9270-26-R-RFIN-00012

The University of Mississippi Procurement Services is pursuing a sole source procurement for specialized scientific laboratory equipment from Pasco, specifically the Electron Charge-to-Mass Ratio Experiments (SE-9629) and e/m Replacement Tube (SE-9659). This procurement is designed to acquire a unique laboratory apparatus that enables students to study electron motion and replicate a landmark scientific experiment by calculating the electron charge-to-mass ratio. The procurement notice, identified as SS 461, indicates that Pasco is the sole manufacturer and distributor of this specific experimental equipment, which possesses unique features not available from other manufacturers. The total procurement cost is $21,944.59, with the university having negotiated a 3% discount. Interested parties are invited to submit comments or objections by Wednesday, October 29, 2025, at 10:00 am Central Time through various submission methods including hand delivery, mail, overnight delivery, or email to the specified procurement contacts. If no valid objections are received, the University of Mississippi will either proceed with the sole source purchase or seek approval from the Public Procurement Review Board.

The procurement appears to have no specific set-aside designations or restrictions on responding organizations. The sole source nature of the procurement indicates that Pasco is the exclusive vendor for this specialized scientific equipment. The equipment is intended for educational purposes, specifically to support scientific experiments in an academic laboratory setting. The university anticipates the equipment will have a long operational lifespan, potentially serving educational needs for several decades. The procurement represents a targeted acquisition of specialized scientific instrumentation with a focused objective of providing students with advanced experimental capabilities in electron motion studies. The proposed purchase suggests a commitment to maintaining high-quality scientific research and educational infrastructure at the University of Mississippi.