9270-26-R-RFIN-00011

The University of Mississippi (UM) Physics department is pursuing a sole source procurement for the Pasco Experiments EX-9987 Reflection and Refraction Experiment Kit to replace aging optics laboratory equipment. The procurement is specifically designed to support physics and engineering course laboratory needs, with a total proposed purchase amount of $7,800.00, which includes a negotiated 3% discount. The experiment kit comprises multiple optical components including planar, concave, and convex mirrors, converging and diverging lenses, and a bright light source. Pasco is identified as the exclusive manufacturer and distributor of this specialized equipment, with the university emphasizing its unique compatibility with existing optics experiments. The procurement follows a formal sole source notice process (Solicitation #SS 460), with an open comment and objection period ending on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, at 10:00 am Central Time. Interested parties may submit responses via hand delivery, mail, overnight delivery, or email to the specified Procurement Services contact. The university anticipates the equipment will serve tens of thousands of students over multiple decades and requires compatibility with their current experimental infrastructure.

No specific set-aside designations or restrictions on responding organizations are explicitly detailed in the documentation. Pasco appears to be the sole vendor for this specialized experiment kit, which suggests limited competitive bidding. The university plans to seek approval from the Public Procurement Review Board if no alternative sources are identified during the review process. The procurement is targeted exclusively for University of Mississippi Physics department use, with no indication of preferences for disadvantaged enterprises or small businesses. The existing infrastructure includes current optics laboratory equipment that this new kit will complement and potentially replace. The budget for this procurement is clearly defined at $7,800.00, with a pre-negotiated 3% discount already secured. The university's justification for sole source procurement centers on the equipment's specialized nature and complete compatibility with existing laboratory resources.