Opportunity Overview
The University of Southern Mississippi is soliciting sealed bids from qualified vendors for Scientific and Laboratory Equipment, identified as Bid 27-10 and RFx 3160008250 (Smart No. 9280-27-R-IFBD-00008). The equipment will support a new aquaculture research facility at the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory in Ocean Springs, Mississippi.
Status and Deadline
The controlling USM bid packet states that bids are due September 25, 2026 at 2:00 PM CDT. Mississippi’s statewide procurement portal also lists the RFx as open with the same date and 2:00 PM submission/opening time.
Funding / Contract Value
No maximum contract value or total procurement budget is stated in the controlling USM bid packet or the Mississippi procurement landing page. Atlas does not substitute third-party estimated values for an official amount.
Scope
The procurement covers new, unused, current-production laboratory equipment for aquaculture production systems, analytical laboratory operations, water-quality analysis, microbiological applications, environmental monitoring, algal research, and related scientific activities. The listed equipment includes precision and analytical balances, laboratory stirring hotplates, a filter-holder vacuum manifold, a refrigerated benchtop centrifuge, LED plant-growth chambers, laboratory ovens, an ultra-low-temperature freezer, a fluorometer, and small steam sterilizers. Named models generally allow an or approved equal response.
Vendor and Product Requirements
Equivalent products must meet or exceed the stated minimum requirements. Bidders proposing an alternate must provide complete technical specifications and manufacturer literature, a detailed side-by-side comparison, performance and operational documentation, confirmation of compatibility with the intended laboratory and aquaculture uses, and disclosure of installation, utility, or operational differences. USM may reject an alternate that introduces operational risk, reduces performance, requires substantial facility modification, or fails to meet operational requirements. Refurbished, reconditioned, demonstration, and prototype equipment is not accepted.
Forms and Submission Method
The bid packet includes a USM Request for Bids/Proposals coversheet, which requires a bidder signature and pricing. Incomplete bids may be considered nonresponsive. Sealed bids may be returned to USM Procurement Services at 703 E. Beach Drive, Ocean Springs, MS 39564; the notice also states that electronic bid submission instructions are available through USM Procurement and Contract Services. The RFx number and bid-opening date must appear on the outside of the envelope when the physical-envelope method is used.
Delivery and Commercial Terms
Delivery is FOB destination to the University of Southern Mississippi. Vendors must coordinate delivery, package items to prevent transit damage, include a packing list and product documentation as applicable, and provide an estimated delivery timeline with the bid. The coversheet states USM terms of 2% ten days, net 45 days, under Mississippi law.
Eligibility, Registration, Match and References
The solicitation is open to qualified vendors capable of supplying compliant equipment. The reviewed controlling documents do not state a non-Federal match or cost share, grant-style geographic eligibility restriction, mandatory reference requirement, or a separate bidder-registration prerequisite. This is a procurement, so grant-style eligible/ineligible cost rules do not apply; price and product compliance govern the response.
Contacts, Addenda and Updates
The USM bid PDF identifies Millissa Weaver, Procurement Coordinator, Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, at 228-818-8001. The Mississippi statewide procurement record lists Millissa Stork at millissa.stork@usm.edu and the same phone number. Atlas preserves that source discrepancy rather than inferring that the names are interchangeable. USM’s current-bids page does not list an addendum for Bid 27-10 as of verification.
Atlas Analysis
N9+ Fit Score: 0/100. The Nonagon N9+ is a remote physical examination platform and does not satisfy this aquaculture laboratory-equipment specification.
QC Healthcare / Dr. Miltie direct-vendor fit: 0/100. Atlas found no legitimate basis to represent Dr. Miltie or QC Healthcare as a supplier of the specified laboratory equipment or approved equivalents.
Atlas Opportunity Score: 0/100 for direct pursuit. No Dr. Miltie bid is advanced.
Atlas Action
Published as verified Mississippi university procurement intelligence. No CRM Deal, WorkDrive pursuit folder, task, applicant record, or outreach is created because there is no legitimate Dr. Miltie/QC direct-pursuit fit.
Official sources: University of Southern Mississippi Procurement and Contract Services current-bids page, official Bid 27-10 PDF, and Mississippi statewide procurement record for RFx 3160008250. Atlas verified September 18, 2026.