SSP 26_022Integrated Aquaculture Handling System

Description

The University of Southern Mississippi Notice of Proposed Sole Source Purchase SSP 26_022 RFQI # 3140004552 The University of Southern Mississippi anticipates purchasing the item(s) listed below as a sole source purchase. Anyone objecting to this purchase shall follow the procedures outlined below. 1. Description of the commodity that USM is seeking to procure: USM is seeking to procure an integrated aquaculture handling system consisting of a Vaki 6” Smart Pump, Smart Grader (5-track), MACRO Counter (4-channel), PLC Display, PLC Scanner, and associated cabling. This system is designed to automate fish transfer, counting, and grading operations through a unified control platform (SmartFlow), enabling precise data collection and low-stress handling of cultured fish species. 2. What efforts were made by the Agency to determine that the proposed provider is the only entity that can provide the commodity needed? The agency conducted market research including: • Review of aquaculture equipment vendors offering fish pumps, graders, and counters • Evaluation of competing technologies (e.g., infrared counters, standalone graders, non-integrated pump systems) • Consultation of manufacturer documentation and industry sources This review determined: • Vaki is the sole manufacturer and U.S. distributor of the requested system • No third-party vendors are authorized to sell or service Vaki equipment • No competing vendor offers a fully integrated system combining pump, grading, and high-accuracy optical counting under a single software platform A formal sole source letter from the manufacturer confirming exclusivity has been obtained. 3. What efforts were made to ensure the best possible price for the commodity was obtained? Pricing was obtained directly from the exclusive U.S. distributor (Biomark/Vaki) The quote was evaluated against: 1 The University of Southern Mississippi Notice of Proposed Sole Source Purchase SSP 26_022 RFQI # 3140004552 • Historical pricing for similar Vaki systems (if applicable) • Industry expectations for specialized aquaculture equipment • The inclusion of proprietary software, integration, and service support Due to the sole source nature, no competitive quotes are available; however, the pricing is consistent with the specialized engineering, proprietary technology, and bundled services provided. 4.