Brand name D and F - Initial Equipement Issue.pdf

DETERMINATION & FINDINGS

Authority to Solicit from a Single Source (at or below the SAT)

1. Agency and Contracting Activity: 11th Contracting Squadron

2. Nature and/or Description of the Action: $25,000

Stradivari model violin made by Charles Jean-Baptiste Collin-Mezin, bearing the label:EXPOSITION UNIVERS LE PARIS 1900/ GRAND PRIX/ Ch. J.B. COLLIN_MEZIN/ Luthier a Paris/ Rue du Faub Poissonniere, No 29

3. Citation to the Appropriate Regulation:

(Contracting Officer Instruction: Select the applicable authority for this acquisition)

RFO 8.401 and GSAR 538.7104-3(a) (FSS Orders): The circumstances of the acquisition deem only one source reasonably capable of providing the products, services, or solutions.

RFO 11.204(a)(2)(ii) (Brand Name): The particular brand name, product, or feature is essential to the Government's requirements, and market research indicates other companies' similar products, or products lacking the particular feature, do not meet the agency's needs or cannot be modified to meet the agency's minimum needs,.

RFO 12.102(a) (Commercial Products and Services): Only one source is available,.

RFO 13.101(b) (Noncommercial Products and Services): Only one source is reasonably available (e.g., urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, brand-name, or industrial mobilization),.

4. Findings:

The US Air Force Strings performs community relations and protocol missions in the National Capital Region, as well as on missions outside of the National Capital Region. In 2025 the USAF Band hired a new violin player who plays violin on every mission with which the USAF Strings is tasked and as such requires a professional grade instrument. Protocol missions of the USAF Strings include performances at the White House, Pentagon, Bolling Club, etc. for which this violin is necessary.

Major factors under consideration include:

There are many professional grade violins, but each instrument has its own unique sound and playability. Metrics such as tone quality, sound projection, sound clarity, and the instrument's physical dimensions all vary not only from one maker to another, but also even with in the same maker. This instrument meets all of the needs not only of the requiring Airman, but also the sound and balance of the US Air Force Strings. This instrument perfectly fits the body dimensions of the requiring airman and produces excellent sound projection, rich tone quality, and outstanding sound clarity all with little effort on the part of the performer.

The requiring member has tested 15 professional grade violins from different makers and different shops, and has come to the conclusion that this specific violin best meets the needs of the member and the mission requirements of the US Air Force Strings. This violin offers superior instrumental characteristics and physical fit to the requiring member all while being up to $5,000 less than other instruments of the same maker from other violin shops when in stock.

5. Determination: Based on the findings above, the proposed sole source or brand name action is justified under the applicable regulation.

6. Signatory Authority: (Contracting Officer Instruction: In accordance with DAF Approval Authorities Matrix PM 26-C-11 Matrix Item 51 for RFO 13.101(b) actions and GSAR 538.7104-3(a) for FSS orders, the Contracting Officer is the approval authority for these determinations).

Roberto Rongavilla Contracting Officer

Sep 15, 2026 https://usaf.dps.mil/sites/AFCC/KnowledgeCenter/templates_admin/aqc-front.jpg https://usaf.dps.mil/sites/AFCC/KnowledgeCenter/templates_admin/aqc-back.jpg

DETERMINATION & FINDINGS

Authority to Solicit from a Single Source (at or below the SAT)

3. Citation to the Appropriate Regulation:

(Contracting Officer Instruction: Select the applicable authority for this acquisition) 2024.07.10.1.

4. Findings:

5. Determination: Based on the findings above, the proposed sole source or brand name action is justified under the applicable regulation.

6. Signatory Authority: (Contracting Officer Instruction: In accordance with DAF Approval Authorities Matrix PM 26-C-11 Matrix Item 51 for RFO 13.101(b) actions and GSAR 538.7104-3(a) for FSS orders, the Contracting Officer is the approval authority for these determinations).