The University needs the robot for research and for training students in the area of legged/humanoid robotics and control in Mechanical Engineering. Students will use this state-of-the-art legged robot to study human-like gaits and mobility, biomechanics and relevance to robotic control, machine learning approaches to dynamic control, perception and awareness for dynamic, real-time control, control hierarchies for complex robotic systems, human-robot interaction and perception of robot intent based on, body language, mobile manipulation in human environments, inertial actuation and its impact on gaits (i.e. what does arm swing accomplish for walking and running gaits).

The university, on information and belief, has concluded that only one vendor can meet its need or can meet the need economically. That vendor is Agility Robotics. The university has provided detailed justification to support its conclusion as shown on the attached Sole Source Justification Form.

Although the university has presented this as a sole source procurement, we are seeking competitive information from firms with the capability of meeting the university's need (even if performed in a manner different from what has been presented) to contact us and provide sufficient information to show the need can be met. If we receive that information, the Chief Procurement Officer will offer a public hearing to consider the matter. Hearing information is described below.

The University has determined that this purchase is only economically available from this source because the items are required for research and no other source is able to meet the researcher's documented needs.