Notice End Date: October 2, 2024

Vendor Name: Bruker 500MHz solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometer with multiphase and multinuclear capabilities

Contract Amount: $999,912.00

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 Department of Chemistry seeks to sole source the purchase of a Bruker 500MHz solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometer with multiphase and multinuclear capabilities.  This instrument is essential for research outlined in a recently funded National Science Foundation Major Research Instrumentation (NSF-MRI) proposal.  The NMR spectrometer comprises three main components: a superconducting magnet, probes, and a console that houses the electronics. Specifically, we require:  1. A high-resolution magic angle spinning (HRMAS) probe capable of 1H, 19F and BB acquisition.  2. A magic angle spinning (MAS) multinuclear probe capable of operating at temperatures from -80°C to 200°C.  3. Automatic magic angle adjustment and automatic shimming features, as the spectrometer will be used by non-experts.  It is believed that Bruker Biospin Corporation is the only provider that offers a spectrometer and MAS probes meeting all of these specifications, including the Avance NEO NMR console, Bruker HRMAS iprobe, and CPMAS iprobe. No other supplier manufactures NMR instruments with these precise features.  Furthermore, the Clemson NMR Facility currently operates three other Bruker NMR spectrometers. The high-resolution and MAS probes from these existing spectrometers are compatible with the proposed Bruker instrument and can serve as backup probes when the new ones are being serviced. This compatibility is specific to Bruker spectrometers.  Additionally, the requested Bruker spectrometer includes the Ascend Evo superconducting magnet, which boasts a minimum helium hold time exceeding 365 days. Given the current global helium shortage, minimizing liquid helium consumption is crucial. No other manufacturer offers magnets with such low helium consumption.  This 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