SOLE SOURCE REQUEST TO PURCHASE Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) solid-state probe upgrade accessories with a Sample Case accessory for the MSU NMR facility.

Location:	Mississippi
Posted:	Jun 17, 2025
Due:	Jul 1, 2025
Agency:	State Government of Mississippi
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	66 - Instruments and Laboratory Equipment
Solicitation No:	9250-25-R-RFIN-00072
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

Procurement Details

Smart Number	9250-25-R-RFIN-00072	Advertised Date	06/17/2025 12:00 AM
RFx #	3150006365	Submission Date	07/01/2025 12:00 AM
RFx Status	Open	Major Procurement Category	COMMODITIES
RFx Opening Date	07/01/2025 12:00 AM	Sub Procurement Category	EQUIPMENT - TECHNOLOGY
RFx Type	Req. for Information
Agency	MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY
RFx Description	SOLE SOURCE REQUEST TO PURCHASE Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) solid-state probe upgrade accessories with a Sample Case accessory for the MSU NMR facility.

Contact Information

Name	Debra Raines	Email	draines@procurement.msstate.edu
Phone		Fax

RFx Items

PRODUCT CATEGORY	PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
49043	Lab Eqpmt-Lab & Scie

Awarded

VENDOR NAME

VENDOR NUMBER

AWARD DATE

AWARD AMOUNT

FUNDING SOURCE

Bid Attachments

Attachments
Notice

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Mississippi State University

Notice of Proposed Sole Source Purchase

245-148

Mississippi State University anticipates purchasing the item(s) listed below as a sole source

purchase. Anyone objecting to this purchase shall follow the procedures outlined below.

1. Commodity or commodities to be purchased (make, model, description):

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) solid-state probe upgrade accessories with a

Sample Case accessory for the MSU NMR facility.

2. Explanation of the need to be fulfilled by this item(s), how is it unique from all other

options, and why it is the only one that can meet the specific needs of the department:

Bruker BioSpin is the manufacturer of all of MSU’s NMR instrumentation, which is

proprietary hardware used to monitor magnetic properties of chemical compounds.

The proposed purchase is for accessories that will enable the NMR facility to collect and

analyze NMR spectra of solid materials (solid-state NMR). Specifically, these

accessories include:

• Solid-State Sample Probe. This upgrade requires a sample probe that is optimized

for magic-angle spinning (MAS) of samples. MAS is a common way to improve NMR

spectral quality. The probe is technically and structurally very different from existing

probes used to record NMR spectra on solution samples.

• MAS Controller. Since samples are spinning in the probe at high speeds, an MAS

controller is needed to monitor and control the spinning speed of the sample in the

MAS probe.

• High-Power Amplifier. Solid-state NMR needs higher power pulses than solution

NMR, and the amplifier must be upgraded. This amplifier must interface

electronically with existing equipment to generate the pulses needed for solid-state

NMR.

• Automatic Sample Changer. When the solid-state probe is inserted, solution-state

samples cannot be run on the same instrument. An automated sample changer is

needed to simplify and streamline the insertion and running of samples when the

MAS hardware is installed in the NMR.

These accessories must interface with the proprietary hardware, software, and control

systems provided on MSU’s existing Bruker NMR instrumentation. New, stand-alone

NMR systems capable of collecting solid-state NMR data can cost millions of dollars, as

evidenced by MSU’s recent purchase of the 800 MHz system installed last year. By

purchasing solid-state NMR accessories as an upgrade for the existing NMR, the

department hopes to reduce spending by a substantial sum. However, this decision

requires us to use proprietary Bruker harder. Other vendors do not make commercial

accessories that interface with Bruker’s instruments, so this is the only option available

to fulfill the department’s needs.

To summarize, the unique features are: (1) interface with existing NMR hardware

provided by Bruker, and (2) provide solid-state NMR capabilities for the existing NMR

systems in the NMR facility, and (3) support automatic sample insertion to streamline

operations when the solids probe is being used.

3. Name of company/individual selling the item and why that source is the only possible

source that can provide the required item(s):

Bruker BioSpin Corporation

15 Fortune Drive

Billerica, MA 01821 USA

Phone: (978) 667-9580

Sales Representative: David Vargas

Email: david.vargas@bruker.com

Bruker BioSpin is the only vendor able to meet the requirements above. Since the

existing NMR technology is proprietary, the upgrade accessories must be obtained from

Bruker.

4. Estimated cost of item(s) and an explanation why the amount to be expended is

considered reasonable:

The total cost of the items is estimated to be $276,926.34. This price includes all the

accessories described above, reflects academic pricing, and includes all freight. This

price is reasonable because a new instrument supporting solid-state NMR would cost at

least four times as much. These accessories are expected to last 10 years or longer,

and the price is comparable to other scientific instruments of similar complexity.

5. Explanation of the efforts taken by the department to determine this is the only source

and the efforts used to obtain the best possible price:

The NMR facility staff investigated options for bringing solid-state NMR capabilities to

MSU. Meeting with multiple sales reps from NMR instrument manufacturers determined

that adding a solids upgrade to our existing instrumentation would be far cheaper than

purchasing a new instrument and would be the easiest way to add the ability to the

facility. The departmental instrument committee met and deemed that the capabilities

provided by the upgrade, including improved resolution and characterization of

polymers, were suitable for the needs of MSU faculty.

The NMR facility staff negotiated with the sales representative to obtain the maximum

possible discount, including an academic discount.

Any person or entity that objects and proposes that the commodity listed is not sole source and

can be provided by another person or entity shall submit a written notice to:

Jennifer Mayfield, CPPO

Interim Deputy Director of Procurement & Contracts

jmayfield@procurement.msstate.edu

Subject Line must read “Sole Source Objection”

The notice shall contain a detailed explanation of why the commodity is not a sole source

procurement. Appropriate documentation shall also be submitted if applicable.

If after a review of the submitted notice and documents, MSU determines that the commodity in

the proposed sole source request can be provided by another person or entity, then MSU will

withdraw the sole source request publication from the procurement portal website and submit

the procurement of the commodity to an advertised competitive bid or selection process.

If MSU determines after review that there is only one (1) source for the required commodity,

then MSU will appeal to the Public Procurement Review Board. MSU will have the burden of

proving that the commodity is only provided by one (1) source.

This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.

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SOLE SOURCE REQUEST TO PURCHASE Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) solid-state probe upgrade accessories with a Sample Case accessory for the MSU NMR facility.

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