60-U6900-25-CP462_09925 Canopy_Collegevine SS.pdf.PDF

UNM Proposed Sole Source Form – Rev 04/07/2021

I. GENERAL INFORMATION. PLEASE PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING:

Date of Request 9.16.2025 Requisition Number (If Applicable) Request Submitted by: Kathryn Padilla Title Manager, Business

Services Department Enrollment Management Email katpad@unm.edu Phone 505.506.2123

Proposed Vendor Canopy Education Inc. (CollegeVine) Amount $169,620.00/3 = $56,540.00

Vendor Address 68 Harrison Ave, Suite 605 Boston, MA 02111

Term of Purchase

3 years : February 1, 2025 through June 30, 2028.

Buyer Team - See Commodity list at http://purchase.unm.edu/department-information/comm-code-listing.pdf

Provide a basic description of goods/services to be provided:

CollegeVine provides an AI-powered digital recruitment tool (AI Advisor) that supports Enrollment Management’s outreach and communication strategy. The subscription includes up to 2,500 current student uploads and personalized engagement features designed to support recruitment, enrollment conversion, and admissions funnel insights.

Why is this purchase needed?

This purchase is needed to maintain UNM Enrollment Management’s ability to engage prospective and admitted students using personalized, AI-driven communication tools. CollegeVine’s AI Advisor platform allows us to simulate real-time advising through chat-based interaction, tailored content, and behavioral targeting. It helps identify and support students at risk of melt, boosts application completion rates, and improves yield outcomes. The subscription also ensures continuity of service, data integrity, and actionable reporting during a critical recruitment cycle that spans over 17 months. Without this renewal, UNM would lose access to a proven engagement channel that directly supports undergraduate enrollment goals and strategic outreach initiatives.

II. BASIS FOR SOLE SOURCE PROCUREMENT. CHOOSE APPLICABLE BOX(ES) AND

PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, AS REQUESTED:

☐ Proprietary item, technology or service only available from the proposed vendor. (Check box and describe proprietary component) mailto:katpad@unm.edu http://purchase.unm.edu/department-information/comm-code-listing.pdf

☐ Compatibility requirement with existing item, technology or service. (Check box and describe compatibility requirement)

CollegeVine’s AI Advisor integrates with UNM’s current CRM platforms and existing digital communication strategies, and the vendor already holds sensitive student-level data necessary for continuity. Migrating to a new vendor would result in significant implementation costs, service delays, data migration risks, and loss of student engagement insights already in progress.

☐ Renewal of support/maintenance/subscription of software, technology or other intellectual property. (Check box and describe)

☐ Other Basis for Sole Source: Please describe below:

III. SUPPLEMENTAL DETAILS. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AS

REQUESTED BELOW:

Describe in detail the unique capabilities of the proposed vendor’s goods/service and/or personnel performing the work and why this constitutes the only source. Focus on what is unique about the goods/service and why no other vendor could meet your needs.

CollegeVine’s AI Advisor provides personalized, scalable communication tailored to individual students’ profiles and behavior. The platform uses proprietary algorithms and content models to simulate peer advising, improving engagement and enrollment yield. No other vendor offers the same level of integration, behavioral targeting, and AI-supported advising functions specifically tailored to undergraduate recruitment. The vendor also provides real-time analytics and a student dashboard to track UNM outcomes, which supports our internal reporting and strategic enrollment goals.

Describe the due diligence made to locate other possible sources including communications with other universities, communications with similar providers, web searches, yellow page searches, review of advertisements and trade publications, etc.

UNM Enrollment Management has evaluated numerous communication platforms including Signal Vine, Element451, Niche, and Encoura. While some of these offer basic messaging or data insights, none match the AI-powered advising features and longitudinal tracking offered by CollegeVine. Internal teams also reviewed vendor capabilities during the initial procurement cycle and found CollegeVine to be the most comprehensive solution for our needs. Additional web reviews and peer institution benchmarking continue to reinforce this vendor’s unique offering.

List the other vendors who were contacted. Please describe the specs/qualifications/criteria that the other vendors were unable to satisfy.

Signal Vine: Lacks AI-powered peer advising and robust funnel analytics.

Encoura: Limited advising capability; lacks integration and personalization offered by CollegeVine.