National Third-Party Wildfire Contractor Qualification Verification Services

National Third-Party Wildfire Contractor Qualification Verification Services THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE/REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY. THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service (FS) is conducting market research on independent, nationwide verification of wildfire personnel qualifications. The contemplated service includes personnel qualifications; training course records; and applicable documentation for ground-based response assets, incident support services, and logistical support. Aircraft assets are excluded. This notice is issued solely for information and acquisition planning purposes. It does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP), Request for Quotation (RFQ), Invitation for Bid (IFB), or promise to issue a future solicitation. Responses will not be considered offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Participation is voluntary. The Government will not reimburse respondents for costs associated with preparing or submitting information in response to this notice. 1. BACKGROUND The Forest Service seeks to establish a pilot considering third-party administrator(s) to verify personnel qualifications, excluding all aviation assets. This RFI supports planning and does not establish a particular implementation model. The Forest Service administers national and regional contracting programs that provide contracted resources in support of wildland fire suppression and other emergency incident operations. Contracted resources may be required to demonstrate that personnel assigned to incidents possess qualifications, training, experience, certifications, licenses, medical credentials, or other documentation established by applicable agreements, solicitations, policy, or Government-approved qualification standards. Qualification documentation may currently be reviewed through multiple Government offices, programs, or other approved processes. The Forest Service is exploring whether independent verification of contractor personnel qualifications could improve consistency, timeliness, authenticity of supporting records, and auditability while reducing duplicate submissions and Government workload. The Government is specifically interested in understanding whether industry has the capability to perform this function at national scale while preserving appropriate Government oversight and decision-making authority. This effort may result in a one-year pilot program for the Government. 2. PURPOSE OF THIS MARKET RESEARCH The Forest Service seeks information on independent review against Government-established requirements, documented verification results, and referrals for Government action. The contemplated service would verify contractor personnel qualification documentation against Government-established requirements, including the authenticity and applicability of supporting training records. The service would not include delivering training, approving training providers or instructors, auditing course delivery as a separate service, or inspecting equipment. The Government has not determined that this function will be outsourced. Responses may inform the feasibility of this service, division of responsibilities, acquisition strategy, commercial practices, pricing, small business participation, information protection, quality assurance, and transition planning. The Government has not selected a records system or determined whether a future procurement is appropriate. 3. CONCEPTUAL REQUIREMENT For purposes of this RFI, assume a nationwide service to verify wildfire contractor personnel qualification documentation against Government-established requirements. Supporting documentation may include training and experience records, position task books, certifications, licenses, and other evidence required for the applicable position. The service would not include providing training, separately approving training providers or instructors, or assessing contractor or equipment readiness. Respondents should identify their capabilities, coverage, and limitations. The service would use Government-designated, approved methods for receiving records and reporting verification results. This RFI does not request development, acquisition, hosting, or operation of a new information system or commercial platform. Identify technology dependencies separately. Potential services could include the following: A. Qualification Documentation Review Review documentation submitted by contractors against qualification requirements established by the Government. Documentation could include training and experience records, position qualification records, task books, certifications, licenses, equipment operator qualifications, and other evidence required by the applicable contract or agreement. Where required, review would be limited to necessary evidence of medical clearance, fitness, identity, or personnel affiliation using Government-approved procedures. Respondents should identify ways to confirm required status without collecting underlying medical records, unnecessary identity documents, or other sensitive information. B. Verification Status Provide a documented result for each review using Government-approved terminology, such as Documentation Verified, Additional Documentation Required, Unable to Verify, Expired, or Government Review Required. Record any applicable expiration date. A verification result addresses the documentation reviewed and does not itself establish employment, current availability, dispatch eligibility, or Government approval of an individual. Respondents may recommend clearer terminology and review procedures. C. Deficiency Identification Identify missing, duplicate, incomplete, expired, inconsistent, or otherwise deficient documentation. Describe methods for checking authenticity with issuing sources, where authorized, and referring suspected alteration, misrepresentation, or fraud to designated Government officials. The verifier would document concerns without making final findings of misconduct. The verifier would identify whether submitted documentation satisfies established criteria but would not independently waive Government requirements. D. Review Records Maintain an auditable review record using Government-designated methods. Identify the person, provider, instructor, contractor, or resource reviewed; source documents; applicable standard and version; reviewer; review date; result; expiration dates; deficiencies; corrections; and later changes. Distinguish the review record from source documents that need not be retained. Record source confirmation and explain any limitations on what was verified. E. Contractor Coordination Describe receipt of submissions, correction requests, result delivery, and reuse of prior verified records through Government-designated channels. Address personnel moving between employers, permission to access individual records, separate confirmation of current affiliation, and controls against duplicate or incompatible simultaneous roster claims. A prior qualification review does not establish present employment, exclusive affiliation, availability, or dispatch eligibility. Do not assume a new portal or account structure is required. F. Government Reporting Provide standardized review results, deficiency summaries, workload reports, and audit support through Government-designated methods. Recommend the minimum report fields and reporting frequency needed for oversight. Access to or entry into existing Government systems would depend on Government authorization and approved procedures. New dashboards, automated interfaces, and system integrations are outside the contemplated service scope. G. National Scalability The service would support geographically dispersed contractors and seasonal fluctuations in review volume. Respondents should address their ability to scale qualified reviewers and review capacity during peak periods ...