Sole Source Purchase of GEM Detector Kit (SSP 256‑066)

Mississippi State University (MSU) is proposing a sole‑source purchase of a complete kit to build a custom charged‑particle tracking detector that uses Gas Electron Multiplier (GEM) technology. The kit includes an XY GEM read‑out board, unframed GEM foils with 140 µm holes, radiation shielding, and an unframed drift/ionization chamber. The detector will be used in a DOE‑funded experiment at Jefferson Lab to measure the proton charge radius. CERN in Geneva is identified as the only worldwide source capable of supplying the required GEM foils and assembling the kit, justifying the sole‑source determination. The estimated total cost of the kit is $14,490, and the submission deadline for the purchase is March 5, 2026 at 8:00 am. • Scope: procurement of a specialized GEM detector kit (hardware only; no services or installation). • Vendor: CERN – the sole supplier of the required GEM foils and related components. • Funding/End‑use: DOE‑funded particle‑physics research at Jefferson Lab. • Procurement status: proposed sole‑source notice; objections must be submitted to the Director of Procurement Services.