SOLE SOURCE REQUEST TO PURCHASE ThermoFisher Scientific Helios 5 Hydra CX DualBeam System: Extreme High Resolution (XHR) Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FE-SEM) equipped with a switchable multiple-ion-species (Xe, Ar, O, N) inductively couple

Mississippi State University is seeking to procuring a ThermoFisher Scientific Helios 5 Hydra CX DualBeam System, an Extreme High Resolution Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope equipped with a switchable multiple-ion-species (Xe, Ar, O, N) inductively coupled plasma focused ion beam, through a sole source solicitation. This system is required for advanced nanoscale analysis and automated TEM lamella preparation, with critical capabilities including a high-dynamic-range pixelated direct electron detector and integration with the EMPAD-2 detector on a single platform, which only ThermoFisher Scientific currently offers. The procurement includes not only the main instrument but also a Spectra 200 S/TEM system, advanced software packages such as AutoTEM 5, Autoscrip, Auto Slice and View 5, Maps3, and Avizo, two uninterruptible power supplies, and extended service agreements covering two additional years beyond the standard one-year factory warranty, totaling a negotiated contract value of $5,186,011 after a 55.85% discount from the original list price of $11,745,479. The solicitation, numbered 9250-26-R-RFIN-00045, was posted on June 17, 2026, with responses due by July 1, 2026, and performance will occur in Mississippi. The university has justified the sole source designation based on unique technical specifications only available from ThermoFisher Scientific, including integrated automation compatibility and multi-ion species precision for sensitive multi-material workflows. Objections to the sole source determination must be submitted in writing to the Chief Procurement Officer with the subject line “Sole Source Objection” and include detailed documentation challenging the exclusivity claim. Non-electronic proposals must be delivered to 245 Barr Avenue, Room 610, Mississippi State, MS 39762, and no electronic submission details or proposal format requirements are specified in the documentation. No contract clauses, evaluation factors, inspection criteria, packaging instructions, or seller certifications are included, as this procurement is grounded in a prior technical justification rather than competitive bidding.