USM SSP 27_002 SEASONDE ANTENNA REPAIR BUSINESS JUSTIFICATION SIGNED.pdf

This is a sole source purchase justification document from the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) School of Ocean Science & Engineering, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Commerce, Texas A&M University, and the Gulf Consortium. The document supports the procurement of specialized antenna repair items for CODAR SeaSonde High Frequency Radar (HFR) systems that were damaged by lightning. The required items include an antenna board, dome antenna top cover, delrin outer flange, antenna holder backing ring, and two antenna whips. USM operates eight base stations along the coastline from Destin, Florida to Port Fourchon, Louisiana as part of the Gulf Consortium's surface current monitoring network. The notice of proposed sole source purchase was issued under Mississippi contract bid RFx 3150006944, with comments and objections receivable until 8:00 a.m. on the deadline specified under Mississippi Code Section 31-7-13(C).

CODAR Ocean Sensors is identified as the sole source provider capable of supplying the specialized, proprietary antenna components required for accurate surface current measurements. No equivalent off-the-shelf replacement from alternative vendors exists for the CODAR SeaSonde antenna design. The procurement is funded through grants from the U.S. Department of Commerce and Texas A&M University, with the justification document signed by Stephan Howden, Director of the Hydrographic Science Research Center, and Chris Hayes, Associate Director of the School of Ocean Science & Engineering, dated July 22, 2026.