NOTICE 267-057.pdf

Mississippi State University

Notice of Proposed Sole Source Purchase

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):

Rain Bird VFD pump station

This is a pump station designed to supply irrigation throughout the golf course.

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:

A pump station is needed to supply irrigation to our 120 acre golf course. Irrigation on demand is needed to properly manage and maintain any golf course.

Our current pump station is aging rapidly and would be detrimental to the golf course if it were not to be replaced in a controlled manner. This specific pump station is unique in the fact that it is the only pump station available that can be fully integrated and communicate with our current Rain Bird Cirrus Pro central control system infrastructure.

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

The Keeling Company

Rain Bird irrigation products are distributed through local independent distributors in specific regions. The only distributor in the state of Mississippi is The Keeling Company and buying from a distributor outside of The Keeling Company, or a non-Rain Bird golf distributor voids any manufacturer warranty.

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

$200692.99

This amount is comparable to other pump stations at other golf courses with different infrastructure. To our golf course specifically it is reasonable due to the fact without it there would be no revenue.

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:

In efforts to obtain the best possible price we spoke with the company at length. We reached out and determined that losing the manufacturers warranty would not be an option an obtaining one would not be an option.

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