SSP 25_013 SPECS.pdf

USM SSP 25_0013 Notice of Proposed Sole Source Purchase of Verifit.

http://www.ms.gov/dfa/contract_bid_search/Bid

RFx: 3150006209

Comments/objections will be received as required per Section 31-7-13 (C) of the Mississippi Code until

8:00 a.m. (Central Time) on April 4, 2025.

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:

Jacob Cochran

Interim Director of Procurement & Contracts 118 College Dr. Box 5003 Hattiesburg, MS 39406 bids@usm.edu

Phone: 601-266-4131

Subject Line must read "Sole Source Objection USM SSP 25_013"

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, USM determines that the commodity in the proposed sole source request can be provided by another person or entity, then USM 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 USM determines after review that there is only one (1) source for the required commodity, then USM will appeal to the Public Procurement Review Board. USM will have the burden of proving that the commodity is only provided by one (1) source.

Run Dates: 3/20, 3/27

The University of Southern Mississippi

Notice of Proposed Sole Source Purchase

SSP 25_013

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

1. Description of the commodity that USM is seeking to procure:

* Audioscan Verifit 2 Product # 8531954. This is an advanced hearing aid testing device that is used during the process of fitting and verifying the fit of hearing aids for adults and children in the USM Audiology Clinic as well as confirming this data during research projects involving various amplification devices.

2. Explanation of why the commodity is the only one that meets the needs of the agency:

* We currently have two of these devices that we utilize in our Audiology clinic on campus during the process of fitting hearing aids for children and adults. We have three separate fitting rooms and 3 providers that utilize this equipment. In addition, we have additional researchers who also depend on this device for either research purposes or classroom instruction.

It is the request of these providers and researchers that we purchase an additional device to meet the ever growing demand for its use in the clinic and research labs. In addition, certain functionality of this device is superior to that of its closest competitor ( wider frequency analysis range, wider microphone output capability) and certainly far superior to less expensive models with far less features required for optimal service to our patients. Also, this device and the capabilities it offers can be utilized for both clinical and research purposes. Advanced designs such as the measurement of directionality, specific acoustic stimuli to assess noise suppression, and stimuli designed to assess frequency transposition or lowering are available with this device for both clinical and research applications. In addition, the verifit 2 offers a simulated ear canal and associated probe tube guide to enhance the placement of the probe during real ear measurement.

This is an indispensable feature when training graduate students with this aspect of hearing aid fittings in the adult population.

I am including a list of the features that make this device a desirable purchase:

Audioscan Verifit 2 Advanced Hearing Aid HW: display unit with bult-in speakers; test box; 2 cc and 0.4 cc test box couplers; probe dock. Tests: binaural/monaural on-ear & test box speech mapping; directional/noise reduction/ feedback/occlusion measurements, RECD, telecoil/ loop tests; ANSI/IEC tests. Transducers:

two probe mics; test box coupler and reference mics;

RECD; teletest handset. Features: 16 kHz wideband measurements; WRECD; probe guide; ambient noise levels; comparison curves;

networking capability; sensory loss (hearing loss) simulator.

3. Explanation of why the source is the only source is the only person or entity that can provide the required commodity:

* E3 diagnostics/ Med-Acoustics, Casey Tusa, Au.D./ Regional Sales Manager. E3 diagnostics is the sole source distributor of this product in our region and the only technicians authorized to maintain, calibrate and repair this equipment.

4. Explanation of why the amount to be expended for the commodity is reasonable:

* The current quote for this equipment includes shipping but does not include sales tax.

We have purchased two of these devices in the past, and this cost estimate represents only a minor increase over the most recent purchase. In addition, for this price, we can utilize this equipment for both research and clinical purposes.

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

* As stated previously, we have purchased two of these devices in the past and are aware of the fact that E3 diagnostics/Med-Acoustics is the sole source provider of these products in our area. We have obtained a sole source document from the parent company of the device (Audioscan). We compared this device to products offering similar functionality and it is slightly less expensive.

Advertisement Schedule Date

1st scheduled 3/20/25

2nd scheduled 3/27/25

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 by April 4, 2025, 8:00 AM CST, to:

Jacob Cochran

Director of Procurement & Contracts

Jacob.Cochran@usm.edu

Subject Line must read "Sole Source Objection 25_013"

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, USM determines that the commodity in the proposed sole source request can be provided by another person or entity, then USM 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 USM determines after review that there is only one (1) source for the required commodity, then

USM will appeal to the Public Procurement Review Board. USM will have the burden of proving that the commodity is only provided by one (1) source.