9280-26-R-RFQI-00007

The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) is conducting a Notice of Proposed Sole Source Purchase (SSP 26-022, RFQI 3140004552) for an integrated Vaki fish monitoring and counting system to support research and production operations at the Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center (TCMAC) in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, located in Jasper County. The procurement encompasses a complete aquaculture handling system including a 6-inch Smart Pump, Smart Grader (5-track), MACRO Counter (4-channel), PLC Display, PLC Scanner, and associated cabling, all operating through the proprietary SmartFlow control platform. The system is designed to automate fish transfer, counting, and grading operations for Red Drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) stock assessment within an Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) framework in collaboration with Dauphin Island Sea Lab. Key performance deliverables include high-accuracy optical counting capability (greater than 98 percent accuracy across fish sizes from 0.01 grams to 12 kilograms), automated workflow integration combining pump, grader, and counter functions under centralized software control, and low-stress fish handling to reduce mortality. The objection period for this sole source request extends until 2:00 p.m. Central Time on May 14, 2026, with written objections to be submitted to Millissa Weaver at 103 McIlwain Drive, Ocean Springs, MS 39564, using the subject line "Sole Source Objection USM SSP 26_022." If USM receives compelling evidence that alternative sources exist, the agency will either withdraw the sole source publication and proceed with a competitive bid process or appeal to the Public Procurement Review Board.

Vaki Aquaculture Ltd., owned by Merck Animal Health and operated in the United States exclusively by Biomark, has been identified as the sole manufacturer and distributor of the requested equipment, with no authorized third-party resellers or competing vendors capable of providing an equivalent fully integrated system. USM's determination of sole source procurement is based on market research confirming that Vaki holds exclusive proprietary technology, particularly the line-scanning camera technology for fish counting and the SmartFlow platform as the only integrated control system capable of natively synchronizing pumps, graders, and counters into a single automated workflow. No specific set-aside designations, disadvantaged enterprise restrictions, or organizational qualification limitations have been identified in the procurement documents. Pricing has been determined fair and reasonable based on direct manufacturer quotation from Biomark/Vaki, with cost justification founded on the equipment's specialized and proprietary nature, inclusion of integrated software, system configuration, technical support, training, and the system's capability to replace multiple standalone units while reducing operational inefficiencies. No specific contract award value or budget range is disclosed in the available procurement documents. The procurement was advertised on April 26, 2026, and May 3, 2026, with a posted date of April 27, 2026.