A1 - JnA KO Signed.pdf

MCINCR RCO – RA General J&A Template – Strategic Branch Fiscal Year 2024_Ver.1

Requiring Activity (RA) Justification and Approval (J&A) for Sole Source or Brand Name

I. AGENCY NAME: “The Commandant’s Own,” United States Marine Drum & Bugle Corps

II. DESCRIPTION OF ITEM OR SERVICE:

1. Commercial description: This requirement encompasses the replenishment of mission-essential commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) professional percussion consumables including, acoustic drumheads, artist-signature performance implements (sticks and mallets), symphonic cymbals, and protective transport cases.

2. Intended use: These items are intended to be used for high-visibility ceremonies conducted by “The Commandant’s Own,” United States Marine Drum & Bugle Corps battery and front ensemble musicians across FY27. These items represent essential consumable and mission-readiness components required to sustain the physical operation, mechanical integrity, and acoustic balance of the command's deployed percussion battery and front ensemble.

3. Source or Brand Name: Evans Drumheads (D'Addario), Remo Inc., Vic Firth, Promark (D'Addario), Innovative Percussion, Pearl Drums, Avedis Zildjian Company, Paiste Cymbals, and Humes & Berg Mfg. Co.

4. The total estimated value of this requirement is $40,000

5. The requested period of performance/license coverage period or delivery date is all CLINs with quantity 10 or greater to be split into two shipments. One to arrive in January and the other in July. All CLINs with quantities under 10 shall arrive in January.

Brand Name / Manufacturer

Item / Description Manufacturer Part Number

Quantity

Evans Drumheads Evans MS1 Marching Bass Drumhead 28"

BD28MS1W 11

Evans Drumheads Evans MS1 Marching Bass Drumhead 26"

BD26MS1W 11

Evans Drumheads Evans MS1 Marching Bass Drumhead 24"

BD24MS1W 11

Evans Drumheads Evans MS1 Marching Bass Drumhead 20"

BD20MS1W 15

Evans Drumheads Evans MS1 Marching Bass Drumhead 18"

BD24MS1W 15

Innovative Percussion Innovative Percussion FBX-2 Field Series Hard Tapered Handle Marching Bass Drum Mallets - small

FBX-2 20

Innovative Percussion Innovative Percussion FBX-3 Field Series Hard Tapered Handle Marching Bass Drum Mallets - medium

FBX-3 20

Innovative Percussion Innovative Percussion FBX-4 Field Series Hard Tapered Handle Marching Bass Drum Mallets - large

FBX-4 20

Pearl Pearl Marching BD Removable/Adjustable Mallet Holder 14 in

BMH-1430 4

Vic Firth Vic Firth Marching Snare Stick Bag - Double Pair

MSBAG2 125

Vic Firth Vic Firth Corpsmaster Colin McNutt "Narwhal" Multi-Tenor Drumsticks

SCMN 150

Promark Promark TXDCTJW Signature Series Tenor Drumsticks - Tim Jackson

TXDCTJW 125

Fiscal Year 2024_Ver.1

Evans Drumheads Evans TCX Clear Tenor Pro Pack Marching Drumheads Pack (6", 10", 12", 13", 14")

E-TCXPACK 30

Remo Remo White Max Marching Snare Drumhead - 14"

WX-0114-00 100

Evans Drumheads Evans MX5 Snare Sida Marching - 14" SS14MX5 100 Promark/System Blue System Blue DC50 Marching Drum

Stick

TXDC50W 200

Evans Drumheads Evans EMAD Clear Bass Drum Batter Head - 16"

BD16EMAD 2

Zildjian Zildjian K Constantinople Suspended Cymbal - 18"

K1012 1

Innovative Percussion Innovative Percussion MB-1 Cordura Tour Bag for Mallets - small

MB-1 10

Evans Drumheads Evans Orchestral 300 Snare Side Drumhead - 14"

S14H30 2

Paiste Cymbals Paiste 18" Signature Symphonic Light Cymbal Pair

4142418 1

Humes & Berg Humes & Berg Tuxedo Padded Cymbal Bag - 20"

TX525 4

Humes & Berg Humes & Berg Galaxy Cymbal Bag - 22" with Dividers

GL526CP 4

III. THE DETERMINATION FOR USE OF OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION IS

BASED ON THE FOLLOWING:

A. ☐ ONLY ONE RESPONSIBLE SOURCE

1. ☐ RESTRICTIVE RIGHTS. The source has established proprietary rights, limited rights in data, patent rights, copyrights, or secret processes in the item or service required.

2. ☐ EXCLUSIVE LICENSING AGREEMENTS. The item or service is only available from the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), or there is only one authorized distributor or technical representative for the OEM.

3. ☐ OTHER REASONS.

B. ☒ BRAND NAME. Item required must be a brand name, product, or feature of a product, particular to one manufacturer.

Another brand cannot meet the Government’s operational requirements because this procurement is strictly dependent on mechanical compatibility with high-value musical instruments already in active service, the acoustic necessity for complete tonal uniformity across the ensemble line, and the mandatory requirement for professional-grade performance models. Extensive market research and direct technical evaluation conducted by the Requiring Activity confirmed that substituting alternative commercial brands introduces physical incompatibility, sound degradation, and rapid mechanical failure during live military ceremonies.

First, regarding equipment currently in use, the unit possesses an established, standardized inventory of military marching drums, multi-tenor shell arrays, snare drums, and field hardware. Consumable drumheads must mechanically interface with these existing instruments without binding or modifying factory bearing edges. The Evans MS1 bass drumheads and TCX tenor drumheads incorporate patented Level 360 collar profiles engineered with a steeper collar slope and roll-over hoop that perfectly seats onto the bearing edges of the unit's existing marching shells. Alternative commercial drumheads feature flatter, Fiscal Year 2024_Ver.1 standard collars that bind against the counterhoops of these instruments, preventing even radial tensioning and exerting asymmetric mechanical stress that can warp rims or crack shell bearing edges under the 1,000-plus pounds of tension required for military field performance. Similarly, the Remo White Max marching snare heads feature proprietary Duralock crimped aluminum hoops engineered to lock flush within the unit’s high-tension snare counterhoops, while the Pearl BMH-1430 mallet holders clamp directly to existing 14-inch deep marching shells without drilling permanent mounting holes into Government-owned assets. Furthermore, the Humes & Berg Tuxedo and Galaxy transport bags provide exact dimensioned interior clearances required to protect the unit's existing 20-inch and 22-inch concert cymbals during tactical deployments and regional transit.

Second, regarding similarity in sound across the line, military field music requires absolute uniformity of acoustic timbre, articulation, sustain, and projection across the entire drumline battery and concert percussion section. In an active military marching unit, every snare drum, multi-tenor array, and tonal bass drum operates as a unified acoustic voice executing rapid unison passages alongside full brass and wind instrumentation. Introducing different brands or mismatched film blends alters mass, head thickness, and frequency response, creating phase cancellation, clashing harmonic overtones, and uneven acoustic projection that audibly degrades the unit's ceremonial presence. The drumline’s signature sound relies on the acoustically matched combination of the Remo White Max batter head (a high-tension aramid fiber weave) and the Evans MX5 snare side head (an aramid laminate with an integrated overtone ring). This pairing produces an exact frequency response and hyper-articulated 32nd-note snare clarity capable of cutting through loud brass fanfares without harsh distortion. In addition, the five-drum tonal bass line (spanning 18-inch to 28-inch shells) functions as a single chromatic musical instrument; all five drums must utilize identical Evans MS1 single-ply 10-mil smooth white film to maintain pure, stepped pitch intervals and identical resonance decay across the entire section. Mixing head models or brands within the bass line disrupts the harmonic tuning structure, preventing the ensemble from achieving the uniform musical balance required for protocol duties.

Third, regarding the necessity for professional-grade models, the intense performance tempo and harsh outdoor operational environments encountered by Marine Corps ceremonial ensembles demand tour-grade implements capable of withstanding extreme velocity, sudden temperature fluctuations, and continuous physical impact. The artist-signature sticks and mallets requested—specifically the System Blue DC50, Vic Firth Colin McNutt "Narwhal", Promark Tim Jackson TXDCTJW, and Innovative Percussion FBX Series—are manufactured from high-density, computer-sorted American hickory and feature lathe-turned reverse tapers and specialized tip contours (including Delrin-style inverse tips and modified bullet beads) engineered for high-velocity projection and uniform rebound. Generic or entry-level commercial alternatives lack these precise lathe profiles and strict grain density tolerances, leading to premature shaft splintering, erratic rebound, and excessive hand fatigue during extended military ceremonies. In the orchestral domain, the Zildjian K Constantinople suspended cymbal and Paiste Signature Symphonic pairs provide hand-hammered, symphonic-grade alloy formulations that deliver complex overtone envelopes and instant dynamic projection across concert halls and outdoor venues, which cannot be duplicated by entry-level or non-professional commercial lines.

If a different commercial brand is purchased, the immediate consequence will be operational incompatibility, severe acoustic degradation, and premature equipment damage. Procuring drumheads that lack the patented Evans Level 360 collar geometry or Remo Duralock hoop construction will prevent heads from seating uniformly over the shell bearing edges. Forcing non-conforming heads onto high-tension drums will lead to uneven lug tension, stripped casing threads, warped aluminum counterhoops, cracked bearing edges, and frequent head pull-outs during performance. Such mechanical failures would necessitate costly emergency repairs or permanent replacement of expensive Government-owned musical instruments.

Acoustically, introducing mismatched brands or inferior product lines across the battery will compromise the musical integrity of the ensemble. The unit serves as the premier marching ensemble for the Marine Corps and perform high-visibility performances for foreign dignitaries, the Department of the Navy, and the public. Uneven sound projection, phase cancellation between mismatched heads, and dissonant chordal intervals across the battery section would audibly diminish the high musical standards expected of a Marine Corps ceremonial unit.

Furthermore, procuring non-standard sticks and mallets would severely disrupt the mechanical technique and muscle memory of the military musicians. Generic sticks lack the precise balance profiles and weight

Fiscal Year 2024_Ver.1 pairing of the specified models, which would result in uneven stick velocity, increased physical fatigue, wrist strain injuries, and frequent stick breakage during live performances. Replacing broken, low-grade sticks throughout the operating year would dramatically escalate consumable re-order frequency and lifecycle costs, completely eliminating any nominal initial cost savings.

Finally, if this requirement is not procured at all, the percussion section will suffer complete mission stoppage. Because drumheads and sticks are consumable items subject to finite lifespans under daily rehearsal and field performance demands, the unit’s active reserve of serviceable gear will be exhausted rapidly. Without replacement heads, matched implements, and protective transport bags, the unit will be unable to field operational instruments, resulting in the direct cancellation or degradation of mandated ceremonial performances, national outreach commitments, and all other performances undertaken by the unit.

IV. ACTIONS TAKEN TO REMOVE OR OVERCOME BARRIERS

Market research confirmed that while multiple commercial percussion products exist in the broader marketplace, no alternative manufacturers produce items that simultaneously match the physical mounting dimensions of the unit's existing marching drums, provide the required proprietary collar geometry, and deliver identical tonal acoustic timbre across the active battery line. However, research also confirmed that all specified brand-name items are non-exclusive commercial off-the-shelf supplies widely distributed through multiple authorized commercial vendors, small businesses, and music distributors. This ensures that the Government can obtain robust, open-market price competition while strictly maintaining the required brand-name technical standards.

The Requiring Activity will continue to monitor the musical instrument and accessory industry for emerging technologies and alternative manufacturers. Prior to future annual consumable procurements, the RA will evaluate alternative commercial products during routine rehearsal sessions to determine if emerging product lines meet the stringent acoustic, durability, and physical compatibility standards required for Marine Corps field ceremonial operations.

V. CERTIFICATIONS

1. Full name of individual who will complete and sign this form: SSgt Megan Kotasenski

2. Title / Position: Supply and Procurement Chief

3. Email address: megan.almojuela@usmc.mil

4. Phone number: 760.960.7265

A. Contracting Officer Certification: I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Signature Name (Printed) / Phone # Date

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