CITY OF RIALTO
SOLE SOURCE/STANDARDIZATION VENDOR REQUEST
VENDOR: Forge Fire and Company
ADDRESS: 4632 Tensweep New Albany, OH 43054
REQUSITION NUMBER:
Standardization: The City requires the items) to standardize parts, design quality, etc. (explain in more detail below).
Sole Source: No other items are known to exist which perform the same function. • Proprietary: The item is held under exclusive title, trademark or copyright by a private person or company; or a proprietary distributorship.
1. Describe the product/service:
Forge Fire & Company LLC provides a modular training prop within a 40' hi-cube container, featuring a Class A burn room, Bravo Forcible Entry Door, Apex XL Roof Prop, windows, decking, and a garage door cut prop, plus a 3-day instructor class. It's designed for live-fire, forcible entry, and ventilation training.
2. Describe how the product or service is unique and/or one of a kind:
Forge Fire's prop is the only one with a patent-pending modular, interchangeable bolt-in system for Class A training, offering features like adjustable burn rooms and forcible entry doors. Its turn-key solution includes certified engineering, NFPA compliance, and setup, unmatched by other vendors.
3. Is the product or service available from other sources? No. Other vendors don't offer a fully modular, bolt-in system with the same level of customization, durability, and compliance for Class A training props.
4. Can your requirements be modified so that competitive products or services may be used? Please explain:
No. We need a temporary, portable prop that can later enhance our new training tower. Forge Fire's modular design meets both needs with unique features; alternatives lack this versatility and would require multiple vendors, increasing cost and complexity.
5. Submit a detailed memo explaining the steps taken to determine this is a sole source vendor and justify the need.
See attached memo
Requestor Signature: ryan cathey Date: 5/14/25
Approvals:
- 40
Department Head
Cia Sins
Tanage
Rialto Fire Department
FIRE
Date: May 13, 2025
To: Rialto Procurement Department
From: Ryan Cathey, Administrative Battalion Chief
Subject: Sole Source Justification for Modular Training Prop Purchase from Forge Fire & Company LLC
Dear Procurement Team,
I'm writing to justify the Rialto Fire Department's request to sole source the purchase of $172,875.00, is critical to address our immediate training needs during the temporary inosie temporary closure of the Fire Station 203 training tower and will serve as a long-term asset to enhance our training program.
After a thorough review of available vendors, Forge Fire & Company LLC emerged as the only provider offering a modular, interchangeable bolt-in prop system specifically designed for Class A training buildings, as detailed in their sole source letter (attached).
Their patent-pending system includes unique features like the Alpha and Bravo Forcible Entry Doors, Apex Roof Ventilation Props, and Class A Burn Rooms, which are not replicated by any other vendor. This system's versatility allows us to deploy it immediately as a temporary solution during the tower's closure for environmental testing and PFAS investigations, while its portability ensures it can be integrated into our new training tower once constructed, enhancing our long-term training capabilities with adaptable, realistic scenarios.
Additionally, Forge Fire & Company provides turn-key solutions, including certified engineering, NFPA compliance, site preparation, and a 3-day instructor class, ensuring seamless deployment and immediate usability. Other vendors lack the comprehensive modularity, durability, and customization that Forge Fire offers, making them unsuitable for our dual need of a temporary fix and a future training enhancement. Their 40 years of experience, as highlighted in their sole source letter, further assures us of the quality and reliability of this investment.
Given the urgency of our training needs for the upcoming June 2025 firefighter academy and the specificity of this equipment, we believe sole sourcing through Sourcewell, as noted in the staff report, is the most efficient and compliant path forward. Please let me know if you need additional information to process this request. Thanks for your support in getting this critical training solution in place!
Sincerely,
131 South Willow Avenue • Rialto, CA 92376-6387 • (909) 820-2501 • Fax (909) 421-0824
CORGE FIRE CLASS A SOLE SOURCE LETTER
Forge Fire & Company's exclusive, patent-pending Modular/Interchangeable Bolt-In Prop Systems, specifically designed for Class A Training Buildings. Our innovative products and solutions are proprietary and represent the first and COMPAN only offering in the industry that provides a complete modular system with fully interchangeable bolt-in tactical training features.
Forge Fire & Company is the sole provider of these revolutionary systems and all related customizable components.
Our turn-key solutions include everything from certified engineering, permits, NFPA compliance, site preparation, and concrete work, ensuring a seamless process from start to finish.
Unique Benefits of Forge Fire & Company Products
1. Versatility - Our systems allow for phased construction, enabling departments to build according to their budgets and easily add or replace features as needed.
2. Realism - Our modular system provides the flexibility to alter building layouts and components over time, preventing training from becoming stagnant.
3. Modular Construction - Our bolt-in design significantly reduces maintenance costs and repair time compared to traditional welded-in systems.
4. Faster Project Timelines - Our system ensures quicker build times, allowing departments to begin training sooner.
5. Training Program Growth - Our system supports continuous training evolution by allowing users to add new props and layouts, ensuring progressive learning environments.
6. Certified Designs - All our designs are engineer-certified and meet NFPA compliance standards.
Our patent-pending system is unmatched in the market, offering complete modularity and customization. Forge Fire & Company is the only manufacturer capable of providing bolt-in, interchangeable components across all tactical features listed below:
• Alpha Forcible Entry Doors • Sliding or Hinged Windows • Bravo Forcible Entry Doors • Window Cut-Down Props
• Apex Roof Ventilation Props Security Window Cut Props • Moveable Walls (Mazes) • Industrial-Grade Staircases and Railings • Flashover Rooms Overhead Hallway Fire Props
• Thermal Monitoring Systems • Knee Wall Fire Props
• Class A Burn Rooms Mobile/Modular Custom Trailer Props • Fire-Rated Entry and Interior Doors Industrial-Grade Catwalks, Landings, and Work • Rappel Anchoring Systems Decks
forgefireandcompany.com 3844 Pleasant Hill Rd. Perrysville, OH 44864 614-403-0833 Training and Consulting Services
Forge Fire & Company also provides expert training and consulting services to support fire departments in building efficient and effective training programs. Our team brings over 20 years of experience in pioneering innovative training courses, props, and facilities. We offer:
• Training Courses - Expert evaluation of hands-on training curricula. • Training Efficiencies and Strategies - Custom strategies to improve training delivery. • Training Facility/Prop Evaluation - Tailored summaries for needed training props and facility improvements. • Engineering Evaluations - Detailed assessments of current infrastructure with recommendations for growth. • Construction Consultation - Comprehensive advice on facility design and construction.
Forge Fire & Company is the only provider offering complete modular, interchangeable bolt-in training props for Class A Training Buildings. Our patent-pending designs and proprietary manufacturing process ensure that no other vendor can replicate the unique features and benefits of our systems.
By partnering with Forge Fire & Company, fire departments gain access to industry-leading innovation that will enhance training programs, reduce maintenance costs, and ensure the longevity and adaptability of training facilities for years to come.
If further information is required to complete your procurement process, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Sincerely,
Told Shepherd
Todd Shepherd
Owner/Co-Founder
Forge Fire & Company
forgefireandcompany.com 3844 Pleasant Hill Rd. Perrysville, OH 44864 614-403-0833 Alpha Elite Forcible Entry Door
Bravo Forcible Entry Door
Apex & Apex Mobile Roof Prop
Burn Rooms
Knee Wall Moveable Walls
Overhead Burnable Hallways
Customizable Smokehouse Mobile Trailer Fully Customizable Class A Training Building