SSP 27_014 AUDIOMETER.pdf

USM SSP 27_014 Notice of Proposed Sole Source Purchase of Audiometer.

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

RFx: 3150007113

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 November 18, 2026.

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:

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 27_xxx"

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: 11/3, 11/10

The University of Southern Mississippi

Notice of Proposed Sole Source Purchase

SSP 27_014

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:

A two-channel diagnostic GSI-Audiostar audiometer. This audiometer comes with free-field testing, extended high-frequency testing with stored special tests such as the Word in Noise test, AZBio pediatric and adult version tests, BKB-SIN test, Quick SIN test, and basic auditory tests (child and adult), DOD VA

Audiology CD1, DOD VA Speech Recognition CD4, DOD VA Tonal and Speech

CD2, and Spanish auditory speech list. This audiometer also comes with specialized tests such as the TEN (Threshold Equalizing Noise) and ACT

(Audible Contrast Threshold) tests that are preinstalled. This is a diagnostic audiometer used for clinical and research purposes.

2. What efforts were made by the Agency to determine that the proposed provider is the only entity that can provide the commodity needed?

We conducted an online search and were unable to identify any compatible audiometers from other vendors. Only one vendor (e3 Diagnostics, https://e3diagnostics.com/ ) offers this equipment, and the same vendor sells similar audiometers at a higher price. The GSI Audiostar Pro audiometer is more cost-effective than comparable audiometers with similar configurations.

3. What efforts were made to ensure the best possible price for the commodity was obtained?

The e3-diagnostics is a vendor who sells different manufacturers’ audiometers. We compared quotes from two different manufacturers; the quote for the GSI-Audiostar

Pro was the lowest, and they included a 10% educational discount on the quote.

4. Why is the commodity the only one that can meet the needs of the Agency?

A two-channel diagnostic GSI-Audiostar audiometer. This audiometer comes with free-field testing, extended high-frequency testing with stored special tests such as the Word in Noise test, AZBio pediatric and adult version tests, BKB-SIN test, Quick SIN test, and basic auditory tests (child and adult), DOD VA

Audiology CD1, DOD VA Speech Recognition CD4, DOD VA Tonal and Speech

CD2, and Spanish auditory speech list. This audiometer also comes with specialized tests such as the TEN (Threshold Equalizing Noise) and ACT

(Audible Contrast Threshold) tests that are preinstalled. This is a diagnostic audiometer used for clinical and research purposes. If we buy other competing products, the cost is higher, and they do not come with pre-installed auditory speech and other specialized tests such as the TEN and ACT.

5. Why is the amount expended for the commodity reasonable?

The amount expended for the GSI-Audiostar pro audiometer is reasonable because online market research indicates that comparable audiometers with similar configurations are priced higher. Additionally, only one vendor was identified as offering the required equipment, and the GSI Audiostar pro audiometer represents a cost-effective option compared to similar equipment available from that vendor. Therefore, the purchase price is considered reasonable based on the available market information and the equipment’s required specifications.

Advertisement Schedule Date

1st scheduled 11/3/26

2nd scheduled 11/10/26

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 November 18, 2026, 8:00 AM CST, to:

Director of Procurement & Contracts bids@usm.edu

Subject Line must read "Sole Source Objection 27_XXX"

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.