SSP 26_010 AIRCRAFT HYPERSPECTRAL REMOTE SENSING DATA SURVEY.pdf

USM SSP 26_010 Notice of Proposed Sole Source Purchase of aircraft hyperspectral remote sensing data survey.

http://www.ms.gov/dfa/contract_bid_search/Bid

RFx: 3150006562

Comments/objections will be received as required per Section 31-7-13 (C) of the Mississippi Code until

8:00 a.m. (Central Time) on November 18, 2025.

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:

Jacob Cochran

Director of Procurement & Contracts 118 College Dr. Box 5003 Hattiesburg, MS 39406 bids@usm.edu

Phone: 601-266-4131

Subject Line must read "Sole Source Objection USM SSP 26_010"

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, USM determines that the commodity in the proposed sole source request can be provided by another person or entity, then USM 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 USM determines after review that there is only one (1) source for the required commodity, then USM will appeal to the Public Procurement Review Board. USM will have the burden of proving that the commodity is only provided by one (1) source.

Run Dates: 11/3, 11/10

The University of Southern Mississippi

Notice of Proposed Sole Source Purchase

SSP 26_010

The University of Southern Mississippi anticipates purchasing the item(s) listed below as a sole source purchase. Anyone objecting to this purchase shall follow the procedures outlined below.

1. Description of the commodity that USM is seeking to procure:

(Service Only) Acquisition of airborne hyperspectral remote-sensing services for coastal and seagrass habitat assessment along the Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida Gulf coast. Services include turnkey airborne data collection, OEM-calibrated hyperspectral imaging, navigation and IMU integration, mission planning, data processing, and delivery of analytical products suitable for research and environmental management applications.

2. What efforts were made by the Agency to determine that the proposed provider is the only entity that can provide the commodity needed?

The proposed mission is seasonally time-sensitive, requiring airborne data collection to begin in early November to coincide with optimal seagrass growth and water clarity conditions. The effort necessitates a high-precision hyperspectral imaging system integrated with an inertial measurement unit (IMU), precision airborne control computers, and a recent OEM calibration traceable to manufacturer specifications.

3. What efforts were made to ensure the best possible price for the commodity was obtained?

The Gulf Coast Geospatial team conducted an extensive search for vendors capable of meeting the unique qualifications and experience in hyperspectral coastal and aquatic vegetation mapping and environmental assessment. Galileo has a distinct advantage in conducting open-water and near-shore mapping under dynamic weather conditions.

4. Why is the commodity the only one that can meet the needs to the Agency?

Galileo currently maintains a fully mobilized and operational sensor platform, having just completed a high-capacity flight season. Their system calibration is current and documented, and aircraft, flight crews, and analytical support infrastructure are immediately available to execute this mission on a turnkey basis.

5. Why is the amount expended for the commodity reasonable?

Galileo personnel have unique technical expertise in coastal and aquatic vegetation mapping, large-scale environmental monitoring, and rapid delivery of analytical data products. Their project history includes extensive surveys of seagrass, submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV), and related habitat types across multiple U.S. coastal regions and inland waterways. This experience directly aligns with the scientific and technical objectives of the proposed mission.

Advertisement Schedule Date

1st scheduled 11/3/25

2nd scheduled 11/10/25

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 by November 18, 2025, 8:00 AM CST, to:

Jacob Cochran

Director of Procurement & Contracts

Jacob.Cochran@usm.edu

Subject Line must read "Sole Source Objection 26_XXX"

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, USM determines that the commodity in the proposed sole source request can be provided by another person or entity, then USM 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 USM determines after review that there is only one (1) source for the required commodity, then

USM will appeal to the Public Procurement Review Board. USM will have the burden of proving that the commodity is only provided by one (1) source.