SOLE SOURCE.pdf

Sole-Source Justification for Innovasea Equipment Purchase Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks

Equipment: Vemco Acoustic Telemetry System

Description of the Commodity:

The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks seeks to procure acoustic telemetry equipment from Innovasea, specifically Vemco acoustic transmitters and receivers, to support research on fish tracking and migration. This equipment includes V7-4x, V9-2x, and V13-1x tags, as well as the NexTrak R1 transponding acoustic receiver.

Explanation of Why the Commodity is the Only One that Can Meet the Needs of the Agency:

The Vemco system, provided by Innovasea, is the only acoustic telemetry system compatible with the equipment currently in use by the agency. The proprietary nature of the Vemco technology, including the unique tag IDs and encrypted coding scheme, ensures that only Vemco tags and receivers can work together. This is critical to maintaining the integrity of the research data, as the introduction of non-compatible tags from other manufacturers could lead to interference with existing studies, compromising research results. Innovasea’s system is the only solution available that meets our technical and research requirements.

Explanation of Why the Source is the Only Entity That Can Provide the Required Commodity:

Innovasea is the sole manufacturer and distributor of Vemco equipment. This proprietary technology is protected under Canadian copyright law and is not available from any other supplier.

No other manufacturer has access to Vemco’s proprietary coding system or technology, and as such, no other equipment is compatible with the Vemco system currently in use by the agency. This precludes the possibility of obtaining competitive quotes or using alternative equipment providers.

Explanation of Why the Amount to Be Expended for the Commodity is Reasonable:

The total cost of the equipment is $27,669, including shipping and handling. This price includes an 8.5% discount. The pricing is competitive given the specialized and proprietary nature of the equipment and the lack of alternatives.

Efforts Made to Obtain the Best Possible Price:

Due to the proprietary nature of the Vemco system, there are no other vendors capable of providing compatible equipment. Innovasea has offered a discount as part of the iTAG membership, which represents an effort to reduce costs and ensure that the agency is receiving the most favorable pricing available for this essential equipment.

Procedures for Addressing Objections:

The terms of this proposed sole-source procurement will be published on the state’s procurement portal for the required 14 days. Any person or entity that objects to this designation and believes they can provide the commodity will be invited to submit an objection with a detailed explanation. If any objections are raised, the agency will review them in accordance with the procedures outlined in the procurement rules. Responses are due by October 30, 2024, 2:00 p.m. Responses may be mailed or delivered by hand or courier service to the MDWFP’s physical location at:

Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, & Parks Candice Webster, Procurement Team Lead 1505 Eastover Drive Jackson, MS 39211

Respondents are strongly encouraged to submit their objections electronically via MAGIC. If the respondent does not have an MAGIC Vendor Account, they should register via the MAGIC Self- Registration Tool https://sus.magic.ms.gov/sap/bc/webdynpro/sapsrm/wda_e_suco_sreg?sap-client=100 https://sus.magic.ms.gov/sap/bc/webdynpro/sapsrm/wda_e_suco_sreg?sap-client=100