Request for Information (RFI) - FEMA Hermit's Peak Fire Assistance Phase IV – Arbitration Support Contract

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

FEMA HERMIT'S PEAK FIRE ASSISTANCE PHASE IV ARBITRATION SUPPORT CONTRAC

8/7/2023 POSTING:

• Answers to Questions are posted
• Revised DRAFT PWS is posted.R

RFI Reponses are still due on August 10, 2023 at 3:00 PM EST.

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

FEMA HERMIT'S PEAK FIRE ASSISTANCE PHASE IV ARBITRATION SUPPORT CONTRACT

NAICS Code: 541110 (Office of Lawyers)

PSC Code: R418 (Support Professional: Legal)

THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR QUOTE : This announcement is a Sources Sought/ Request for Information (RFI) and is NOT a Request for Quotation (RFQ). This announcement does not commit the Government to award a contract now or in the future. There is no solicitation or funding currently available. Any attachments included with this Sources Sought are for informational purposes only and are subject to change. Additionally, the Government is not obligated to and will not pay for any information received from potential sources because of this Sources Sought/RFI announcement

BACKGROUND: The United States Congress introduced and passed into law H.R. 7721, known as the Hermit's Peak Fire Assistance Act. This Act aims to provide compensation to victims affected by the Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon Fire, which was caused by a prescribed burn on Federal land in April 2022. The main objectives of the Act are to compensate victims for injuries resulting from the fire and to ensure the prompt consideration and settlement of claims related to these injuries.

To administer the claims resulting from the fire, the Act mandates the establishment of the Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office (referred to as the "Claims Office"), which will be operated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The Claims Office's responsibilities include receiving, evaluating, processing, and disbursing actual compensatory damages to the victims of the Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon Fire. Upon careful review of each claim, the Claims Office will issue an official decision made by the Authorized Official, which will specify the amount of compensatory damages entitled to the claimant.

The Claims Office will also provide a copy of this determination to the claimant. If the claimant is not satisfied with the compensation offered, the claimant will have a period of 120 days from the date mentioned in the Authorized Official's decision to initiate an Administrative Appeal. In the event that the claimant remains dissatisfied with the outcome of the Administrative Appeal, they will have the option to submit the dispute to a binding arbitration process within 60 days from the date mentioned in the Administrative Appeal decision.

INTERESTED CONTRACTORS: Interested contractors shall submit their RFI responses electronically to the following Contracting Officers: Sharon Edwards, at sharon.Edwards3@fema.dhs.gov and Erich Ducote at erich.ducote@fema.dhs.gov.

• Questions regarding this RFI are due no later than 3:00PM Eastern Standard Time (EST), August 2, 2023.
• Responses are due no later than 3:00PM Eastern Standard Time (EST), August 10, 2023.

Attachments:

• RFI Questions
• DRAFT SOW