SSI_SOLESOURCELTR_FEB2025SIGNED_REDACTED.pdf

This document is a Sole Source Procurement Authority letter from the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) dated February 28, 2025, authored by Cynthia J. (Cindy) Smith, the State Research Engineer. The letter requests procurement authorization for an upgrade to an existing high-speed profiler device manufactured by Surface Systems & Instruments, Inc. (SSI), which will be mounted on a vehicle being transferred between MDOT divisions. The upgrade involves adding two additional lasers to collect profile data at low speeds and gather texture data on MDOT pavements, with a total cost of $61,283.89.

The procurement is being pursued as a sole source acquisition because SSI is the exclusive manufacturer of this specific device, and their components and software are proprietary. No competitive bidding is required due to the unique nature of the equipment and the manufacturer's exclusive capabilities. The document indicates this is an internal upgrade within MDOT's Research Division, with the device being transferred between divisions and requiring specialized modifications that can only be performed by the original equipment manufacturer.