Contracting with Local Vendors As authorized by PL 106-291, contracting officers in the wildland fire agencies will obtain the maximum competition practicable using local contractors. To facilitate this, the United States has been divided into 11 areas and numerous sub-areas. Local competition will be sought within those areas and sub-areas. A website has been set up to assist contracting and fuels management personnel. The USDA Forest Service employs well-established community assistance grants and agreements authorities and processes to assist communities, States, and local governments plan and implement a spectrum of wildland fire related programs.
Programs utilize community based groups to develop community based actions.
The Department of the Interior wildland fire agencies have developed model assistance agreements to help communities improve their capability to accomplish fuels reduction projects and conduct planning, mitigation, and homeowner education. They have pilot authority to assist rural fire districts to enhance their fire protection capability, increase firefighter safety, enhance protection in the wildland urban interface, and increase coordination among local, state, tribal, and federal firefighting resources. Assistance includes training, equipment purchase, and prevention activities on a cost-share basis. The USDA Forest Service will be conducting similar activities under existing authorities.