Project Information

Bid Title

SOLE SOURCE REQUEST TO PURCHASE WRK String Spectrometer Instrument and WRK Flight-line Sample Collector System with corresponding parts kits, weather & speed kit, and all associated components.

Issuing Agency

State Government of Mississippi

Location

Mississippi

Published Date

Jul 8, 2026

Closing Date

Jul 22, 2026

Government Level

State & Local

Status

Closed

Ref. #

9250-27-R-RFIN-00002

Original Source

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Project Description

Procurement Details

Smart Number	9250-27-R-RFIN-00002	Advertised Date	07/08/2026 12:00 AM
RFx #	3150006930	Submission Date	07/22/2026 12:00 AM
RFx Status	Open	Major Procurement Category	COMMODITIES
RFx Opening Date	07/22/2026 12:00 AM	Sub Procurement Category	EQUIPMENT - TECHNOLOGY
RFx Type	Req. for Information
Agency	MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY
RFx Description	SOLE SOURCE REQUEST TO PURCHASE WRK String Spectrometer Instrument and WRK Flight-line Sample Collector System with corresponding parts kits, weather & speed kit, and all associated components.

Contact Information

Name	Debra Raines	Email	draines@procurement.msstate.edu
Phone		Fax

RFx Items

PRODUCT CATEGORY	PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
49043	Lab Eqpmt-Lab & Scie

Awarded

VENDOR NAME

VENDOR NUMBER

AWARD DATE

AWARD AMOUNT

FUNDING SOURCE

Bid Attachments

Attachments Notice

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Mississippi State University

Notice of Proposed Sole Source Purchase

Mississippi State University anticipates purchasing the item(s) listed below as a

sole source purchase. Anyone objecting to this purchase shall follow the

procedures outlined below.

1. Commodity or commodities to be purchased (make, model, description):

WRK of Oklahoma (manufacturer) – WRK String Spectrometer Instrument and WRK Flight-line

Sample Collector System with corresponding parts kits, weather & speed kit, and all associated

components.

2. Explanation of the need to be fulfilled by this item(s), how is it unique from all other

options, and why it is the only one that can meet the specific needs of the department:

The need to be fulfilled by these items is research data collection for aerial application of

agricultural products by Unmanned/Uncrewed Aerial Application Systems (UAAS – “spray

drones”). MSU AAI has multiple sponsored research awards which require research data

collection for aerial application of agricultural products including data for effective swath width,

droplet spectrum, %-coverage, deposition uniformity, etc. The WRK String Spectrometer

Instrument and WRK Flight-line Sample Collector System are the only equipment that can meet

the specific needs of the department because this equipment comprehensively provides all

necessary items required to collect and analyze the research data needed for these ongoing

research projects. There only exists 1 alternative which is capable of collecting this type of data

– the “SwathGobbler” instrument made by Application Insight. However, the SwathGobbler is

not designed for string data collection, which is essential for data collection and evaluation for

effective swath width. MSU already owns a SwathGobbler instrument and has used it

extensively, but has been unable to capture and analyze effective swath width data using it.

Therefore, the WRK String Spectrometer Instrument and WRK Flight-line Sample Collector

System are the only equipment/means which provide the ability to collect and analyze swath

width, and also provide the ability to collect and analyze the additional data types mentioned

above.

3. Name of company/individual selling the item and why that source is the only possible

source that can provide the required item(s):

WRK of Oklahoma – Dr. Richard Whitney. This is the only possible source that can provide the

required items because Mr. Whitney builds these items by hand, and they are purpose built for

our exact needs. A variety of spectrometer instruments are available from numerous different

manufacturers, however, the spectrometer alone is not designed for string data collection and

analysis – which is the only method for effective swath width measurement. The WRK String

Spectrometer Instrument and WRK Flight-line Sample Collector System is the only equipment

available which integrates a spectrometer instrument into a custom-built String Spectrometer

which is specifically designed for this exact purpose (string data collection and analysis).

4. Estimated cost of item(s) and an explanation why the amount to be expended is

considered reasonable:

Estimated cost of equipment is $25,695 + shipping/delivery. This amount is considered

reasonable because very few “semi-comparable” portable spectrometer instruments are

available at considerably higher price ports. “Semi-comparable” meaning that these systems

are NOT string spectrometry instruments as needed for effective swath width measurement –

but they ARE portable spectrometry instruments, which is ultimately what the WRK equipment

also is. An example of a semi-comparable portable spectrometer is the StellarNet PORTA-LIBS

System here - https://www.shopstellarnet.com/porta-libs-system/ . Again, this comparable

option is not a string spectrometer as we need, but it is a portable spectrometer designed for

other field applications and is the closest comparable equipment item we could find to

demonstrate the reasonable price of the WRK equipment.

5. Explanation of the efforts taken by the department to determine this is the only source

and the efforts used to obtain the best possible price:

Extensive efforts have been taken by the department to support this sole source request and to

justify the corresponding equipment price. First, the department has already purchased the

only equipment item which can perform comparable data collection – the SwathGobbler made

by Application Insight. Unfortunately, the SwathGobbler is not able to collect, measure, and

analyze effective swath width – which is one of the primary research considerations of our

ongoing research projects. Secondly, the department has previously contracted with WRK to

provide professional services by hosting a data collection and training clinic at MSU in June

2025 using this same equipment. During the clinic, we collected extensive data using this same

equipment, but the ongoing research projects have a continued need for more data.

Ultimately, the purchase of this equipment provides much greater long-term value at a much

more reasonable price to the department and to the research sponsors versus paying for

additional/annual clinics to support further data collection. Additionally, the department has

scoured other available spectrometer equipment options/vendors to determine if any other

string spectrometer equipment was available. None have been identified, and no other

spectrometer equipment are purpose built as string spectrometers as we need for data

collection and analysis of effective swath width. Finally, the department has also reviewed the

scientific literature for comparable research seeking to collect the same data as our ongoing

projects. In all instances, this same WRK equipment is consistently used for this data collection

included a dedicated study and publication in Applied Engineering in Agriculture journal of the

American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers here -

https://elibrary.asabe.org/pdfviewer.asp?param1=s:/8y9u8/q8qu/tq9q/5tv/J/quqzIGHO/JK/H/c

iHIKLK.5tv&param2=M/HM/IGIM&param3=HJG.HO.HLO.HIP&param4=48766

Any person or entity that objects and proposes that the commodity listed is not sole source and

can be provided by another person or entity shall submit a written notice to:

Jennifer Mayfield, CPPO

Director of Procurement Services, Chief Procurement Officer

jmayfield@procurement.msstate.edu

Subject Line must read “Sole Source Objection”

The notice shall contain a detailed explanation of why the commodity is not a sole source

procurement. Appropriate documentation shall also be submitted if applicable.

If after a review of the submitted notice and documents, MSU determines that the commodity

in the proposed sole source request can be provided by another person or entity, then MSU will

withdraw the sole source request publication from the procurement portal website and submit

the procurement of the commodity to an advertised competitive bid or selection process.

If MSU determines after review that there is only one (1) source for the required commodity,

then MSU will appeal to the Public Procurement Review Board. MSU will have the burden of

proving that the commodity is only provided by one (1) source.

.

Commodity Codes

• NAICS 336413Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing
• NAICS 541330Engineering Services
• NAICS 811219Other Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance

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