Attachment 6 - Brand Name Justification.pdf

This is a Determination and Findings (D&F) memorandum for a single-source acquisition by the Department of the Air Force, 27th Special Operations Contracting Squadron, Commodities and Services Flight.

Cannon Air Force Base requires two Lochinvar Armor Condensing Water Heater units (model #AWH0500NPM 100) with an estimated contract value of $40,275.28. The requirement is to replace current equipment that has reached end-of-life capacity at the base's dining facility. The contracting officer determined that procuring the identical make and model eliminates costly modifications to existing infrastructure including piping, plumbing connections, and venting systems. Additionally, the same model will reduce training overhead and operational risks for 27 SOCES installation personnel. The product service code is 4520 (Space and Water Heating Equipment) and the NAICS code is 333414 (Heating Equipment Manufacturing), with a size standard of 500 employees. Market research was conducted from May 4, 2026, through October 20, 2026, identifying several alternative water boilers capable of supporting the required output; however, competitors cannot meet the specified dimensions and operational requirements for the existing enclosed space or match the existing training and infrastructure compatibility. The contracting officer classified this as a brand-name acquisition rather than sole source, noting that multiple small businesses could support the procurement timeline. The acquisition is justified under RFO 12.102(a), which permits single-source procurement when circumstances make only one source reasonably available. The D&F is specific to this individual contract action and does not include an expiration date. The document was digitally signed by Contracting Officer BALA.KARINA.CA on October 26, 2026.