Notice End Date: April 23, 2024

Vendor Name: ImmersaFlow™ Batch Retorts - STOCK, 1400mm, 2-position system

Contract Amount: $250,000.00

Agency Procurement Manager: SC Young

Agency Procurement Manager Email: scy@clemson.edu

Agency Procurement Manager Telephone#: 864-656-2830

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 Food Nutrition and Packaging Sciences department seeks to sole source the purchase of the Stock ImmersaFLO Retort system.  Our research requires forced flow of the thermal processing medium (water) with come-up-time less than 6 minutes for a 1400 mm, two basket retort design.  Also, we require  less than 2F° spread between the geometric center of the retort basket and the perimeter of the retort basket during come-up.   ImmersaFlow batch sterilization retort process providing precise control of process media fluid dynamics and path of least resistance, resolving the load resistance problem. The system does not require for gravity, or the need for increased process utilities to achieve homogenous temperature profiles.  The technology utilizes a closed loop column of process water, channeled through a plenum and closed wall baskets, and creates an immersion process within the basket.  Outside of the basket, the retort shell is primarily empty, minimizing water usage and reducing the amount of heat required for the process.  ImmersaFlow™ has 4-6 minute Come Up Times (CUT), with as little as a 2°F spread between the geometric center and perimeter of the load.  No other equipment can meet these requirements, and the equipment cannot be purchased from any other reseller or distributor.  For these reasons, this is a sole source procurement.

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