SS 9651 VENDOR SOLE SOURCE LETTER.pdf

This is a Sole Source Certificate dated July 30, 2024, issued by the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) certifying Piestar, Inc. as the sole source supplier for specialized software and technical support services. The certificate affirms that Piestar's systems are specifically designed to meet the complex reporting requirements of NIH IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) and Center of Excellence in Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) programs, including generation of specialized reporting tables for program outputs such as component personnel, publications, presentations, and disaggregated data.

Piestar, Inc., based in Manhattan, KS, has developed heavily customized systems that align with NIH policies and compliance requirements since 2013, when the system was originally created at Kansas State University. The company formed in 2014 to support and market these systems, leveraging years of experience working with NIH, NIST, NSF, USAID, and USDA funded projects. The systems are described as unique in their capabilities for INBRE and COBRE reporting, with no comparable software available in the market. The certificate is signed by the CEO and dated July 31, 2024.