The University of Mississippi is issuing a sole-source notice for a TCS SP8 FALCON upgrade to an existing Leica SP8 Confocal microscope, with objections to the sole-source certification due September 28, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. Central Time. Leica Microsystems, Inc. is identified as the sole manufacturer capable of providing the required upgrade; the university contacted Zeiss, Olympus, Bruker, and Thor regarding FLIM-FRET systems, but each competitor offered only complete replacement systems incompatible with the existing equipment.

The upgrade enables the university's imaging research community to conduct FLIM-FRET (Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy-Forster Resonance Energy Transfer) analysis, which measures molecular proximity within living tissues. The university currently operates a confocal microscope with a pulsed laser but lacks the advanced control systems, electronics, and software necessary to perform the required molecular proximity measurements. The FALCON system is proprietary to Leica's SP8 platform and integrates with the existing Leica LAS X acquisition software, making it the only available upgrade path for the current hardware.

The estimated expenditure is approximately $49,000, representing approximately 5% of the cost of a complete new FLIM-FRET system. The university negotiated the price downward from the original Leica quote; Leica agreed to reduce the cost to meet the department's $50,000 funding limit.

Objections to the sole-source certification must be submitted to Jeff Wells, Procurement Manager, at the University of Mississippi Procurement Services office or via email to solesource@olemiss.edu with copies to purchase@olemiss.edu. Following review of any submitted objections, the University of Mississippi will either proceed with the sole-source purchase or appeal to the Public Procurement Review Board for approval.

9270-27-R-RFIN-00002

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