Sole Source Certification Request for CTherm TPS Sensor Software

The University of Southern Mississippi is requesting a sole source certification for the purchase of CTherm TPS sensor software. The software is for an additional sensor type for the CTherm thermal conductivity instrument, which is a specialty sensor designed to be a thin, flexible sensor for testing thin films and coatings. The university has evaluated other vendors, including TA Instruments, Hukseflux, and KEM Kyoto Electronics, but none of them can fulfill the specific requirements needed for their testing. The CTherm software is the only one that can provide the required range, temperature capabilities, and conformity to ASTM standards. • The purchase is for the software for an additional sensor type for the CTherm thermal conductivity instrument. • The TPS sensor is a specialty sensor designed to be a thin, flexible sensor for testing of thin films and coatings. • The sensor can be inserted into layered systems to read thermal conductivity of very specific material types. • The estimated project cost is $14,400, which is considered reasonable with the academic discount. • The funding source is a grant, specifically the MPI Sustainability Grant 8007498.