City of North Port
FINANCE DEPARTMENT/PURCHASING DIVISION
4970 CITY HALL BLVD
NORTH PORT, FLORIDA 34286
Office: 941.429.7170
Fax: 941.429.7173
Email: purchasing@northportfl.gov
NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD A SOLE/SINGLE SOURCE PROCUREMENT
Sole/Single Source No: SS NO. 26-88
Date Posted: JULY 7, 2026
Written Response Due Date: JULY 14, 2026
This is not a formal solicitation and there are no submissions required. The proposed contract action is for products or
services for which the City intends to negotiate and award with only one contractor/vendor under the authority of and
in accordance with Florida State Statute 287.057(5)(c). Any responses received as a result of this Notice of Intent shall
be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct competitive procurement. Responses will not
be considered as proposals, bids, or quotes.
• DESCRIPTION OF SERVICE/PRODUCT: Training Bunker Gear - Carcinogen-Free, PFAS-
Free Structural Firefighter Training Gear Configuration
• AMOUNT (This is an acquisition with an estimated value of): $29,300.00
• VENDOR: CARNA BUNKER GEAR
Interested firms or individuals may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement by submitting in
writing their name, address, point of contact, telephone number, e-mail, and a statement regarding capability to
provide the specified procurement per the attached specifications. Interested firms will be considered only if they
respond with clear and convincing documentation that they can meet or exceed the requirements stated herein. All
responses received within seven (7) calendar days after the date of publication of this synopsis will be reviewed by the
City. A determination by the Procurement Manager not to complete this proposed action based on the responses to
this notice is solely within the discretion and approval of the Procurement Manager and City Manager.
All sole/single source purchases exceeding the formal threshold indicated in the policies and procedures manual will
require Commission Approval.
All responses must be in writing and returned to ATTENTION: PURCHASING, City of North Port, 4970 City Hall
Boulevard, Suite 337, North Port, Florida, 34286 or by: Fax 941-429-7173, or by e-mail purchasing@northportfl.gov.
Note the number of the Sole Source Information inquiry on documentation.
Information regarding this Intent may be viewed and downloaded from DemandStar’s website at
www.demandstar.com. Links to DemandStar are also available from the City website at www.northportfl.gov .This
Notice of Intent is posted on the City FTP site at https://northportfl.gov/fileshare . If you have any questions, concerns,
or problems accessing this request using the link, please contact Michael White, Contract Administrator I, at
941.429.7174. Request for additional information or clarification regarding the specifications must be sent via
facsimile to 941.429.7173 or via email to purchasing@northportfl.gov. No verbal requests will be honored.
SS NO. 26-88
Page 1
Verification of Sole Source
1. Statement of Need & Scope
The Fire Rescue Department requires a specialized, dedicated training gear solution to outfit personnel
during non-live-burn training operations (e.g., drill yard ops, hose line deployment, ladder drills, physical
agility training). The objective is dual-fold: to mitigate cumulative firefighter cancer risks by eliminating
dermal exposure to polyfluorinated chemicals (PFAS) and flame retardants during routine training, and to
significantly extend the performance lifecycle and factory specifications of frontline, NFPA-certified
structural firefighting PPE by reducing unnecessary wash cycles and physical wear.
2. Technical Justification & Proprietary Features
Based on exhaustive market research and vendor technical documentation, Carna Bunker Gear LLC is the
sole manufacturer and source for this specific training-specific configuration. Standard structural firefighting
PPE manufacturers design, manufacture, and certify gear exclusively to NFPA 1971 standards. By definition,
NFPA-compliant gear historically utilizes chemical moisture barriers and outer shells treated with
intentionally added flame retardants and fluorinated compounds (PFAS) for thermal and fluid protection.
Carna Bunker Gear is uniquely engineered under a proprietary, patented design framework to deliberately
omit these chemicals.
• PFAS-Free and Carcinogen-Free Base Materials: Manufactured utilizing untreated fabrics
completely free of PFAS, PFOS, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and organophosphate flame
retardants (OPFRs).
• True-to-Performance Form Factor: While technically uncertified for Immediately Dangerous to Life
or Health (IDLH) or thermal environments, the gear specifically mimics standard structural firefighting
gear in exact dimensions, bulk, weight, and heat-retention characteristics. This ensures job-specific
training fidelity and critical thermal acclimation without the associated toxicological exposure.
• NFPA 1850 Public Outreach Compliance: The vendor provides a dedicated Public Information
Officer (PIO) outer shell configuration lacking thermal liners, satisfying the health and safety intent of
NFPA 1850 (A.4.6.3) regarding public demonstration restrictions.
3. Market Research & Single-Source Determination
A competitive market survey confirms that alternative turnout gear providers (e.g., Lion, Fire-Dex, Globe,
Innotex) do not offer or manufacture a non-certified, chemical-free, training-only equivalent designed to
bypass the traditional NFPA thermal chemical treatment pipeline. Carna Bunker Gear LLC holds the
exclusive patent rights for this specific training turnout application, stepping into a vacant marketplace.
Consequently, competition is precluded by the proprietary nature of the design, and Carna Bunker Gear LLC
is determined to be the Single-Source Provider.
4. Price Reasonableness & Cost Benefit
The cost per unit is highly favorable compared to standard structural gear lines ($1,800 vs. $3,500+ for
standard frontline turnouts). Furthermore, extending the lifecycle of frontline structural gear—which
traditionally degrades rapidly after 10 to 40 wash/decon cycles—will result in quantifiable downstream
municipal savings regarding premature PPE replacement schedules, worker's compensation, and light-duty
administrative strain.
SS NO. 26-88
Page 1
5. Patent Verification
SS NO. 26-88
Page 1
Request
Request Type *
Sole/Single Source/Standardization
Preparer
Kristina Smith
Pre-Director Approver(s) (?)
1
Deanna Marshall
Department *
FIRE
Commission Meeting? *
Yes No
Procurement Request
City of North Port
Capital? (?)
No Yes
PRR-EX (?) *
No Yes
Commission Override (?)
Yes No
Name
Division(s)
FY *
2026
Type code *
Purchase
Payment Method *
Purchase Type *
Purchase SubType *
Visa Purchase Purchase Order
Single Purchase (current FY)
None Change Order
Payment Authorization
Blanket Purchase (current FY)
Amendment
Description *
Non PFAS training bunker gear for cadets.
Section 2-407 of the City of North Port Procurement Code provides guidelines for determining if good(s) or service(s) is/are a sole/single source. All
Sole/Single source requests will be posted on DemandStar & the City’s Purchasing site for seven (7) calendar days.
Exemption Explanation (?) *
Training bunker gear PFAS Free - There is no other like item or product available for purchase that would serve the same purpose or
function and there is only one price for the above-named item or product because of exclusive distribution or marketing rights
Steps taken to verify these goods and/or services are not available elsewhere (?) *
Personnel researched extensively, no other vendor found for PFAS free training bunker gear.
Other vendors that were contacted (?) *
N/A
Additional Approvals
Grant? *
Yes No
Technology Related? (?) *
Yes Renewal No
Exemption
Reason *
Attach documentation from the manufacturer certifying the vendor selected is the only distributor/dealer/contractor for the products or services in question and/or holds the
production, unique capability, copyrights, trademark, and/or patent to the item, and check the following applicable statement(s):
Patent, copyright or unique design restrictions. (Sole Source)
Proprietary rights in technical data and/or product formulations (e.g. cleaning compounds, lubricating oils, paint, etc.), which can only be determined through
extensive laboratory analysis and examination. (Sole Source)
Only producer, such as utility supplier or construction material supplier, that will meet the specialized needs of the department or perform the intended function.
(Sole Source)
Direct replacement parts, equipment or supplies that must be compatible with original equipment already installed but available only from the original equipment
manufacturer. Most manufacturers have more than one dealer or distributor for their products. When this is the case, competition between dealers and/or
distributors may be possible, eliminating the “sole or single source” restriction. (Single Source)
When tests and/or demonstrations of equipment, supplies, part, etc. under actual operating conditions reveal superior quality, performance, design or other
characteristics in a brand product(s), which is available from only one source. Testing must be performed as often as practical. (Single Source)
Purchases for a brand product are to be made from one selected supplier, even though there are other suppliers that provide similar products. Options, such as
pricing, availability, servicing, have been vetted and a supplier has been chosen that best meets the City’s needs. (Single Source)
Maintenance, repair services or warranty which require specialized test equipment, procedures, and technical expertise available only from the original
equipment manufacturer or authorized/licensed dealer/field service representative. (Single Source)
The part(s)/equipment are required to permit standardization and operating efficiencies within the organization and the parts and equipment are only available
thorough a sole or single source. If competition is available, the parts and equipment must be competed. For brand-specific items, quotes should still be
obtained. (Standardization)
Other: None or some of the above apply. Provide detailed justification below.
Explanation *
U.S. Pat. No. 11,826,595
Agreement in Place? *
Yes No
Supporting backup *
Click the Preview icon or right click link and select open in new tab or window to avoid downloading.
Carna Bunker Gear Sole Source Vendor Letter.pdf
117.74KB
DemandStar
For Purchasing Division
Date Posted
Sole/Single Source Number
Purchase Details
Effective Date
Expiration Date
Line Items
Item #
Description *
1
Training bunker gear
Unit of
Measure
ea
Quantity *
Unit Price *
Subtotal
20.00
$1,450.00
Shipping (?) *
$300.00
Total Charges
$29,300.00
$29,000.00
Accounts (?)
Dept *
1
2
Comments to Budget (?)
Account # (?) *
001-2222-526.52-08
110-2222-522.52-08
Total Payments
$29,300.00
Project #
Amount *
$14,650.00
$14,650.00
Backup Attachments
Click the Preview icon or right click link and select Open link in new tab or window to avoid downloading.
This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.
