INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM BRIEFING PAPER
PACIFIC NORTHWEST INTERAGENCY CREW AGREEMENT
PURPOSE: The purpose of this Briefing Paper is to provide an abbreviated reference that highlights the requirements of the Pacific
Northwest (PNW) Interagency Crew Agreement for IMTs who order and receive these PNW resources on their incidents. The
complete 2004 Pacific Northwest Interagency Agreement is posted at the following web site:
www.odf.state.or.us/DIVISIONS/protection/fire_protection/ops/2004_IACA.asp.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
WHEN ORDERING OR RECEIVING PNW INTERAGENCY AGREEMENT RESOURCES ON YOUR INCIDENT, DETERMINE
THE NEED FOR AN INTERAGENCY CONTRACT REPRESENTATIVE (IACR) TO ASSIST IN ADMINISTRATION OF THE
AGREEMENTS.

IF YOUR INCIDENT HAS MULTIPLE PNW AGREEMENT RESOURCES IT IS RECOMMENDED YOU HAVE ONE
OR MORE PNW IACR’S.

AN IACR CAN BE ORDERED THROUGH ANY DISPATCH CENTER IN THE PNW GEOGRAPHIC AREA. USE
ESTABLISHED ORDERING PROCEDURES.
Subjects are listed alphabetically.
Accidents
-
Contractor’s insurance must cover all accidents of its employees. (3.6.1)
When contractor employees are injured on the incident, government will provide first aid. (5.6)
In life threatening injuries, first aid will be given and additional treatment will be charged to contractor. (5.6)
Government at contractor’s expense may evacuate crewmembers injured on fire line. (5.6)
If crewmember is in camp with illness or injury and requires transport for treatment, contractor is responsible for cost.
(5.6)
CRWB must have supply of insurance forms, insurance identification card, etc. These should accompany crewmember
for treatment. (3.6.5)
Accountable, Durable, and Consumable Goods
- Government may loan accountable and durable property to contractor. Contractor must maintain all loaned property in
good condition, and return it before leaving the incident. (3.4.1)
- Replacement or exchange of accountable or durable property (including fire resistant clothing) is prohibited. (3.4.1)
- Cost of consumable goods provided by government and used by the crew will be charged to the contractor and deducted
from payment (except plastic quart canteens, plastic sheeting will be provided at no cost to contractor). At government’s
discretion, replacement radio and headlamp batteries may be provided at no cost. (3.4.3)
Arrival at Incident
- The crew must arrive with a copy of the entire Agreement.
- Upon arrival, crew shall provide a copy of the Resource Order, Crew Manifest, Equipment Manifest, and Agreement
Award Summary sheet. (3.2.3, 4.17.1, 4.17.2 and 5.1.4)
- IMT may hire a crew that arrives with no less than 18 crewmembers. If contractor agrees to add additional
crewmembers to bring crew to standard crew strength or crew size agreed to in writing at time of dispatch, compliance
must be met within 24 hours. Travel time to the incident will not be paid for additional crewmembers. (5.2.1)
- Contractor must obtain written verification of IMT’s acceptance of any crew strength or composition that differs from
standard 20-person crew strength. (4.5.4)
Coordination
- Contractor and IMT shall each appoint a representative to deal with administration of the agreement, including
determining daily crew strength, names of crewmembers, and time on/off shift. (3.17)
1
Crew Vehicles
- Contractor must provide dependable ground transportation to and from the incident and the fire line. (4.10.1)
- Vehicles must meet all state and federal laws for vehicles operating in Oregon and Washington. (4.10.1)
- Contractor vehicles must have identification on outside of front driver and passenger side doors. Identification must
include contractor’s business name. (4.10.2)
- Contractor is responsible for maintaining vehicles in working order at all times. (4.10.3)
- Vehicle safety inspections may be conducted at the incident. (4.10.5)
- Vehicles that become inoperable will be towed at contractor’s expense. (4.10.4)
- Unsafe or inoperable vehicles may be grounds for rejection of crew, or contractor may be allowed up to 24 hours to
repair or replace the vehicle. (4.10.6)
- After it’s inspected and accepted, if vehicle cannot be repaired or replaced within 24 hours, crew may be released and the
government will pay return travel time to the point of hire. (4.10.7)
Drugs/Alcohol Free Workplace and Firearms Prohibition
- Manufacture, distribution, dispensing, possession, or use of controlled substances and alcohol is prohibited. (3.8.4)
- Possession of firearms or other dangerous weapons is prohibited at all times during performance under this agreement.
Dangerous weapon does not include pocketknife with blade less than 2½ inches in length or a multi-purpose tool. (3.8.3)
Equipment Requirements
- Tool requirements are identified in 4.18.1 of the Agreement. (4.18.1)
- Programmable radios (4.18.2)
 4 programmable radios with 1 programming cable are required
 Must be Bendix King or Kenwood or approved equal capable of communicating in 150 to 174 MHZ range.
 Frequency will be installed by agency at incident and will be removed prior to demob.
Harassment-Free/Violence-Free Workplace Policy (3.8.2)
- Behavior, actions, language that may be perceived by others as hostile, intimidating, violent, or abusive will not be
tolerated. Such conduct will be grounds for release from the incident.
- ODF, WADNR, and Forest Service policies are incorporated in the agreement by reference.
Laundry (4.20)
Length of Commitment
- Normally crew will be demobilized from the incident to the dispatch location after 14 days exclusive of travel. (5.12.1)
- IMT may retain a Crew after the 14th day with appropriate R&R. Crews will receive guarantee rate while on assigned
R&R.
 After 14th day, crew may be retained under hire and receive 24 hours of rest and recuperation, and extended for
up to an additional 5 days. After 5-day extension crew will then be demobilized to dispatch location. (5.12.2a)
 After 14th day, crew may be retained under hire and receive 48 hours of rest and recuperation, and extended for
up to an additional 14 days. After the 14-day extension crew will be demobilized to dispatch location.
(5.12.2b)
Non-Compliant Crews/Performance/Remedies
- Contractor is responsible for satisfactory performance and behavior of crew and crewmembers. (3.12.1)
- IMT may demobilize a crew from a shift or incident for documented violations of any terms and conditions of the Crew
Agreement. (3.12.1 and 3.12.2)
- Violations of agreement must be documented. Adequate documentation includes performance appraisals, investigation
reports, or other written communications. (3.12.1)
- Upon arrival at incident, if crew strength or composition differs from standard 20-person crew or crew size agreed upon
in writing at time of dispatch, IMT may reject the crew or allow contractor up to 24 hours to bring crew up to standard
strength or crew size agreed upon in writing at time of dispatch. (5.2)
- Crews that arrive at the incident in non-compliance with the agreement may be rejected by the IMT, and no travel time is
paid, or the IMT may allow contractor up to 24 hours to remedy deficiencies. (4.5.1 and 4.5.2)
 if contractor is unable to remedy non-compliance within time allowed, crew may be discharged and no travel
time will be paid, or (4.5.3a)
 IC may hire the crew, in which event point of hire and point of release will be the incident. (4.5.3b)
- Contractor is responsible for maintaining agreed upon crew strength until released. (4.5.4)
2
-
Government will not pay return travel time to point of hire for crews or contractor employees released from an incident
for documented violations of the Agreement which contractor fails to correct after notification and request to correct by
government. (4.5.5)
Personal Protective Equipment and Clothing
- Required personal protective equipment and clothing is identified in 4.19. (4.19)
- All contractor’s personnel must be wearing required personal protective clothing and boots upon arrival at the incident.
(4.19)
- Government may loan personal protective clothing to the contractor when laundry services are not available. However,
there will be no permanent replacement (or exchange) of personal protective clothing at the incident. (4.20.2)
Personnel Requirements
- Standard crew size is 20 persons. Each crew shall include: (4.1.1)
 1 Single Resource Crew Boss (CRWB).
 3 Advanced Firefighter/Squad Boss/ (FFT1).
 16 Firefighter Type 2 (FFT2).
- 40 percent of individuals on crew must have 1 or more seasons of experience. (4.1.2)
- All crewmembers must be at least 18 years old. (4.1.3)
- Identification of personnel
 Every crewmember must carry a current photo Incident Qualification Card (IQC) and a state or federal photo
identification card such as driver’s license, passport, state identification card, etc. See Clause 4.8 of Agreement
for identification card requirements. (4.8.1 and 4.8.3)
 Colored dots must be placed on IQC to identify seasons of experience (yellow—less than 1 season, red—over 1
season, blue—supervisory person). The blue and red dots count toward the 40% requirement. (4.8.2)
- Performance evaluation
 Performance will be evaluated at the incident and documented on Fire Crew Performance Rating, form ICS224. (5.9 and Exhibit T)
 Crew Performance Rating must include a rating for “hot line construction” for the assignment to be accepted as
valid to meet Position Qualification Requirements. Any operational period that included work involving active
flame shall be counted as “hot line construction”. (Exhibit J, IV.B. Step 5)
 1 copy will be given to the contractor, 1 copy will be retained in incident records, and 1 copy should be mailed
to Attn: Contracting Officer, Oregon Dept. of Forestry, Operations Bldg. D, 2600 State Street, Salem, OR
97310 to ensure prompt notification of performance. (Exhibit T)
 Failure of any crewmember to perform duties listed in Position Task Book shall be cause for immediate release
from an incident. (4.14.3)
- English Speaking Requirement (4.9 and Exhibit U)
 Crew Boss and all 3 Squad Bosses shall be able to fluently communicate verbally in English.
 The 3 Squad Bosses must also be able to communicate fluently in any language used by their squad members.
 Crew Boss and all 3 Squad Bosses must all be able to read and communicate the IAP, safety alerts, etc.
 IMT inspectors must follow the process and form provided in Exhibit U to document English Speaking
evaluations. (5.13)
 All radio communications on government frequencies shall be in English.
Rest and Recuperation
- Contractor shall provide adequate rest and recuperation time for crews. (4.13.3)
- Government must give crew adequate rest and recuperation to ensure safety. (5.10.1)
- IC can determine need for rest and recuperation. (5.10.2)
- On days off, when contract personnel are directed to use authorized facilities, government will provide food and lodging.
(5.10.3)
- On days off, when contract personnel are required to stay under hire, contractor will be compensated for 8 hours per
crew person (5.10.4).
Scope of Work
- Provide 20-person NWCG Type 2 firefighting crews for initial attack, suppression, mop-up, and severity assignments.
(1.4)
- Government may order crews of less than 20 persons. (1.6)
3
-
Contractor provides all services, supervision, equipment, supplies, transportation, and trained personnel to meet
specifications. (1.6 and 3.2.8)
Subsistence
- Lodging
 Contractor is responsible for providing lodging for its employees unless government directs contractor to a
designated facility. (5.5.1)
 If lodging is required during travel between the point of hire and the incident, the contractor must provide it
unless the government directs the crew to authorized facilities. (4.6.5)
- Food and Water
 Contractor is responsible for providing food and water from point of hire through first shift. (4.13.1 and 5.5.2)
 Government will furnish food and water after first shift if the personnel are not released or they are required to
stay in fire camp. (4.13.1 and 5.5.2)
 When contract personnel are allowed to return home during off shift time, government will not provide
subsistence, and contractor must provide food and water. (4.13.1 and 5.5.2)
 Government may provide lunches to crew during demobilization and/or reassignment. (4.13.2)
- No fire camp (5.5.3)
 Where no fire camp is available, government will furnish subsistence or provide additional payment of:
* $50 per calendar day per crew member if under hire for at least 8 hours, or
* $25 per calendar day per crewmember if under hire for less than 8 hours
* Contractor must request payment using Emergency Use Invoice provided by ODF
- During mobilization, reassignment, and associated travel, the government may, at its discretion, provide food to
contractor personnel at no charge. (5.5.4)
Timekeeping and Compensation
- Rates of Payment for Initial Attack, Suppression, Mop-up and Other Fire Support at Incidents
 Bid (work) rate is per person per hour, apply when crew is under hire and on shift except for Severity Activity.
(3.2.4)
 Meal periods within the normal work shift are compensable even if fire is controlled. Meal periods are
compensable for Severity Activity. (3.2.5)
- Shift Guarantee
 Minimum guaranteed payment for each calendar day crew is under hire, except for first day of dispatch and last
day of release, is not less than 8 hours pay. (3.2.10)
 For first day of dispatch and last day when released to point of hire, contractor will be paid for actual hours
worked including travel time. (3.2.11a)
 No guarantee applies if crew is not compliant with agreement or is unable to perform part or all of its assigned
shift/hours. In such event, actual on-shift hours will be paid. (3.2.11c)
 On reassignment, travel time between incidents will be borne by receiving incident. Last day invoice from
previous incident must be made available to receiving incident. (3.2.11b)
- Severity Rates of Payment will be 75 percent of the bid rate. (3.2.9)
 Shifts will normally be 10-hour days.
 Meal periods are compensable for severity.
 Duty days that exceed 10 hours will be paid at the bid rate.
- Travel Pay
 Compensable travel time via ground transportation shall be calculated by dividing distance from point of hire to
incident or return, or between incidents by average speed of 45 mph. Meal and rest periods are included in this
calculation. (3.2.6)
- Timekeeping
 CRWB must submit to the incident Finance Section a complete and accurate daily crew time report at the end of
each shift, signed by the CRWB and appropriate government supervisor. (3.3.1 and 3.3.4)
 CRWB and IMT shall reconcile crew strength, names of crewmembers assigned, and time on-shift on a daily
basis. (3.3.3)
 If a crewmember leaves due to sickness, injury, or termination, pay terminates when crewmember leaves the
fireline. (3.3.4)
- Attendance at Briefings (3.2.7)
4

-
CRWB shall attend all shift briefings when requested by IMT. CRWB’s attendance at briefings is considered
on-shift.
 Other crewmembers may attend shift briefings if coordinated through CRWB, but their time is not considered
on shift.
No additional payment will be made for costs associated with equipment, support, shift briefings (except for CRWB),
camp check out, or invoice reconciliation. (3.2.8)
The PUL or Finance Section Chief should handle claims that arise on an incident. (3.2.12)
Training Requirements
- All Contractor personnel under this agreement must meet or exceed the training and experience and physical fitness
requirements as identified in PMS 310-1 for the positions they are expected to perform when assigned.
-
Trainees on incident
 Contractor may use incident to qualify and certify no more than 1 FFT1 trainee and 1 CRWB trainee at the
same time as long as personnel not in trainee status meet the minimum FFT1 and CRWB position requirements.
(4.16.1 and 4.16.2)
 Trainees must be identified at initial check-in. (4.16.2)
 Trainee status must be clearly identified on crew manifest. (4.16.2 and 4.16.4)
 Trainee status must be clearly identified on the daily timekeeping record for each shift the employee is in
trainee status. (4.16.2)
 Contractor’s evaluator will request an incident personnel evaluation form (ICS-225) at initial check-in and IMT
shall provide it. (Exhibit J, IV.B. Step 1)
-
Position task book (PTB) administration
 Contractor is responsible for administering PTBs. (Exhibit J, IV.A.1)
 IMTs will not provide PTBs. Incident training specialist will not be involved with PTB administration for
contractors except to answer technical questions. (Exhibit J, IV.A.2)
 Incident personnel will not sign the certification portion of the PTB. (Exhibit J, IV.A.2)
 Contractor’s evaluator will complete a written performance rating for the trainee and provide a copy to the IMT.
IMT should place this in the incident records. (Exhibit J, IV.B. Step 4)
Travel To/From Incident and Between Incidents
- Expected arrival time at incident will be determined at time of dispatch. (5.3.1)
- Return travel time will be determined by IMT at time of release from incident. (5.3.1)
- Travel time via ground transportation will be calculated by dividing travel distance by average speed of 45 mph, plus
applicable rest time. (5.3.2)
- If crew fails to arrive at incident at time required they are considered to be non-compliant. The IMT may reject the crew
(no travel time will be paid) or may elect to hire the crew in which event the point of hire and the point of release will be
the incident. (4.5.1 and 4.5.3)
- Driver duty limitations when traveling to and from an incident when CDL is not required (vehicle designed for less than
16 passengers under 26,000 GVW) (4.6.1)
 No single driver shall exceed 10 hours driving time in a 16-hour duty day with 8 consecutive hours off between
shifts.
 Multiple drivers shall not exceed 16 hours driving time in a 16-hour duty day.
- Driver duty limitations for assignments requiring CDL (vehicles designed for 16 or more passengers or having a GVW
of 26,000 or more). All drivers shall comply with DOT regulations found in 49 CFR 383 and 390-397. (4.6.2)
-
Government reserves the right to provide transportation at government expense. (3.5.1)
Air Transportation (when crew is transported by air) (3.5.2 and Exhibit H)
 Government may choose to charter crews at government expense. (3.5.2)
 Crews transported by air will not bring hand tools. (Exhibit H, II.A)
 Crews transported by air will not bring chainsaws unless requested. (Exhibit H, II.A)
 When crew is transported by air, government will pay for emergency return of individual crew persons.
(Exhibit H, IV.B)
 Government will not pay return air transportation for individuals who have been terminated at the incident or
who choose to return for personal reasons other than for emergencies. However, government may elect to
5

transport individuals released for cause when it is in best interest of the government and may bill contractor for
costs. (Exhibit H, IV.C)
If crew is released, individuals released for cause may be included in return air transportation provided crew
does not exceed maximum allowed members and weight. (Exhibit H, IV.C)
Under-strength Crews (5.2) (See also Numbers 3, 4, 20 and 21)
- If under-strength crew is reassigned to another incident, government will pay travel time from incident to incident and
return to point of hire or dispatch location, whichever is closer. (5.2.3)
Work/Rest
- IMT shall appropriately manage work and rest periods, assignment duration and shift length periods for crews working at
Incidents under government control. (5.11.1)
- IC must approve, in advance, all shifts exceeding 16 hours including travel time. (5.11.2)
- IMT shall employ one or more fatigue mitigation techniques found in 5.11.2.
- During initial and extended attack.
 IC must document if work/rest guideline cannot be met and/or the operational period exceeds 16 hours within
the first 24 hours of initial and extended attack. The work/rest guideline and maximum operational period can
only be exceeded with prior approval of AA. (5.11.3)
 AA can approve only if essential to accomplish immediate and critical suppression objectives or address
immediate and critical firefighter and public safety issues. After the initial period, the crew must meet the 2:1
work rest guideline before returning to work. (5.11.3)
- Computing the 2:1 work to rest ratio (5.11.4)
6