NWCG#021-2008 

 IFPM Decision Paper #4 Page 1 of 5 

 MEMORANDUM

Reference: NWCG#021-2008 

To: Fire Management Officers and Human Resource Management Officers 

From: NWCG Chair 

Date: September 29, 2008 

Subject: Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) – Decision Paper #4 

The attached decision paper is the result of a programmatic review of the Interagency Fire 

Program Management Standard (IFPM). The review focused on whether all 14 key 

positions should be maintained and, if so, whether the NWCG incident management 

qualifications are still appropriate. Several changes to the IFPM Standard were made. 

We appreciate the efforts of both management and IFPM employees during the 

implementation period, which ends October 1, 2010. Following October 1, 2010, all IFPM 

positions will be advertised using the minimum qualification standards as selective 

placement factors. 

This decision paper can also be found on the IFPM website: http://www.ifpm.nifc.gov/. 

If you have any questions regarding this decision, please contact your agency IFPM 

representative. 

Attachment 

cc: NWCG Executive Board 

NATIONAL WILDFIRE 

COORDINATING GROUP

National Interagency Fire Center 

3833 S. Development Avenue 

Boise, Idaho 83705 
NWCG#021-2008 

 IFPM Decision Paper #4 Page 2 of 5 

Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) 

http://ifpm.nifc.gov

Decision Paper #4 

Subject: Modification of Interagency Fire Program Management Minimum Qualification 

Standards – Mid Course Review 

Effective Date: This decision is effective September 29, 2008. 

Background: The National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) has completed a mid 

course analysis of all IFPM positions. The analysis focused on whether all 14 key positions 

should be maintained and if so, whether the NWCG incident management qualifications are 

still appropriate. The results of this analysis are identified below. 

Decisions: 

1. Deadline Extension: In an August 15, 2008 memo from the Associate Deputy 

Secretary of the Interior, the deadline to meet IFPM requirements was extended to 

October 1, 2010, providing incumbents an additional year to meet both “position 

specific IFPM Standards” (NWCG qualifications and additional required training) as 

well as positive education requirements for GS-0401 positions. A similar extension 

letter will be forthcoming for Forest Service employees.

2. Removal of the Prevention and Mitigation Specialist position: The job duties 

associated with this position do not support it’s retention as an IFPM position. 

3. Delegation of National and Geographic Area Fire Program Manager IFPM 

role: National Fire Program Managers (NFPM) and Geographic Area Fire Program 

Manager (GFPM) positions will be filled with qualified individuals from senior 

leadership positions at the respective National and Geographic levels. Due to 

organizational complexities, there may be instances in national and geographic 

organizations where the senior fire program manager delegates the IFPM 

requirements to a senior officer. The primary intent of this delegation is to place the 

appropriate individual who meets IFPM minimum qualification standards in the 

position of authority to support safe operations in the field. 

NATIONAL WILDFIRE 

COORDINATING GROUP 

National Interagency Fire Center 

3833 S. Development Avenue 

Boise, Idaho 83705 
NWCG#021-2008 

 IFPM Decision Paper #4 Page 3 of 5 

4. Adjustments to NWCG qualification and Additional Training requirements: 

Based on the position analysis conducted by the IFPM Implementation Team, 

NWCG has made adjustments to NWCG incident management qualifications and 

Additional Required Training standards. These adjustments are identified in the 

table below (Page 4). 

The position qualification and training requirements that were adjusted were 

moderated with the exception of Supervisory Fire Engine Operator where the ENOP 

requirement was adjusted to ENGB to reflect NWCG adopted positions. Changes 

were made to the following positions: 

1. National Fire Program Manager 

2. Geographic Area Fire Program Manager 

3. Unit Fire Program Manager 

4. Wildland Fire Operations Specialist 

5. Prescribed Fire and Fuels Specialist 

6. Supervisory Fire Engine Operator 

7. Senior Firefighter 

Primary Core Requirements, Secondary Core Requirements, and Additional 

Required Training are all mandatory and will be used as selective placement factors 

in vacancy announcements beginning October 1, 2010. Prior to October 1, 2010 (the 

“implementation period”) vacancy announcement language will reference the 

requirement that these qualifications be obtained prior to October 1, 2010. 

All listed Primary and Secondary Core Requirements are “minimum” requirements 

and it is the intent that all qualifications requirements within the IFPM program must 

meet these requirements “or higher”. An individual who holds a higher qualification 

in the same functional area but does not hold the core qualification will still meet the 

requirement (i.e.: an individual who is qualified as a DIVS will meet the Core 

Requirement for any position requiring TFLD). 

Both Primary and Secondary Core Requirements are weighted equally from a 

selective placement factor standpoint. The distinction between Primary and 

Secondary Core Requirements is based on a position competency ranking conducted 

during the analysis process. The analysis determined that Operations qualifications 

would serve as the fundamental building block for each position, with the exception 

being the High and Moderate Complexity Prescribed Fire and Fuels Specialist 

positions. 

Where an “OR” option is indicated within the Secondary Core Requirements 

Category, any NWCG position listed can be chosen to meet the qualification 

standard. For example, the Secondary Core Requirement for the position of 

Geographic Area Fire Program Manager can be achieved if the employee has been 

qualified in one of three position options: Incident Commander, Type 3 (ICT3) or, 

Type 2 Command and General Staff (see C&GS list in section 4 below) or, 

Prescribed Fire Burn Boss, Type 2 (RXB2). 

As indicated in the example above, currency is not required for NWCG position 
NWCG#021-2008 

 IFPM Decision Paper #4 Page 4 of 5 

qualifications for some IFPM positions. All other positions require the employee to 

be current and qualified as validated by the Incident Qualification and Certification 

System (IQCS). This currency distinction is based on whether the position’s primary 

focus is on managing a program or a capability to respond in those positions 

identified. 

5. Command and General Staff Positions: One of the qualification pathways for the 

Secondary Core Requirement for National and Geographic Area Fire Program 

Managers is a Command and General Staff qualification. Previous versions of this 

list included positions such as Agency Representative, Liaison Officer, and 

Interagency Area Resource Representative. Although these positions have been 

listed in the PMS 310-1 within the Command and General Staff flowchart, they 

should not have appeared in the IFPM qualifying list and do not meet the original 

program intent of a Command and General Staff Position. The following list is those 

Command and General Staff positions which fulfill this option: 

ICT1/2 Incident Commander Type 1 or Type 2 

PIO1/2 Public Information Officer Type 1 or Type 2 

SOF1/2 Safety Officer Type 1 or Type 2 

OSC1/2 Operations Section Chief Type 1 or Type 2 

PSC1/2 Planning Section Chief Type 1 or Type 2 

LSC1/2 Logistics Section Chief Type 1 or Type 2 

FSC1/2 Finance/Administration Section Chief Type 1 or Type 2 

6. Scope: The revisions as outlined in this decision paper apply to all employees in 

IFPM positions. These changes will soon be incorporated into the appropriate 

documents and Frequently Asked Questions on the IFPM web site. 
NWCG#021-2008 

IFPM – Decision Paper #4 Page 5 of 5 

Selective Placement Factors for IFPM Positions 

Position Mnemonic Position Name Position Complexity 

Selective Placement Factors 

Primary Core Requirement(s) 

Secondary Core Requirement Required Train

NFPM National Fire Program Manager TFLD ICT3 or T2 C&G or RXB2 M-581 or FML GFPM Geographic Area Fire Program Manager TFLD ICT3 or T2 C&G or RXB2 M-581 or FML UFPM Unit Fire Program Manager 

High DIVS ICT3 or RXB2 M-581 

Moderate TFLD ICT3 or RXB2 M-581 Low ENGB or CRWB ICT4 or RXB2 

WFOS Wildland Fire Operations Specialist 

High DIVS ICT3 or RXB2 

Moderate TFLD ICT3 or RXB2 Low ENGB or CRWB ICT4 

PFFS Prescribed Fire and Fuels Specialist 

High RXB2 ICT3 or TFLD 

Moderate RXB2 ENGB or CRWB Low ENGB or CRWB or FIRB ICT4 

SEOP Supervisory Fire Engine Operator Supervising 3 Or Fewer Crewmembers ENGB ICT5 S-211 EMLS Engine Module Supervisor Supervising 4 Or More Crewmembers ENGB ICT4 IHCS Interagency Hotshot Crew Superintendent TFLD and ICT4 and FIRB HEMG Helicopter Manager HEB2 ICT4 SFF Senior Firefighter FFT1 S-290 CMGR Center Manager 

High 

EDSD 90 days of wildland firefighting experience S-491 

Moderate 

ACMG Initial Attack Lead Dispatcher/Assistant Center Manager EDSD 90 days of wildland firefighting experience IADP Initial Attack Dispatcher EDRC 90 days of wildland firefighting experience