Sole Source Request to Purchase a Kit to Build a Custom, Specialized Charged Particle Tracking Detector

The Mississippi State University is seeking to purchase a kit to build a custom, specialized charged particle tracking detector. The detector uses Gas Electron Multiplier (GEM) technology and includes various parts such as an XY GEM Read Out board, unframed GEM foils, radiation shielding, and an unframed drift/ionization chamber. The university claims that this is a sole source purchase because CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Science, is the only provider of the kits that can be used to build custom detectors. The estimated cost of the kit is $14,490. Some key points to consider: • The detector will be used for a particle physics experiment at the US Department of Energy electron accelerator at Jefferson Lab. • The GEM technology is the only available technology that can be used for this purpose. • CERN is the sole provider of the kits that can be used to build custom detectors. • The university has determined that this is a sole source purchase after efforts to find alternative sources.