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Cost Apportionment Tech Specialist

Position Description

Duties

  • The Finance Section Chief supervises the Cost Apportionment Technical Specialist (CATS). The CATS is familiar and experienced with agency policies, accounting practices, cooperative fire protection agreements, cost share methodologies and procedures. When more than one CATS is assigned, the CATS are responsible to jointly develop cost share options and recommendations for consideration by the incident management.
  • Gathers pertinent information for briefings with responsible agencies.
  • Acts as advisor to the Incident Commander(s)/Agency Representative(s) during the development of cost shares and cost share agreements to insure conformity with Cooperative Fire Protection Agreements and agency(s) accounting practices.
  • Applies cost apportionment methodology to the utilization of resources as determined by the Incident Commander IC/AR.
  • Oversees and insures accuracy of development of daily cost share worksheets
  • Facilitates meetings with involved agencies for signatures of daily worksheets
  • Insures appropriate supporting documents are retained with daily worksheets to insure accuracy and accountability (i.e., maps, IAP, IA records, special instructions, etc.).
  • Develops Cost Share Agreement in accordance with Cooperative Fire Protection Agreements. Cost share agreements will convey each agency’s obligation with consideration to each agency’s accounting limitations.
  • Obtains local administrative guidelines, WFSA.
  • Completes all records prior to demobilization and briefs incident agency for billing purposes.

Position Knowledge and/or Requirements

  • Completion of the FS-R5, Cost Apportionment Training
  • Ability to work with variety of personnel in highly stressful and political situations
  • Recommend “ISUITE” and “ICARS” knowledge

NWCG Latest Announcements

NWCG Equipment Technology Committee Releases Safety Warning: 25-001 Non-specification fire shelters

Date: January 15, 2025
Contact: Equipment Technology Committee

The Equipment Technology Committee (ETC) has released Safety Warning: 25-001 Non-specification fire shelters. Non-specification fire shelters claiming to meet Forest Service (FS) fire shelter specification 5100-606 were first found in February of 2023. As of September 2024, non-specification shelters are again being advertised and sold on the open market.

This Safety Warning outlines details and recommended procedures to purchase FS specification shelters made with materials and components that meet performance criteria and toxicity testing requirements outlined in FS Specification 5100-606. 

For additional information on identifying non-specification shelters, please view ETC Safety Warning 23-01.

References:

ETC Safety Warning 25-001: Non-specification fire shelters

NWCG Equipment Technology Committee

ETC Safety Warning 23-01

Paul Gleason Lead by Example Awards

Date: January 14, 2025
Contact: Leadership Committee

The NWCG Leadership Committee has awarded the 2023 Paul Gleason “Lead By Example” awards to individuals in the categories of Initiative and Innovation, Mentoring and Teamwork, and Motivation and Vision, as well as a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Congratulations to the awardees:

  • Sam Bowen, Superintendent of the Mark Twain Veteran Crew with the U.S. Forest Service.
  • Greg Titus, Zone Fire Management Officer for the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
  • Renae Crippen, Manager of the Blue Mountain Interagency Dispatch Center with the U.S. Forest Service.
  • Eric Carlson, Instructor with OMNA International.

References:

Paul Gleason Lead by Example Award

Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program

Interview with Paul Gleason

Updated NWCG Standards for Water Scooping Operations, PMS 518

Date: December 19, 2024
Contact: Water Scooper Operations Unit

The NWCG Standards for Water Scooping Operations, PMS 518 establishes the standards for dispatching, utilizing, and coordinating water scooping aircraft on interagency wildland fires. These standards should be used in conjunction with the NWCG Standards for Aerial Supervision (SAS), PMS 505, and any local, state, or geographic/regional water scooping plans.

References:

NWCG Standards for Water Scooping Operations, PMS 518

Updated NWCG Standards for Aerial Supervision, PMS 505

Date: December 19, 2024
Contact: Interagency Aerial Supervision Subcommittee

The Interagency Aerial Supervision Subcommittee has updated the NWCG Standards for Aerial Supervision, PMS 505. PMS 505 establishes standards for aerial supervision operations for national interagency wildland fire operations. 

References:

NWCG Standards for Aerial Supervision, PMS 505