The Forest Service is seeking additional sources and/or products for Long-Term Fire Retardants, and is publishing this notice in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) 9.204(a)(1) and the USDA Acquisition Regulations (AGAR) Advisory Number 60. The USFS has an on-going need for adequate types and quantities of Long-Term Fire Retardant chemical products to accomplish fire management activities safely, efficiently, and effectively (Forest Service Manual 5192.02). To accomplish this, the USFS has an established testing and approval procedure for testing proposed products to be used in direct wildland fire suppression by the USFS and its Federal cooperators. Products submitted under the established Qualification Requirement (QR) must meet or exceed Forest Service Specification 5100-304c. In addition to the evaluation of the product by the Forest Service, information relative to the specific products and their ingredients is required. This information request is done in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the necessary information collection, per OMB Number 0596-0184. The FS welcomes any interested manufacturers to participate in our process to add their product(s) to the Qualified Product List (QPL). Manufacturers (and their suppliers) of long-term fire retardant products which currently are on the (QPL) may be viewed at: http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/fire/ This notice also serves to notify potential vendors that Specification 5100-304b for long-term fire retardant has been changed. Starting June 1, 2007 the Forest Service will be testing and evaluating products using new standards in Specification 5100-304c. The primary changes from previous Specification 5100-304b are: 1) Added a list of ingredients that the Forest Service will not accept due to environmental and/or health and safety concerns. 2) Added a fish toxicity test and requirement. 3) Clarified the retarding salt concentrations which will not require a burn test and eliminated the use of sulfate-based salts. 4) Modified the corrosion requirements for application from fixed-tank helicopters. 5) Modified the performance requirement on non-metallic materials. Inquiries regarding this notice should be addressed to Les Holsapple, Program Leader, Missoula Technology and Development Center (MTDC) at (406) 829-6761, or Cecilia Johnson, Project Leader, MTDC, at (406) 329-4819. Additional information can be obtained by contacting Victoria Henderson, Branch Director, National Interagency Fire Center, Equipment and Chemicals, State and Private Forestry, Forest Service, USDA, 3833 S. Development Avenue, Boise, Idaho 83705. Questions may also be submitted via facsimile to (208) 387-5971 or by e-mail to:
[email protected]