Sole source notice for an Gas Cluster Ion Beam (Argon Source) System

The University of Mississippi is procuring a lone lonoptika GCIB 10S Gas Cluster Ion Beam (Argon Source) System through a sole source justification under FAR 6.302-1, with a total estimated value of $121,740. This acquisition is non-competitive due to the system’s unique and proprietary capabilities required to integrate with existing custom instrumentation in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, including real-time cluster measurement, sample current imaging, and ultra-thin film sputtering over a precise 7x7 mm area—functions unmatched by any commercially available alternative. The solicitation, identified as Smart number 9270-27-R-RFIN-00001 and RFx 3150006943, was posted on July 20, 2026, with responses due by August 4, 2026, at 10:00 AM CST. All objections to the sole source status must be submitted by the deadline via email to solesource@olemiss.edu (with a copy to purchase@olemiss.edu), or via mail or hand delivery to the university’s procurement office in University, Mississippi, and must include full contact details and a statement of the objector’s capabilities to meet the technical requirements. The place of performance and acceptance is the university campus, where the system will be installed and operated. No standard FAR clauses, packaging or marking specifications, military standards, or evaluation factors are included in the solicitation, as the procurement relies solely on the technical necessity and exclusivity of the ion source model. The contract does not specify payment processes, accounting codes, invoicing systems, or delivery terms such as FOB, and no formal COR, COTR, or PCO is designated beyond Jeff Wells, Procurement Manager, who serves as the primary point of contact. Vendor representations, certifications, or socioeconomic status information are not applicable, as the procurement is not subject to small business set-asides or competition. The system will be delivered as a single unit with no options or line items, and acceptance will be based on meeting the defined technical performance criteria without reference to formal industry standards.