Which form initiates a purchase and allows contracting to issue a contract and the financial service office to set aside funds for the requirement?

• A. AF Form 616, Fund Cite Authorization
• B. AF Form 9, Request for Purchase
• C. DD Form 448, Military Interdepartmental Purchase Request
• D. AF Form 406, Miscellaneous Obligation/Reimbursement Document

Answer: (A)

Setting up funding and purchase authority is essential to move a purchase forward. AF Form 616, Fund Cite Authorization, is used to document the fund source and reserve the funds for the requirement. This authorization gives the contracting office the green light to issue a contract and lets the financial services office set aside the necessary funds, ensuring money is available when the contract is awarded. Other forms serve different steps: a Request for Purchase initiates the buying process but does not automatically allocate funds; a Military Interdepartmental Purchase Request is used for interagency purchases and isn’t the standard method to reserve funds for a specific Air Force requirement; and a Miscellaneous Obligation/Reimbursement Document records obligations or reimbursements after the fact rather than initiating a purchase. Therefore, Fund Cite Authorization is the form that best fits initiating the purchase and enabling contract and funding actions.