Notice End Date: February 10, 2026

Vendor Name: Masuko Sangyo Co.

Contract Amount: $71,700.00

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 Forestry and Environmental Conservation & Materials Science and Engineering seeks to sole source the purchase of Masuko Sangyo Co., Ltd's Super Masscolloider, Model MKZA10-15JIV.  Our research program requires the acquisition of a high-precision grinding system capable of processing biomaterials at micro and nanoscale, like cellulose, lignin and similar advanced materials. After a thorough review of available systems, the Masuko Super Masscolloider MKZA10-15JIV was determined to be the only product meeting the specific performance and engineering requirements necessary for ongoing and future experimental work.  The model MKZA10-15JIV incorporates a proprietary disk-type grinding mechanism that is patented and unavailable from other suppliers. This has been formally certified by the manufacturer’s Certificate of Exclusivity (November 11, 2025), stating it is “the only product of its kind on the market” designed specifically for nanocellulose-related applications. The Super Masscolloider’s Superfine Wet Grinding System uses a precision-controlled ceramic disk system capable of achieving particle sizes at or below the micro/nanometer scale, a capability not replicated by other grinding systems and required for our research. Other machines cannot cannot achieve the same shear force uniformity or particle size control necessary for advanced nanocellulose and biomaterials processing. The system also enables temperature-controlled operation and eliminates metal contamination, ensuring high-purity biopolymer and nanomaterial preparation, which is a critical aspect of the research being conducted in the laboratory. The Super Masscolloider line, including the MKZA10-15JIV, is available only directly from Masuko Sangyo Co., Ltd. No third-party distributors or resellers are authorized for this model.  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