Grader

• Skidder

• Skidgine Softtrack

• Sleeper Units

• Tractor Plow

• Transport

• Vehicle w/Driver

• Water Tender (Support)

• Water Tender (Tactical)

• Weed Washing Unit

NOTE: Resource categories listed above are subject to change depending on agency(s) 

needs, requirements, and solicitation schedules. The most current list of resource categories 

solicited under the IBPA program can be found at: 

https://www.fs.fed.us/business/incident/solicitations.php?tab=tab_d

How to Use the DPL

All requests for contracted resources will be created and filled or placed in the Interagency 

Resource Ordering Capability (IROC) using established ordering procedures. The VIPR to 

IROC interface allows for automatic loading of vendor and resource information into IROC for 

those resources identified in this guide.

When receiving a request for which I-BPA resources may be utilized, the dispatcher will use 

the DPL within their Host Dispatch Center. Dispatchers and Contracting Officers will not 

call/dispatch Contractors from other Host Dispatch Centers’ DPLs. To utilize Contractors from 

other Host Dispatch Centers’ DPLs, the ordering dispatcher must follow established dispatch 

ordering channels. Available Contractors on the DPL must be contacted in the order of their 

DPL ranking and availability status corresponding with their available area (local, state, GACC, 

National.) If a contractor is showing available local, state or GACC and the request is from 

outside the GACC, then they may be bypassed. 

Note: Contracting Officers (COs), Dispatchers, Buying Team Members, Finance Section 

Chiefs, Procurement Unit Leaders, and Purchasing Agents are authorized to place orders 

against this agreement. COs may contact IBPA resources and assist in ensuring vendors are 
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statused correctly and ensure the dispatch channels are being utilized correctly, but COs 

should not be contacting IBPA resources with the intent to put them on an EERA.

If an incident orders a specific type of equipment with a special attribute, (e.g., dozer with 

winch) the dispatcher may contact the first available Contractor on the DPL with the specific 

attribute identified. Only the attributes that are listed on the DPL may be utilized to 

deviate from the DPL ranking. Special attribute requests must be documented on the 

resource order form in special needs. 

The Contractor is required to ensure their status in the IROC system is accurate at all times. 

See section 8 in this guide for more guidance regarding vendor status. 

When receiving a call from their Host Dispatch Center, the Contractor shall confirm ability to 

meet the date/time needed as identified on the resource order and confirm the actual location 

of resource requested. If the Contractor has an unavailable status, cannot be reached, not at 

identified location per agreement, not able to meet the date/time needed, or unable to provide 

the requested resource(s), the dispatcher may proceed with contacting the next available 

contractor identified on the DPL. If unable to contact the Contractor utilizing the published 

phone numbers on the DPL, the dispatcher may proceed to contact the next available 

Contractor on the DPL. 

Note: There is no specific wait time identified between phone calls when attempting to 

contact available Contractors on the DPL. The dispatcher should determine a 

reasonable call back time period based on date and time needed to use for the current 

call down, document it, and use it consistently until the call down is complete.

Substitution (swapping) of the resource item ordered under an I-BPA by the contractor 

is not allowed. The VIN or Serial Number of the resource item must match what’s 

dispatched.

Contracting Officers advise that the documentation in IROC on resource orders should be 

rudimentary and basic. The audience that has access to IROC and resource orders, especially 

other contracted vendors, is not entitled to the detailed information relayed to the dispatcher 

such as full names, phone numbers or the detailed reasoning for declining an 

assignment. This causes more workload to the Contracting Officers. Examples of basic 

documentation are: Accept, travel, decline, operator, etc. Complete detailed documentation 

from the call down should be available to the CO upon request and should be maintained in 

CAD or in a local documentation system of record.

Dispatchers will document all detailed actions and contacts in an appropriate system of 

record, CAD or local documentation process, including those Contractors who are 

contacted and the specific response or result of that interaction. Examples:

• E-23 Contractor A, contact name, phone #, called MM/DD/YYYY, actual time, left 

message with # minutes response time. Did not return call.

• E-23 Contractor B, contact name, phone #, called MM/DD/YYYY, actual time, 

decline/not available.

• E-23 Contractor C, contact name, phone #, called MM/DD/YYYY, actual time, 

accepted, mobilization info, operator name/manifest, filled and emailed to email 

address.
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Requests will be placed according to established ordering procedures as outlined in the 

appropriate Mobilization Guide (National, Geographic and/or Local). Contracted resources will 

be utilized according to their respective DPL.

NOTE: As referenced under Dispatch Priority in Section 5 of this guide, the Government will 

normally dispatch contracted resources in accordance with this protocol; however, the number 

of resource requests in process and actual fire conditions at the time of dispatch may require a 

deviation from normal procedures to respond effectively to such conditions. Any such 

deviation will be within the discretion of the Government and will not be deemed a violation of 

any term or condition of the agreement with the USFS or BLM. This deviation is applicable to 

all dispatch tiers, local, geographic, and national, when fire activity, conditions and/or 

preparedness levels reflect the need for this deviation.

6.0 Source List

A Source List may be generated from agreements that are not competed through a competitive 

process or may be a list of available Contractors who do not yet have a valid agreement. Dispatchers 

must ensure an agreement is in place prior to dispatching a resource. If no agreement exists, then a 

Contracting Officer will need to be involved in the ordering/agreement process. The Source List may 

be based on when the date of the agreement is signed, price or other determining factor determined 

by the agency, and not by a “best value” determination. Federal, state, and local agencies may use 

source lists for some equipment categories.

How to Use a Source List

Check with the appropriate agency for protocol on how to use Source Lists for contracted 

equipment. Agency protocol may vary on how to use a Source List and may be sorted by an 

agency specific ranking method.

Source List / EERA Fill with Agreement in IROC

Naming conventions and data entry standards shall apply when a resource item is entered into 

IROC when using the “Fill with Agreement” option. This information is located on the IROC 

website at: https://famit.nwcg.gov/node/2465. Click on “Documents Library” for the current standards 

for resources and vendors.

NOTE: Incident-only EERAs are incident specific and cannot be reassigned to another 

incident. 

7.0 Mobilization of Contracted Resources

Initial Attack
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The following guidelines are applicable for initial attack (IA) occurring on Federal Lands (USFS 

& BLM) or any lands under agreement and protected by these federal agencies, and for 

cooperating agencies using contracted resources under agreement with the USFS and BLM.

During IA, dispatchers may utilize the closest forces concept. Contracted resources may or 

may not be ordered depending on incident needs. Host Dispatch Centers may use 

neighborhood/border agreements for agency and agency (Federal, state, or local) cooperator 

resources, Dispatch Priority Lists (DPLs), Source Lists, and incident only EERAs to meet IA 

needs.

Any incident specific needs will be clearly outlined in special needs. Examples: requests for 

additional self-sufficiency past the first 24 hours, health and safety requirements, double 

shifted, will take sooner, etc.

If a DPL or a Source List is used for IA, the dispatcher may order the closest contracted 

resource to the incident to meet immediate needs. However, whenever possible based on the 

date and time needed, the established DPL ranking should be followed. Incident-only EERAs

should be requested only if all other contracted resources cannot meet the incident’s needs.

Dispatchers will document all actions and contacts in the appropriate system of record 

(CAD or IROC).

Additional information on procedures is located under the Dispatch Priority section of this 

guide, and under the Forest Service solicitation language found within the agreement in 

Section D.6.1, Dispatch Priority.

Transition from Initial Attack to Extended Attack

If the incident transitions from IA to extended attack, incident only EERAs for contracted 

resources utilized on the incident may or may not be replaced with contracted resources from 

the DPL based on the decision by the Incident Commander (IC) to meet specific incident 

objectives or operational needs. However, if additional contracted resources are requested by 

the IC, the DPL will be used. 

Extended Attack

The following guidelines are applicable for extended attack/large fire support incidents 

occurring on Federal Lands (USFS & BLM) or any lands under agreement and protected by 

these federal agencies, and for cooperating agencies using contracted resources under 

agreement with the USFS and BLM.

The Host Dispatch Center must exhaust all available resources on their DPL (in accordance 

with this guide) prior to placing requests for contracted resources outside of their dispatch 

center to neighboring dispatch centers or the GACC. Based on date/time needed, the Host 

Dispatch Center may need to follow GACC guidance or direction, if applicable, for deviating 

from utilizing VIPR resources.
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Any incident specific needs will be clearly outlined in special needs. Examples: requests for 

additional self-sufficiency past the first 24 hours, health and safety requirements, double 

shifted, will take sooner, etc.

Orders for contracted resources will be placed with the first available Contractor identified on 

the Host Dispatch Center’s DPL unless:

1) Contractor is unavailable

2) Contractor cannot be reached 

3) Contractor’s resource is not at location identified per agreement

4) Contractor is unable to meet the date and time needed

5) Contractor cannot provide requested resources

IROC has drop down selections to be utilized for reasons to bypass a resource.

If the contractor contacted cannot meet the above requirements, then the dispatcher may 

proceed with contacting the next available Contractor identified on the Host Dispatch Center’s 

DPL.

When receiving a call from their Host Dispatch Center, the Contractor shall confirm:

1) Contractor’s resource is at location identified per agreement 

2) Contractor can meet the date and time needed

3) Contractor can provide requested resources in accordance with the agreement

(including special needs)

If the agreed upon date and time is different than what the resource order states, the dispatch

center that created the request should edit the resource order to reflect the new date and time 

needed. NOTE: If any of the special needs or date and time needed change, review the call 

down and consider starting from the beginning to give all vendors equal opportunity to accept 

the assignment. 

The Contractor shall check in with the incident at the date and time agreed upon when 

dispatched with the appropriate resource ordered and identified on the resource order. 

Substitution (swapping) of resources on an I-BPA by the contractor is not allowed. 

Dispatchers will document all actions and contacts in the appropriate system of record 

(CAD or IROC).

Prior to departing for the incident, the Contractor shall provide to the Host Dispatch Center a 

manifest or the complete name of each person dispatched with the contracted resource, and 

the Estimated Time of Departure (ETD) and Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) from point of 

dispatch to incident reporting location.

Host Dispatch Centers may use a FAX or email to provide a hard copy of the resource order to 

the Contractor prior to their departure to the incident. The Contractor shall furnish a copy of 

the agreement, resource order and request information upon arrival and check in at the 

incident.
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8.0 Availability of I-BPA Resources

The Contractor is required to ensure their status in the IROC system is accurate at all times 

(available/unavailable). Contractors can do this most efficiently through the Vendor Status 

capabilities in IROC (https://famit.nwcg.gov/node/2886.) Acceptable forms of communication to the dispatch 

center are outlined in the agreement. If the Government becomes aware that a contractor is 

unavailable but has not updated IROC then the Host Dispatch Center, with concurrence of the 

vendor, has authority to change the Contractors status to unavailable with documentation in IROC in 

the documentation portion of the resource item. 

NOTE: If a dispatch center feels that vendor status is not representative of the vendor’s status and 

needs to be changed for accuracy and cannot get concurrence with the vendor, the dispatch center 

should communicate with the vendors contracting officer and develop a solution.

Contractors are considered unavailable if they have already accepted an assignment, if their 

equipment or operator are not able to accept assignments, and at the discretion of the Contractor. 

When contracted resources display an unavailable status, the resources will not be eligible for 

dispatch under these guidelines.

Note: Vendor Status capability is available only to contracted resources populated via the VIPR to 

IROC interface as an inventory resource item and if available through the Host Dispatch Center. 

Refer to Resource Items, Section 5 of this guide for a list of contracted resources identified as 

resource items.

Contracted resources cannot be held in reserve as a contingency force in a non-pay status 

when that resource is available.

9.0 Reassignment of I-BPA Resources

Reassigned from Incident to Incident

Based on resource availability and incident needs a contractor may be reassigned from one 

incident to another.

Released to Host Dispatch Center

Contractors shall not seek out reassignments once released from the incident to the 

Contractor’s Host Dispatch Center. Any new resource order must originate from the 

Contractor’s Host Dispatch Center identified in their agreement.

10.0 Demobilization of Contracted Resources
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The Incident Commander (IC) will determine the priority of demobilization. When demobilizing 

contracted equipment, Contractors with agreements awarded as a result of competitive solicitations, 

shall be given priority to remain on the incident over equipment with incident only EERAs, unless the 

IC determines it necessary to deviate based on a specific incident need or objective. 

Incident-only EERAs are for the duration of the incident only, and will terminate at the end of the 

incident.

11.0 Cancellation of Contracted Resources

If the resource order is cancelled after the resource order has been confirmed, filled, and the resource 

is in route to the incident, the resource is considered mobilized. Payment will be made in accordance 

with the agreement by the incident agency as found on the resource order.

12.0 IROC Ordering/Filling Procedures for Contracted Resources

When ordering and filling requests with contracted resources, consider incident needs, location of the 

incident, and the requested date/time needed. I-BPA resources, if allowed in the agreement, have 

requestable attributes. Examples: Tenders all-wheel drive, dozer with grapple, excavator selfleveling, etc. Determine the type of resource needed taking into consideration narrow, steep, 

mountainous roads. The incident/Ordering Manager is responsible for providing dispatch with the 

appropriate and sufficient incident resource needs. Dispatchers are not responsible to make tactical 

decisions for the incident. The VIPR IBPA Resource Typing and Attributes Table was created to 

assist ordering personnel and dispatchers in equipment typing and attribute information. This can be 

found on the NICC website under reference materials. For more detailed equipment information, 

refer to the I-BPA language in the agreement. Once this information is identified and order is placed 

in IROC, consult the appropriate DPL or Source List. 

When ordering and filling requests with contracted resources, follow the national guidelines outlined 

in the Interagency Standards for Resource Ordering Guide (ISROG), applicable mobilization guides, 

and the Interagency Resource Ordering System (IROC) Users Guide. 

NOTE: Typing information for resources have been identified in agency(s) solicitations. Although 

certain resource typing has been identified in IROC, some resources may not be identified by type as 

identified in the agency(s) solicitation/agreement. When applicable, type of resource should be 

specified in “special needs” of the request on the resource order form.

Additional Tools and Information

IBPA National Contracting Catalog Guide (not currently available)

VIPR IBPA Resource Typing and Attributes Table