SSJ_Red Dragon.pdf

Soliciting from a Single Source

United States Department of Agriculture

Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13.106-1(b)(1)

1. Identification of the agency and the contracting activity.

USDA Forest Service, National Forest in Florida

2. The nature and/or description of the action being approved.

National Forest in Florida proposes to enter into a sole source contract with Helifire, LLC dba Field

Support Services who is the original manufacture’s distributor of the SEI Dragon Eggs Spheres.

3. A description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs (including the estimated value).

The US Forest Service uses Aerial Ignition devices to conduct and manage prescribed fires on

Government land. The plastic spheres are used for ground ignition. The National Wildfire

Coordinating Group (NWCG) Standards for Aerial Ignition PMS 501 establishes standards for approved aerial ignition operations to ensure that all aerial ignition operations are performed in a safe and efficient manner. NWCG has approved four (4) aerial ignition devices: Premo Mark III Aerial

Ignition Device, SEI Red Dragon, Aerostat PSDS Mark V, and Raindance R3 Aerial Incendiary

Device. Each device uses plastic spheres specifically made for use with that device.

The Raindance device comes from Australia. Based on past experience within the Forest Service fire community, it has taken up to two (2) years to receive a device from Raindance due to the item being held up in custom because it is a fire ignition device.

The National Forest in Florida currently has three (4) SEI Red Dragon machines which operates with

Dragon Eggs spheres.

4. The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition.

FAR 13.106-1(b)(1) Soliciting from a single source.

5. A statement demonstrating the unique qualifications of the proposed contractor or the nature of the action requiring the use of the authority.

Helifire, LLC dba Field Support Services spheres are half white and half Orange. This combination of colors allow flight crews to see the sphere as if falls from the aircraft, making sphere placement more accurate on the ground, lowering the chance of getting on outside of the containment lines, which in turn lowers the risk of an escaped fire that would cause undue risk to firefighters on the ground.

Helifire, LLC dba Field Support Services is the sole distributor of the Dragon Eggs.

6. A description of efforts made to ensure offers are solicited from as many potential sources as is practicable.

As previously stated, the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) Standards for Aerial Ignition

PMS 501 establishes standards for approved aerial ignition operations. NWCG also provides a list of approved ground ignition equipment. According to NWCG Standards for Ground Ignition Equipment

PMS 443, Helifire, LLC dba Field Support Services is the distributor for the Dragon Eggs.

7. A determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

8. A description of the market research conducted and the results or a statement of the reason

Market Research was not conducted.

Describe market research conducted and the results or the reason why no market research was conducted. Include responses received from FedBizOps announcement if used. Note: FAR Part

10.001 requires agencies to conduct market research appropriate to the circumstances: (a) before developing new requirements documents for an agency acquisition; (b) before soliciting offers for acquisitions with an estimated value in excess of the Simplified Acquistion Threshold (SAT); (c) before soliciting offers for acquisitions that could lead to a bundled contract; (d) before awarding a task or delivery order under an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract for a noncommercial item in excess of the SAT; and (e) on an ongoing basis, take advantage of commercially available market research methods in order to effectively identify the capabilities of small businesses and new entrants into the market.

Market Research was conducted by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG). The NWCG standards for Aerial Ignition establishes the standards for approved aerial ignition operations for use by all cooperating natural resource agencies. NWCG defines procedures and equipment to ensure that all aerial ignition operations are performed in a safe and efficient manner, provide a framework within which areas, regions, states, and local units can provide supplemental, site-specific guidance, and establish a method to evaluate and approve aerial ignition devices not currently approved.

The original manufacturer’s distributor is Helifire, LLC dba Field Support Services.

Helifire, LLC dba Field Support Services

Sales@helifire.com Office: 770-454-1130 Address:

3039 Amwiler Rd. STE 128 Atlanta GA 30360

Due to the Forest currently having four of the Red Dragon machines purchasing other aerial incendiary devices and plastic spheres would render additional cost and Safety Hazard to the flight crew and ground personnel and enhance their safety.

9. Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition.

N/A

10. A listing of the sources, if any, that expressed a written interest in the acquisition.

Helifire, LLC dba Field Support Services is the only source and has provided a quote.

11. A statement of actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition if subsequent acquisitions are anticipated.

mailto:Sales@helifire.com

An agency/bureau may wish to evaluate an aerial ignition system not covered in the NWCG Standards for Aerial Ignition (SAI), PMS 501. While all natural resource agencies are strongly encouraged to use the devices and procedures approved in the guide, guidelines are given for new proposed aerial ignition system approval

Certifications & Approvals

Supporting data that form the basis for and included in this justification are certified accurate and complete.

William Lucas

Helitack Manager/Military Liaison

The information contained in this single source solicitation is certified accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Contracting Officer