USM SSP 26_027 Notice of Proposed Sole Source Purchase of TPS Anisotropy Upgrade. http://www.ms.gov/dfa/contract_bid_search/Bid RFx: 3150006844 Comments/objections will be received as required per Section 31-7-13 (C) of the Mississippi Code until 8:00 a

The University of Southern Mississippi is proposing a sole source purchase under Mississippi Code Section 31-7-13 for the TPS Anisotropy Upgrade and TPS Thin Film Utility software modules compatible with the C-Therm Trident thermal conductivity system. The procurement, identified by RFx 3150006844 and Smart Number 9280-26-R-RFIN-00029, is justified solely on the technical uniqueness of C-Therm Technologies’ proprietary hardware and software, which are the only commercially available solutions meeting ASTM D7984 standards for transient plane source thermal effusivity measurements. The required capabilities include a thermal conductivity range of 0.01 to 500 W/mK, extended temperature operation, and exclusive MTPS sensor technology with guard ring design that eliminates edge effects—features not replicable by any competitor, including TA Instruments, Hukseflux, or KEM Kyoto Electronics. The acquisition consists of two distinct software modules: TR-TPS-THIN for thin film testing (20–500 µm) and TR-TPS-ANI for anisotropic material characterization, both enabling non-destructive, single-sided thermal mapping critical to advanced research at the Mississippi Polymer Institute. The total estimated contract value is $14,400, fully funded by the MPI Sustainability Grant #8007498 with funds set to expire in October 2026. Performance must be completed by August 2026, with delivery and installation occurring at Accelerator Building, Room 131, 46 Shelby Thames Drive, Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The procurement is non-competitive, with no evaluation factors, price negotiation, or trade-off analysis applied; award is based exclusively on the absence of alternative vendors capable of fulfilling the technical requirements. Submission of objections is permitted until June 8, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. CST, and must be directed to [email hidden] with a designated subject line. The contracting officer is Jacob Cochran, with Sara Bayley and Sam Lahasky serving as technical representatives. No formal FAR clauses, packaging, marking, or bar-coding requirements are included, and no military standards or socioeconomic certifications apply. Vendor compliance requires registration in Mississippi’s MAGIC system and submission of a completed Sole Source Certification signed by USM’s CIO, confirming market research and technical exclusivity. The acquisition represents