Purchase of HaaS MiniMill with HA5C & Sm

Midlands Technical College in Richland County, South Carolina, is pursuing a sole source procurement for specialized CNC machining equipment through a direct acquisition from Phillips Corporation, operating as HAAS Factory Outlet. The procurement involves purchasing two HAAS MiniMill machines, two HA5C units, and two simulators specifically for instructional purposes to support student training in CNC machining operations. These compact machining centers will provide full-size CNC capabilities with extended travel capabilities, designed to enhance technical education infrastructure. The procurement is being conducted under S.C. Code Ann. 11-35-1560 and S.C. Regulation 19-445.2105, which allows for sole source acquisitions when a vendor is the exclusive distributor. The procurement officer, Rina Drescher, has established November 28, 2023, as the effective award date, with work not to commence until receipt of a purchase order from the College. No formal bidding process, site visits, or bidders' conferences are associated with this procurement.

The procurement is specifically restricted to Phillips Corporation/HAAS Factory Outlet, which is the sole authorized distributor of HAAS Automation CNC machines in South Carolina. Extensive market research conducted by Midlands Technical College confirmed that the specified MiniMill and HA5C products are exclusively available through this vendor, with Phillips Federal having served as the sole and exclusive distributor of HAAS equipment to the U.S. Federal government for over 25 years. A formal sole source letter from HAAS supports this procurement strategy. The total potential value of this procurement is $133,354.91 before taxes, representing a targeted investment in educational technology infrastructure. No specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises are noted in the documentation. The procurement appears focused on direct acquisition from the manufacturer's authorized distributor to ensure compatibility, quality, and appropriate technical support for the educational institution's specific training requirements.