Sole Source Justification US Fleet Band Signed__Redacted.pdf

Source Selection Information – See FAR 2.101 and 3.104

Estimated Cost:

Required Delivery Date: September 30, 2026

Describe in detail why only this source(s) can furnish the requirements to the exclusion of other sources.

These are "direct replacement" parts/components for existing equipment.

Refreshes obsolete equipment within the established system design standard.

Supply Chain Security and DFARS Compliance

The transition to the DiGiCo Quantum and Dante ecosystem is necessary to ensure strict compliance with DoD supply chain security mandates. A significant portion of the commercial audio market relies on manufacturing, assembly, and micro-processing components sourced from non-compliant nations, creating vulnerabilities and violating the Buy American Act (BAA)

Source Selection Information – See FAR 2.101 and 3.104 and Trade Agreements Act (TAA). DiGiCo equipment is manufactured in the United Kingdom (a Qualifying Country under DFARS 225.872-1). Procuring these specific brands ensures that receive a secure, compliant, military-grade digital audio network without the risk of introducing prohibited telecommunications or non-TAA compliant hardware into the DoD supply chain.

Enterprise Standardization and Joint-Force Interoperability:

This procurement directly aligns with the technological standards established by the (Washington, D.C.). Standardizing on the DiGiCo Quantum and Dante platform across the enterprise guarantees seamless interoperability during joint-service missions, Fleet Weeks, and high-profile international operations where equipment, digital show files, and stage infrastructure must be shared and networked without signal conversion barriers. Furthermore, this alignment ensures a zero-cost training pipeline; because Navy musicians (MU rating) are trained on standardized platforms, personnel transferring between can immediately operate these mission-critical systems worldwide without requiring duplicative, costly technical retraining.

1.Mission Need & Obsolescence of Existing Equipment:

The U.S. Navy Fleet Bands currently rely on aging, disparate analog and early-generation digital audio systems that have exceeded their expected lifecycle, creating an unacceptable risk of catastrophic failure during high-visibility diplomatic and ceremonial missions. Current systems suffer from obsolete components, degraded analog copper wiring, and unsupported manufacturer firmware. To restore mission readiness, the must recapitalize modern, network-integrated Audio-over- IP (AoIP) systems.

2.Form, Fit, and Function Justification (DiGiCo):

The requirement to procure DiGiCo control surfaces (Q112) is strictly dictated by the specific Form, Fit, and Function required to integrate with the Navy’s emerging standardized audio architecture. Procuring alternative brands would result in substantial duplication of costs, degraded interoperability, and increased logistical burdens.

*Form (Logistical Footprint & SWaP). Navy bands operate in highly restrictive environments, including ship flight decks, narrow pier-sides, and temporary mobile stages. The DiGiCo Q112 deliver flagship processing power and high-channel-count RF integration within an ultra-compact, modular form factor. This highly optimized Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) profile allows for rapid deployment and single-rack transit, which physically cannot be achieved by bulkier, less integrated alternative systems.

*Fit (Network & Hardware Interoperability). The Navy is standardizing its audio infrastructure around Dante AoIP and MADI protocols to eliminate heavy analog cabling. DiGiCo products are required because they “fit" natively into this architecture via modular DMI cards and direct AES72/Cat5e integration. Introducing mixed-brand consoles or wireless transmitters would fracture the network topology, requiring complex, third-party signal converters that introduce unacceptable latency and critical points of failure into the signal chain.

Function (Enterprise Standardization & Control). The essential function of this procurement is to establish a unified operational standard across the Fleet Band enterprise. The DiGiCo Quantum FPGA engine provides a unified software ecosystem. Standardizing on this ecosystem allows a "show file" programmed at central headquarters to be instantly deployed to any deployed band worldwide. Procuring a different brand would force audio engineers to learn disparate operating systems, eliminating cross-fleet interoperability and critically degrading the ability to swap personnel or equipment during immediate-deployment scenario.

After conducting market research none of the mandatory sites have the products from this requirement. Therefore, this will be solicited in the Open Market on SAM.gov to authorized resellers.