Notice of Intent to Sole Source: SEI Industries, LLC. , “Premo Fireballs” - Aerial Ignition Spheres

The Department of Agriculture Forest Service has published a Notice of Intent to Sole Source for the acquisition of Premo Fireballs Aerial Ignition Spheres (NFES #3411) from Fire Ignition Resources, LLC., the sole authorized distributor of SEI Industries' OEM product. This Special Notice, posted on April 2, 2026, with a deadline of April 17, 2026, announces the Forest Service's intent to award a sole-source, firm fixed-price, indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract for these specialized aerial ignition spheres. The procurement is categorized under the Small Arms, Ordnance, and Ordnance Accessories Manufacturing NAICS code (332994) and Fire Fighting Equipment PSC code (4210). The sole-source justification is based on the proprietary nature of the product and its compatibility with existing equipment in the Forest Service inventory. This is a follow-on contract to a previous arrangement and addresses a critical operational need within the federal government.

The purpose of this acquisition is to supply an estimated 1,500 cases of Premo Fireballs annually to support the National Incident Support Caches (NISC) program for use in prescribed burning and wildfire incident management. The contract structure includes one one-year base period in FY26 with four optional one-year periods extending through FY30, ensuring continuity of supply for this essential firefighting component. Fire Ignition Resources, LLC., located in Talladega, Alabama, qualifies as a registered self-certified disadvantaged small business and holds the exclusive authorized distributor status for SEI Industries' Premo Fireballs in the United States. The sole-source award is justified on grounds including product proprietary requirements, National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) PMS 501 standards compliance, safety requirements, warranty preservation, and the critical need for uninterrupted supply. A prior sources sought notice in December 2025 resulted in two responses, but only Fire Ignition Resources, LLC. could substantiate authorized OEM distributor status, supporting the justification for sole-source procurement.