Pacific Northwest Wildfire Coordinating Group
Operations Working Team (OWT)
March 15, 2012
Operations Working Team: Dave Lentz (BLM), Dave Quinn (NWCC), Brian Gales (USFWS), Bobby Scopa (USFS),
Randy Johnson (WA Fire Service), Doug Grafe (ODF),
Via conference call: Robert Madden (OR Fire Service), Larry Nickey (NPS), Albert Kassel (WADNR),
Absent: John Ketchum (OR Fire Marshall’s), John Szulc (BIA), Carla Schamber (USFS, Facilitator)
Guests via conference call: Ron Knolls (Alaska), Robert Schmoll (Alaska Ops Committee Chair 907-356-9850), Larry
Waddle (NPS Ops Committee), Peter Paterie (Alaska Ops)
Agenda Items
Old Business:
Alaska sister team support proposal – Draft letter completed and will be sent to PNWCG Steering.
Several members of the Alaska Ops Committee were present via conference call. Dave Lentz explained the task order.
Alaska teams are fully integrated, with all agencies represented, along with AD’s filling holes. One Type 1 and two
Type 2 teams (Black and Green Teams). Alaska is short on IC’s, with one Type 1 IC also filling in for IC on Type 2
team. Have about 10 positions that are filled out of pool. Getting harder to get two full type 2 teams. IC’s are
comfortable with pool type of approach for additional positions. Teams have been filling the C&G and a few positions
and then the remainder are in a pool situation. There is some difficulty at times getting response to the Google Docs
requests to fill holes in teams from the pool. Type 2 teams are on 10 day rotations. During Alaska fire season, the Type
1 team stands down from national rotation to be available for Alaska fires. Basically
PNWCG Ops has no management responsibilities over the type 2 teams but is willing to serve as a facilitator to see if the
Oregon and Washington GEO boards will be willing to assist Alaska.
Discussion was held how to request from Oregon and Washington needed positions for Alaska teams
Action Item- For 2012 Alaska will need to send a list of needs and the team rotation to NWCC. NWCC will take the
ownership of insuring that any missing needs would be attempted to be filled by NWCC, Oregon and Washington
dispatch offices to see what can be filled. For 2013 and beyond, it is suggested to use ICAP for the Type 1 and 2 team
to try to fill some holes and utilize PNW personnel who may be available for Alaska’s fire season as the PNW may
have some personnel available for Alaska’s earlier fire season, but not available to serve on PNW teams due to fire
activity on their home unit or normal work duties during the summer. For any further holes, Alaska would contact
NWCC to fill remaining holes, in cooperation with Oregon and Washington dispatch offices. Try to get Alaska,
Oregon and Washington teams all on same announcement cycle. Bobbie will try to attend the Alaska team meeting in
April. Alaska Ops and PNW ops will get back together on April 19 at 0900 PS via conference call during PNW OWT
meeting. Randy will draft a response for steering explaining what was agreed upon.
Incident within the Incident – Currently 9 teams have responded to the OWT survey on who is using the PNW
Incident within and Incident plan and need for updating.
Action Item –Larry will send out reminder letter to IC’s to try to get remainder of IC’s to respond.
Successional Plan – for both T1 & T2 teams – Task order from Steering –
Action Item – Spreadsheet was sent out and waiting on IC’s responses after their team meetings.
OWT team reviewed 2012 program of work – comments follow
Presentation for PNWCG Steering - PNWCG Annual workshop - John Szulc gave presentation, to save Larry travel
money due to budget issues at his park.
S520/620 – completed. Letter sent out and Mentor teams assigned. Need to recruit mentees for the next group of
520/620. For May meeting will need to have names for 520/620 mentees.
Incident within Incident follow up – survey still open. Will have results at April Meeting.
T1/T2 Team Successional Planning task order 1111-12
Successional Planning spreadsheet Type 1 Team IC – went over potential candidates and discussed how to fill in behind current IC’s as they retire or
move on. Will put out an announcement in 2013.
IMT Type 1 team member tenure task order 1104-01- memo was sent out. Will need to insure the next application
announcement spells out that type 1 teams will be on one year
Alaska Share Task Order 1009-04 – see above action item. Need to finalize at next OWT meeting.
Re-advertise for the national teams – in the fall
OWT member to mobilize with Type 1 team
Review Best Value Determination for Crew Contract
New Business for April meeting
Get 3 focus areas and let PNWCG steering know what they are
Finalize the three Steering Task Orders
Review Best Value Proposal and Evaluation from Don Moritz. Review and Decision needed back to Moritz.
Discuss ICAP process, timing and collaboration with Type 2 team GEOC boards. Invite GEO board chair.
ICAPS – changes, updates (separate Type 1 from Oregon)
Best Value Points System on crew the contract – on second and last extension of contract. 2012 solicitation will be
awarded so that there is overlap so that current contract will be in place while solicitation is out. Number of
crews may look at a sliding scale to adjust numbers during projected slow season and increasing on projected
busy season but around 150 crews. Sustainability – with slow fire season, some crews are not able to remain
viable. All hazard – looking at putting in an all hazard clause for WA and OR. Looking at dispatch
methodology: a couple of issues came up this year so will be looking at cleaning up those issues. Currently 200
points are in Best Value 65 points technical (vehicles count 15 pints), 65 past performance, 60 points pricing, 5
points safety and 5 for training: Recommendations - Put vehicles and license under support. Pull ten points out
of past performances. Prequalification’s – want to send two evaluators one Fed and one State to evaluate
locations. Require vehicle dispatch locations and then assign best value points if vehicles are kept at their
dispatch location, as sometimes vehicles are over two hours away from dispatch location. Recommend to
reallocate best value point system to 50 past performance, 80 technical, 60 price, 0 vehicles (since those are
already licensed), 5 safety and 5 training. Contract group will be meeting at end of Feb. to work further on
process.
Action item: Don to send a copy of the proposed rating criteria to Doug and Doug will pass on to the OWT.
Comments can be looked at and finalized during March 15 OWT meeting.
Round Robin updates
Program of work for 2012
Presentation for PNWCG Steering - PNWCG Annual workshop - Completed.
S520/620 – completed. Mentees assigned. No new 520/620 class in 2012.
Incident within Incident follow up
Successional Planning spreadsheet
T1/T2 Team Successional Planning task order 1111-12
IMT Type 1 team member tenure task order 1104-01
Alaska Share Task Order 1009-04
Re-advertise for the national teams – in the fall
OWT member to mobilize with Type 1 team
Review Best Value Determination for Crew Contract
Agenda items for next meeting:
Alaska Team conference call.
ICAP process and announcement dates
Upcoming meetings of interest:
OWT Liaisons to other PNWCG working teams
Training WT – John Szulc
Contract WT – Albert Kassel
Aviation WT – Larry Nickey
Health and Safety WT – Brian Gales
OWT Schedule of remaining 2012 (0900-1530 approximate times) at Gifford Pinchot NF Supervisors Office
unless otherwise noted:
February 16
March 15
April 19 (Federal Building, USFWS Lloyd Center conference room 3)
May 17
June 21
July – NO MEETING - attempt to have OWT rep go out with Type 1 team if on assignment
August - NO MEETING – attempt to have OWT rep go out with Type 1 team if on assignment
September - 20
October - 18
November - 16
December – TBA if needed
OPERATIONS WORKING TEAM MEMBER ADDRESSES
2012 Operations Working Team (OWT) member contact numbers and email addresses (Names listed in
order of which agency is next chairperson).
John Szulc – BIA representative (Chairperson)
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Northwest Regional Office
Dave Lentz – BLM representative (Vice-Chairperson)
USDI-Bureau of Land Management, OR/WA State Office
Fire and Aviation Management
Robert Madden - OR Fire Service representative
Bend Fire Department
Albert Kassel – DNR representative
Department of Natural Resources, Resource Protection Division
Brian Gales – USFWS representative
US Fish and Wildlife
Doug Grafe – ODF representative
Oregon Department of Forestry
Bobbie R. Scopa – USFS representative
USDA-Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region
Fire and Aviation Management
Randy Johnson – WA Fire Service representative
Spokane County Fire District 4
Larry Nickey – NPS representative
Olympic National Park
John Ketchum – Ad Hoc member
Oregon State Fire Marshall’s Office
Vacant - Vice Ken Snell – PNWCG Steering Liaison
USDA-Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region
Carla Schamber – facilitator
Siuslaw National Forest
Dave Quinn – Dispatch Rep.
NW Coordination Center