9280-25-R-RFIN-00020

The University of Southern Mississippi's School of Ocean Science & Engineering is seeking to procure three Hefring Ocean Scout Battery sets for a seaglider used in hurricane modeling and forecasting research in the Gulf of Mexico region. This is a sole source procurement specifically for lithium primary batteries designed exclusively by Hefring Inc. for their Oceanscout glider system. The procurement is funded through grants from the U.S. Department of Commerce NOAA and Texas A&M University as part of the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) research initiative. Each battery set is priced at $4,000, with a total procurement value of $13,500 including shipping and insurance. The solicitation is posted under Mississippi state contract opportunity ID 9280-25-R-RFIN-00020, with responses and comments to be received until 8:00 a.m. on April 1, 2025, in accordance with Section 31-7-13 (C) of the Mississippi Code. Delivery is estimated at 10 weeks after receipt of the written order, with specific export restrictions noting that shipments to non-NATO and non-EU countries will require additional licensing.

The procurement appears to have no specific set-aside designations or restrictions on organizational respondents. Hefring Inc. has explicitly stated they are the sole manufacturer and provider of these specialized battery sets, with no authorized resellers in the United States. The batteries are critical components for the OceanScout glider system, with strict warnings that using alternative batteries will void warranties and potentially compromise vehicle performance and user safety. The total budget for this procurement is $13,500, which includes $12,000 for the three battery sets and $1,500 for estimated shipping and insurance. Payment terms are structured with 50% due 14 days before shipping and the remaining 50% net 30 from dispatch, with potential late payment fees of 0.75% per month. The quote is valid for 120 days and includes provisions for a 25% cancellation fee for orders cancelled less than three weeks before the planned shipping date.