Premo Fireballs

JUSTIFICATION & APPROVAL ONLY ONE RESONSIBLE SOURCE AND NO OTHER SUPPLIES WILL SATISFY THE AGENCY REQUIREMENTS: Purchase of Premo Fireballs

1. CONTRACTING ORGANIZATION: Procurement and Property Service (PPS), East Zone, Forest Service, USDA.

2. DESCRIPTION OF ACTION: Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies Will Satisfy the Agency Requirements, purchase and delivery of 120 boxes (1K per box) of Premo Fireballs for $38,880.00.

3. DESCRIPTION OF SUPPLIES: 120 boxes (1K per box) of Premo Fireballs.

4. AUTHORITY: 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(2) and Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1, Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies Will Satisfy the Agency Requirements.

 5. APPLICABILITY OF AUTHORITY: 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 the PREMO Mark III Aerial Ignition Device which uses the Premo Fireballs. SEI Industries is the manufacturer of the Premo MK III and recommends only using PREMO Fire Ignition Balls with PREMO PSD Machines.

6. EFFORTS TO OBTAIN COMPETITON: The Contracting Officer contacted SEI Industries, the manufacturer, to request the authorized distributors of the Premo Fireballs. SEI provided a letter of appointment for Fire Ignition Resources, LLC as the exclusive and sole source representation in the territory of the Continental USA, Alaska and Hawaii for PREMO PSD Machines and PREMO Fire Ignition Balls.  

7. FAIR AND REASONABLE COST: A search of FPDS found two recent procurements of similar items with a cost per box of $324 and $295. This requirement is competitively priced in this range.

 8. MARKET RESEARCH: The contracting officer (CO) reviewed NWCG PMS 501 and PMS 443 to confirm device requirements. The CO contacted a subject matter expert in the Forest Service to better understand the requirement, as well as past procurement practices. The CO searched GSA for similar items and potential vendors, but none found. The CO contacted SEI Industries, the manufacturer, for a list of authorized distributors. The CO searched FBO to find similar procurements and pricing.

9. ANY OTHER FACTS SUPPORTING THE USE OF OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION: There are no additional supporting facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition.

10. INTERESTED SOURCES: Fire Ignition Resources, LLC

 11. STEPS TO FOSTER COMPETITION: The acquisitions office will continue to thoroughly research every agency requirement and ensure procurements are competed to the fullest extent possible while adhering to agency manuals, policies, and instruction.

 12. CONTRACTING OFFICER'S CERTIFICATION: I hereby certify that the above justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. //SIGNED// Shundrica Daniels, May 3, 2024

Awarded contract 12444024P0035 to unknown vendor for unknown amount on 2024-05-03.