Notice End Date: June 2, 2023

Vendor Name: Keyence VK-X3050 3D Surface Profiler and Related Accessories

Contract Amount: $135,295.00

Agency Procurement Manager: SC Young

Agency Procurement Manager Email: scy@clemson.edu

Agency Procurement Manager Telephone#: 8646562830

The Agency hereby provides notice that it intends to enter into a sole source contract per S.C. Code Ann. §11-35-1560 with Vendor for the following supplies, services, information technology, or construction:

Clemson University's Chemistry Department seeks to sole source the purchase of a Keyence VK-X3050 3D Surface Profiler and related accessories and software.  Our primary application of this instrument is to analyze the interface of the single crystal cladding that we are developing for single crystal fibers as well as establish polishing procedures. This is a necessary step in the development of these materials and can only be accomplished by combination of laser confocal scanning microscopy and white light interferometry. Only Keyence’s VK system includes both techniques. Laser confocal scanning offers high lateral and Z resolution, but is, critically, material independent & allows for scanning through surfaces, scanning of optically opaque surfaces (crystal), and data acquisition at extreme angles. For our polishing, research, however, the Z resolution may be insufficient when compared with white light interferometry. White light interferometry allows us to scan surfaces with polish in the single and sub-nanometer Ra categories, which is critical for our research. It struggles with rougher surfaces and curves/pitches, but for our flat polished samples it offers the Z resolution required. This equipment cannot be purchased from any other reseller or distributor. For these reasons, this is a sole source.

Agency's justification for a sole source procurement may be viewed or immediately obtained at: Agency Procurement Manager (Listed Above)

PROTESTS:
Any actual or prospective bidder, offeror, contractor, or subcontractor aggrieved in connection with the intended award or award of this sole source contract, shall notify the appropriate chief Procurement officer in writing of its intent to protest within five (5) business days of the date this notice is posted. Any actual or prospective bidder, offeror, contractor, or subcontractor who is aggrieved in connection with the intended award or award of this sole source contract and has timely notified the appropriate chief procurement officer of its intent to protest, may protest to the appropriate chief procurement officer in the manner set forth below within fifteen days of the date this notice is posted; except that a matter that could have been raised as a protest of the solicitation may not be raised as a protest of the award or intended award of a contract.
A protest must be in writing, filed with the appropriate chief procurement officer, and set forth the grounds of the protest and the relief requested with enough particularity to give notice of the issues to be decided. The protest must be received by the appropriate chief procurement officer within the time provided above. Days are calculated as provided in S.C. Code Ann. § 11-35-310(13).

Any Notice Of Intent To Protest And Protest Must Be Addressed To: Materials Management Officer