Are VIPR Agreements a True Best Value Agreement?

NWSA pushed several years ago for standardized requirements in the equipment agreements so that it would be easier to move from state to state and be in compliance.  Unfortunately what we got was the National Template with standardized requirements but without the language to make it a True Best Value Agreement as the 2005 OIG report suggested.

The question is what is Best Value?  Currently that interpretation in the VIPR agreements is based on:

• How new is your equipment?
• Do you meet the basic minimum requirements?
• How cheap is your price?
• How close are you to the fire?

While all of those are good requirements they do NOT look at the things that represent a True Best Value agreement for both the agency and the tax payer.  Nor do they promote performance by the contractor.  What is a True Best Value??  Probably the best example for fire contractors we currently have for the True Best Value Agreement is the Region 6 Inter agency Crew Agreement administered by the Oregon Department of Forestry.  They also do a needs assessment and award based on the number of crew needs anticipated.   It takes into consideration the following:

• It looks at Past Performance by the contractor.
• It looks at the company history.
• It looks at the crew capability and training.
• It looks at the company safety program as well as its' training program.
• It look at the its equipment?
• It also takes into consideration their price and proximity to the fire.

It give points for each thing that is evaluated and awards are made based on that criteria for dispatch order.  While in the VIPR agreements you could theoretically have a brand new company with no history, no performance evals but a brand new engine, and low price, closest resource to a give fire and they may be #1 on the priority dispatch list.   No only does it promote poor performance but also does not provide the agency personnel on the fire line with the types of resources that will give them the best value for their dollar.  That is not to say that there are not lots of high performing contractors on the list but it does not reward them for being good performers with a higher dispatch priority.  Virtually anyone that meets minimum requirement is awarded an agreement and placed on the Dispatch Priority Lists ( DPL's).

Therefore,  is it not in the best interest of the taxpayer that the agencies utilize a True Best Value criteria based on performance as well as price among other things?   We continue to push for True Best Value Criteria to be put into these agreements for award and Dispatch Priority List.