Cooperative Agreements “Suppression”

What’s that Document? Cooperative Fire Protection Agreement Cooperative Agreement Fire Protection Agreement Master Cooperative Agreement Cooperators Agreement Master Sub-Geographic (multiple) Master National Southern Blue Northern Blue Reciprocal Fire Protection Master Agreement for Reciprocal Fire Protection Cost Share Agreement Offset Background Why I was Interested in volunteering for the task group Lets hold one another accountable and use the correct terminology. Interactive – Learn from one another. Not all assignments identified at the AAR in Bend have been finazlized. We can share what projects we have in the works. The need: Lack of consistency in choice of instrument Contract purchasing tool Cost share Partnership Acquisition type Fire-line agreement Interpretation of authorities Confusion amongst partners Delayed payments when agreements not in place. Supplemental Agreement Fire Protection Assistance Agreement Mutual Aid Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Annual Operating Plans Operating Plans

Objectives Recognize the differences between an agreement and procurement and when to apply each. Identify common types of agreements and authorities used by Wildland Fire Agencies. Identify national level agreements that allow for interagency participation in Fire Management activities.

Objectives - continued Define the use of Cooperative Agreements and their operating plans. Use of RFD template and a consistent template for operating plans Practice/Interactive Provide tools – Share what’s in the works

Interagency Cooperation Interagency coordination and cooperation are essential at the federal, state, tribal, and local levels. WHY? Ask group question – Why Looking for Intermingled ownership Resources Landscape Common training, communication and inter-operability Reduced budget

Interagency Coordination Intermingled ownerships Efficient use of resources Landscape level planning and treatments Common training, communication, and inter-operability Reduced budgets Justification for the Fire Directives (DOI). Fire Suppression is provided by BLM fire employees and through cooperative protection agreements and contracts with federal and state agencies to leverage resources and gain efficiency. Under these arrangements, protection responsibilities are exchanged and resources shared. It identified the planned contributions for interagency-shared resources in order to appropriately respond to wildland fire to meet land use plan objectives.

Interagency Cooperative Groups National: NWCG Geographic Area: PNWCG Local: Sub-geographic Area groups Provide first two pages of each agreement identified.

Cooperative Fire Agreement Flow Chart Requested of GIS – Vale (flip chart size) Will have handout of this page. For todays presentation, we will focus on the center and items to the right; suppression.

Cooperative Instruments Grants Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) Procurements Agreements Memorandums of Agreement (MOA)

MOU?? Procurement?? Agreement?? Grant??

MOU Informal Agreement that documents the who, what, how, and why of an interagency relationship Outlines procedures Does not allow for payments or “exchange” of anything of value

Procurement Acquire goods or services for the direct benefit of the federal agency. Purchase requisition or Contract

Agreement Many kinds of agreements and authorities. Mutual interest and benefit Agency substantially involved in implementation Transfer something of value to others for public benefit Intergovernmental Orders (IGOs)

Cooperative Agreements National Master Agreement signed by the 5 Federal Wildland Fire Agencies Master Cooperative Wildland Fire Management and Stafford Act Response Agreement ( PNWCG) Local Cooperative Fire Protection Agreements This could be Fire Cooperative Fire Protection Agreements RFD template

Authorities Federal Agency must have legal authority prior to entering any contract, grant, or agreement, which could result in the use, obligation or other commitment of any agency resources.

Fire Related Authority Reciprocal Fire Protection Act of May 22, 1955 (42 USC 1856a; PL 84-46) Authorizes any federal agency with fire protection responsibilities to enter into reciprocal agreements with any fire organization maintaining fire protection facilities adjacent to federal lands or facilities.

Master Agreements List authorities Defines how agencies will cooperate in broad terms Authorizes joint activities such as training, dispatching, etc.

Operating Plans Multiple levels PNW Geographic Area Local Area Provides specific details on how the agencies will cooperate. Reviewed annually and updated if necessary.

Supplemental Fire Suppression Agreement (Cost-Share) Master Agreement Exhibit F Required for multi-jurisdictional fires between federal and state agencies. Defines the process for sharing costs R6 and BLM Templates available http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/fire/incident-business/agreements.shtml You can only engage in a cost share agreement with parties that have signed a cooperative fire protection agreement. This identifies what resources are on incident. Who is responsible for what resources and the cost associated with them. http://www.nwcg.gov/teams/ibpwt/documents/cooprelations/master_coop_agreement_template.pdf (template available)

Local Cooperative Fire Protection Agreements Local fire protection entities, i.e. Fire Districts R6 and BLM Templates available http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/fire/incident-business/agreements.shtml State Entities have Mutual Aid Agreements in place. Minor changes to language – will be issued soon (FS). Presented to State FMO. Received his concurrence, need to have Grants personnel to look at. (BLM) Dispatchers need to annotate which agreement they are utilizing.

Tools Information Being Gathered from FMOs and Center Managers Information being gathered for posting on a website. How to be maintained has not been finalized.

What Instruments? Situation 1 To obtain goods and other services from non-signatory parties to the R6 Master Agreement during an incident for the exclusive use and benefit of the Federal Government use a procurement action

What Instruments? Situation 2 To establish incident cost-sharing responsibilities with a non-Federal entity that IS signatory to the R6 Master Agreement for a multi-jurisdictional fire Supplemental Fire Suppression

What Instruments? Situation 3 To obtain from or provide assistance to another Federal agency that IS signatory to the R6 Master Agreement (BLM, NPS, BIA, USFWS) in a fire emergency no additional agreement is required because "Federal agencies will not bill each other for fire suppression support

What Instruments? Situation 4 To establish a mutual aid relationship with, OR to obtain from and/or provide services to a non-Federal party that IS NOT signatory to the R6 Master Agreement (e.g., County, City, or Rural Fire District/Department, etc.) for: Personnel, Equipment OR a combination of the above, http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/fire/incident-business/cooperative-relations-and-agreements.shtml

What Instruments? Situation 5 To plan for and obtain emergency assistance from another NON-wildland management Federal agency (Federal agency NOT signatory to the R6 Master Agreement) Interagency Agreement format of the "Requesting Agency" (agency providing funds)

What Instruments? Situation 6 To develop, or to revise (annual update), an Operating Plan with another entity that IS signatory to the R6 Master Agreement (Federal or non- Federal) for suppression-related activity and NOT transferring any funds Operating Plan Outline Guide in the R6 Master Agreement

The Northwest Wildland Fire Protection Agreement (NW Compact Act) INDIAN SPRINGS 2001

History CIVIL WAR - STATES PROHIBITED FROM ENTERING INTO COMPACTS WITHOUT PERMISSION OF CONGRESS. Authority NOVEMBER 1998 CONGRESS GAVE PERMISSION BY PASSING PUBLIC LAW 105-377.

Membership Oregon Washington Alaska Idaho Montana Yukon Territory Northwest Territories Province of Saskatchewan Province of British Columbia Province of Alberta

Billing Procedure This entire subject is a hot topic. Under The Northwest Wildland Fire Protection Agreement (NW Compact Act) Neither the FS or the BLM are signatories to this agreement. Bills should be between the parties within the agreement. Billing for FEPP (Federal Excess Property) is not allowed. It has already been paid for.

Remember! Since consistent application of interagency policies and guidelines is essential, procedures in the IIBMH will be followed. We all have responsibility to ensure that any agreement initiated is in the best interest of the agency. For Federal include the local Grants and Agreements Coordinator in the development process for all agreements. At that time of dispatch, it would be helpful if Dispatch document under what agreement a resource is being ordered. Another words, is Pine Valley Rural Fire Department hired under and agreement with FS/DOI or are they being hired through ODF as a pass-through. Otherwise, they like Contractors could utilize the agreement that is most advantageous to the RFD.

QUESTIONS?

Objectives Recognize the differences between an agreement and procurement and when to apply each. Identify common types of agreements and authorities used by Wildland Fire Agencies. Identify national level agreements that allow for interagency participation in Fire Management activities.

Objectives - continued Define the use of Cooperative Agreements and their operating plans. Use of RFD template and a consistent template for operating plans Practice/Interactive Provide tools – Share what’s in the works