NOTICE 267-005.pdf

Mississippi State University Notice of Proposed Sole Source Purchase

267-005

Mississippi State University anticipates purchasing the item(s) listed below as a sole source purchase. Anyone objecting to this purchase shall follow the procedures outlined below.

1. Commodity or commodities to be purchased (make, model, description):

Monitor modules (7)

Smoke detectors (6)

Heat detectors (3)

Pull stations (4)

2. Explanation of the need to be fulfilled by this item(s), how is it unique from all other options, and why it is the only one that can meet the specific needs of the department:

The Riley Center fire system was built with a Notifier system. The Notifier panels were replaced in 2025 but the devices in the building are original to the initial installation and need to be updated to communicate with the Notifier panels. Firetrol is the only company that deals and services Notifier.

3. Name of company/individual selling the item and why that source is the only possible source that can provide the required item(s):

a. Firetrol Protection Systems

b. The proposed vendor is the only authorized regional distributor and service provider for the facility's existing Notifier fire alarm system. As a result, they are the only practical source for the required parts and service.

4. Estimated cost of item(s) and an explanation why the amount to be expended is considered reasonable:

a. $6,138

b. The proposed price is considered reasonable because the required parts and services are proprietary to the existing fire alarm system and are only available through the authorized provider. The cost reflects the specialized equipment and expertise necessary to maintain the system's safe and reliable operation.

5. Explanation of the efforts taken by the department to determine this is the only source and the efforts used to obtain the best possible price:

This has been a project that has taken the Riley Center along with help from EH&S up to three years to determine best steps to fix a dying system. It was determined that Firetrol was the only company that would be able to service the need due to the system being Notifier which was fit to the original building (20 years ago). We have also examined existing service contracts with Firetrol to ensure that replacing old devices is not included. Being that the devices need to communicate with the Notifier alarm system in order to fix the trouble messages, Firetrol is the company deemed to do so.

Any person or entity that objects and proposes that the commodity listed is not sole source and can be provided by another person or entity shall submit a written notice to:

Jennifer Mayfield, CPPO Director of Procurement Services, Chief Procurement Officer jmayfield@procurement.msstate.edu Subject Line must read “Sole Source Objection”

The notice shall contain a detailed explanation of why the commodity is not a sole source procurement. Appropriate documentation shall also be submitted if applicable.

If after a review of the submitted notice and documents, MSU determines that the commodity in the proposed sole source request can be provided by another person or entity, then MSU will withdraw the sole source request publication from the procurement portal website and submit the procurement of the commodity to an advertised competitive bid or selection process.

If MSU determines after review that there is only one (1) source for the required commodity, then MSU will appeal to the Public Procurement Review Board. MSU will have the burden of proving that the commodity is only provided by one (1) source.

mailto:jmayfield@procurement.msstate.edu