NOTICE OF PROPOSED SOLE SOURCE PURCHASE 485.pdf

UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI

Notice of Proposed Sole Source Purchase

#SS 485

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

Commodity or commodities to be purchased (manufacturer, model, description):

Frigid Units, Inc. LS-700 Living Stream Tank (2) with 1/3 HP Water Chiller Unit (2), Activated Carbon Filtering Media (2) and Fiberglass Support Legs (4) - collectively "Living Streams".

The need to be fulfilled by this item(s) and why it is the only one that can meet the specific needs of the department:

As part of the Department of Biology’s research, manipulative experiments are conducted on freshwater invertebrates. The research requires the animals to be held in captivity for the duration of the experiments in an environment consisting of temperature controlled, unidirectional flowing water that mimics a natural freshwater stream ecosystem. The water needs filtered so as to not become dirty and to prevent algae and bacteria growth in the tank. The water also needs to be cooled so the animals do not overheat during the hot, summer months. The experiments are conducted at UM’s Biological Field Station inside an existing research greenhouse, and due to the existing structure, the tank needs to be held off the ground without the need for excavation or installation of a drainage system. The Living Stream is a unique and highly specialized holding tank, or raceway, that is used to contain aquatic animals with an included water chiller unit that pumps and cools water. It also features a filter with carbon filtering media. This is a unique combination of features that suit both the research needs and the available facilities in a way that no other tank or raceway on the market can.

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

Frigid Units is the manufacturer and only distributer the Living Stream aquatic raceways with a rectangular shaped tank with a chilled water pump and carbon filtering media. Other raceways are too large in size and require the installation of additional infrastructure or ground excavation. Living Streams are specifically designed to be free-standing and portable, while giving optimal control over environmental conditions. There is no other entity that produces a product meeting all of these needs.

Discussions with other colleagues and researchers were held and intensive online research was conducted for other options from all the manufacturers I could find. There is no analogous product available.

Why the amount to be expended for the commodity is reasonable:

$21,961 is reasonable for the custom built nature of the raceway tank and chiller pump.

Efforts that the agency went through to obtain the best possible price for the commodity:

The department relied on the PI to verify there were no alternatives and the manufacturer does not negotiate on prices.

Submission Instructions and Format of Response from Objecting Parties:

Interested parties who have reason to believe that the item(s) above should not be certified as a sole source should provide information in the following format for UM to use in determining whether or not to proceed with awarding the Sole Source purchase.

1.1 Interested Party Information

1.1.1 Contact Name, Phone Number, Address and email address

1.1.2 Company Website URL, if applicable

1.2 Objection to Sole Source Certification

1.2.1 Interested parties must present specific objections to the Sole Source certification using the criteria listed above.

1.2.2 A statement regarding the Interested Party's capabilities as related to this Sole

Source Certification Request.

1.2.3 Comments will be accepted at any time prior to Wednesday, July 15, 2026 at 10:00 am (Central Time). Comments should be addressed to:

Jeff Wells, Procurement Manager The University of Mississippi Procurement Services 164 Jeanette Phillips Drive PO Box 1848 University, Mississippi 38677

1.2.4 Responses may be delivered by hand, via regular mail, overnight delivery, or e-mail at solesource@olemiss.edu with cc: to purchase@olemiss.edu and must reference the sole source number.

1.2.5 UM WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DELAYS IN THE DELIVERY OF RESPONSES. It is solely the responsibility of the Interested Parties that responses reach UM on time. Interested parties may contact Jeff Wells to verify the receipt of their responses. Responses received after the deadline will be rejected.

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

If UM determines after review that there is only one (1) source for the required commodity, then UM will appeal to the Public Procurement Review Board for approval to purchase.

mailto:solesource@olemiss.edu mailto:%20purchase@olemiss.edu