Innovative, elevated play-based learning through engaging indoor/outdoor STEAM early learning materials, including a mobile magnetic wall.

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):
Innovative, elevated play-based learning through engaging indoor/outdoor STEAM early
learning materials, including a mobile magnetic wall
with magnetic building materials, a weaving wall, a ball holder, interactive water pump.
Units Item Description
4 Kodo Outdoors A complete outdoor learning kit featuring Kodo's exclusive
Comprehensive Set, Kodo Funnel Stand, Balance, Ramps, and Storage Center,
Outdoors Comprehensive designed to promote scientific thinking, problem-solving,
Set - Kodo Kids creativity, collaboration, and active learning through
hands-on exploration.
4 Kodo Outdoors Basic Set, The Kodo Outdoors Basic Kit supports outdoor sensory,
Kodo Outdoors Basic Set - math, and science exploration through hands-on
Kodo Kids experiences that encourage physical activity, problem-
solving, and creative play.
4 Weaving Wall, Weaving A collaborative weaving wall that promotes creativity,
Wall for Artistic Play - Kodo patterning, coordination, communication, and teamwork
Kids through large-scale, hands-on art experiences.
4 Ball Holder, Ball Holder - The Ball Holder enhances construction and magnet wall
Kodo Kids areas by providing an engaging way to display and
organize materials, encouraging exploration, creativity,
and interactive play.
4 Magnet Wall Walls Pack, This set of four additional Magnet Wall panels expands
Magnet Wall Walls Pack - play possibilities by allowing children to create deflectors,
Kodo Kids barriers, platforms, and other structures that support
creativity, problem-solving, and engineering exploration.
4 Magnet Wall Aqua Circuits This water pathway set encourages hands-on STEM
Pack, Magnet Wall Aqua learning by allowing children to design and operate their
Circuits Pack - Kodo Kids own water systems, promoting problem-solving,
experimentation, and engineering skills through
interactive outdoor play.

4 Magnet Wall Water Pack, Designed for the Outdoor Magnet Wall, this pack includes
Magnet Wall Water Pack - tubing, funnels, cups, and rings for extensive exploration
Kodo Kids of play with water, sand, slurry, and more!
4 Magnet Wall Chutes and The Magnet Wall Chutes & Tubes Pack includes a
Tubes Pack, Magnet Wall redirector, funnel with ring, two tubes, and an elbow
Chutes and Tubes Pack - piece to explore how a path can be redirected on your
Kodo Kids Magnet Wall.
4 Pump Works, Kodo Kids This interactive water pump promotes sensory
Water Pump Works | Water exploration, cause-and-effect learning, and scientific
Experiments for Kids discovery as children actively pump water and observe the
results of their actions.
4 Outdoor Mobile Magnet The Outdoor Mobile Magnet Wall encourages hands-on
Wall, Outdoor Mobile exploration of STEM concepts such as gravity, momentum,
Magnet Wall - Kodo Kids and slope through interactive experimentation. Its
durable, mobile design supports collaborative learning and
active outdoor play for children of all ages.
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 requested Kodo Kids materials are needed to support the MSU Extension MS LIFT Resource
& Referral site's outdoor learning environment and to extend high-quality early childhood
instruction. These materials will be used to model and demonstrate developmentally
appropriate outdoor play experiences for family child care providers, center-based staff, and
caregivers participating in training, coaching, and lending library services. The goal is to
strengthen provider capacity to implement intentional, play-based learning in outdoor
environments that support school readiness.
Kodo Kids materials are uniquely designed for open-ended, inquiry-based exploration that
naturally extends indoor learning concepts into outdoor environments. They support children's
development across multiple domains, including problem-solving, STEAM thinking, social-
emotional skills, language development, and physical coordination. Their durability, versatility,
and intentional design make them particularly well-suited for outdoor use in demonstration
settings where materials must withstand frequent handling and varied environmental
conditions.
These products are uniquely designed and manufactured by Kodo Kids and are not comparable
to standard outdoor classroom materials available from other vendors. Kodo Kids uses
commercial-grade solid wood, weather-resistant construction, and corrosion-resistant
hardware designed to withstand long-term outdoor use, unlike many competitors that rely on
plastic, composite materials, or thinner wood products with shorter lifespans.

A key feature of Kodo Kids products is their mobility. Many components include locking casters,
allowing educators to easily move and reconfigure learning environments while maintaining
safety and stability. The products are specifically designed for outdoor learning and promote
collaborative play, child-led exploration, problem-solving, and STEM learning through hands-on
experiences.
The combination of durable outdoor construction, mobile design, and an integrated
educational approach distinguishes Kodo Kids from comparable products and makes them the
only source capable of providing the specific learning experiences required for this project.
These products are distinct from other commercially available outdoor or classroom materials
due to their proprietary design and integrated learning system, which promotes cohesive, child-
led exploration across learning domains. Comparable products do not provide the same
combination of durability, educational intentionality, and flexibility required to effectively
model high-quality outdoor learning practices across a diverse provider network.
3. Name of company/individual selling the item and why that source is the only possible
source that can provide the required item(s):
The requested items will be purchased from Kodo Kids, the original manufacturer and exclusive
distributor of these proprietary materials. These products are only available directly through
Kodo Kids, with no authorized resellers or equivalent alternatives on the market. Because the
materials are uniquely designed and produced under their proprietary system for early
childhood learning, no equivalent product will meet programmatic needs.
4. Estimated cost of item(s) and an explanation why the amount to be expended is
considered reasonable:
The estimated amount is $34,263.04. This amount is considered reasonable based on a
review of comparable early childhood outdoor learning materials from other vendors, which
generally fall within a similar or higher price range when considering durability, educational
design, and intended use in training and lending library environments.
Kodo Kids materials are high-quality, proprietary learning tools designed for repeated use in
professional development, demonstration, and outdoor learning extension activities. The cost
reflects their durability, multi-use functionality, and alignment with early childhood best
practices. In addition, the department reviewed available bundle options and selected the most
cost-effective combination of items necessary to meet program goals while remaining within
budget guidelines.
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:
The department conducted market research by reviewing comparable early childhood outdoor
learning materials from other vendors and confirming availability through catalogs, vendor
websites, and prior purchasing records. This review determined that Kodo Kids is the only

source offering the specific proprietary materials required for the program's outdoor
demonstration and lending library needs.
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.