Structure Protection Crew and Structure Protection Unit Services

The Ministry of Forests (the “Ministry”) invites Respondents to submit Responses to provide Structure Protection Crews and Structure Protection Units (“Services”) to BC Wildfire Services (“BCWS”), a branch within the Ministry, on an as if and when requested basis.

The Services relate to wildfire response activities pertaining to the protection of homes, businesses, farms and other structures from fire, including the provision of Structure Protection Units (“SPU”) and Structure Protection Crews (“SPC”) as further described in sections 3 of the NRSA and Appendix A, Schedules A1 – A4. The Services may be performed either independently or in conjunction with Ministry personnel or other contractors as further outlined in section 3.3 Scope: below.

The Services may include the provision of SPC, SPU, or a combination of both SPC and SPU (“Combined”). SPC include an organized group comprised of four (4) crew members and one (1) Structure Protection Crew Leader (for a total of 5 personnel) and includes all appurtenant equipment and supplies as required in accordance with section 3.3.1 to 3.3.4 and Appendix A, Schedules A1 and A3 of Appendix A. SPU services includes a Type II rated utility trailer that can transport the inventory set out in section 3.3.5 to 3.3.9 and Appendix A, Schedule A2 and A4 throughout the province of British Columbia.

The Province has established Fire Centres as set out in Appendix C – Fire Centre Map and will create in each Fire Centre three (3) lists for the following Services: i) SPC; ii) SPU; and iii) Combined (i.e., a combination of both SPC and SPC).  The Combined List will be comprised of Contractors who have met the administrative requirements and have passed all the qualification criteria applicable to both SPC and SPU and passed the minimum score for the rated criteria. For greater certainty, Respondents are not required to propose both SPC and SPU, although they may if they wish.

The Services will be provided on an as, if and when requested basis and no representations, commitments or guarantees are made with respect to the timing, number or value of Service Requests that may be requested from a Contractor over the term of the Standing Arrangement. A Standing Arrangement established pursuant to this NRSA does not confer an exclusive right to provide the Services to the Province. The Province reserves the right to procure the Services by any other means, including use of other agreements, or by other procurement or contracting methods.
The process by which Contractors will receive a Service Request (the “Call Off Process”) has been revised from previous years and is as described in section 4.1 of the NRSA.