SSP 27_008 USM DEPT JUSTIFICATION LTR MARINESITU.pdf

THAD COCHRAN MARINE AQUACULTURE CENTER | GULF COAST RESEARCH LABORATORY

703 East Beach Drive | Ocean Springs, MS 39564

Subject: Sole Source Justification - Integrated MarineSitu underwater camera system with the proposed shrimp sizing/behavior models

The University of Southern Mississippi (USM), through the Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center, requires an integrated underwater monitoring and machine-learning system to support research involving Gulf White Shrimp (Litopenaeus setiferus). The system will be used to continuously collect underwater imagery from shrimp mating tanks and provide project-specific machine-learning capabilities for shrimp sizing and spawning-behavior detection.

The required solution includes underwater imaging hardware, local computing and integration components, MarineSitu's Mangrove software, SaltySuite™ cloud platform, and project-specific machine-learning models developed and tuned for the research application.

The project requires more than general underwater video monitoring. The proposed deliverables include a shrimp sizing model capable of detecting the head and tail of shrimp from underwater imagery to the specified accuracy and a behavior model capable of identifying shrimp spawning periods to the specified accuracy. The resulting models must operate as an integrated component of the image collection, processing, storage, and review workflow.

Basis for Sole Source Determination

MarineSitu is the only known supplier capable of providing the complete integrated solution required for this research application.

MarineSitu has confirmed that its Mangrove software, SaltySuite™ cloud platform, and the sizing and behavior machine-learning models proposed for this project are proprietary to MarineSitu. MarineSitu is the sole provider and only authorized source for these software products and the tuned machine-learning models. These products are not licensed to third parties for delivery, hosting, modification, or resale.

The machine-learning models proposed for this project are not independent commodity software products. The tuned models operate within MarineSitu's licensed Mangrove software environment, with SaltySuite™ providing the associated cloud platform for storage and review of imagery and detection records.

The shrimp sizing model also has specific technical dependencies associated with the underwater imaging system. MarineSitu's sizing methodology is calibrated to the optical geometry of the camera on which the model is tuned. The proposed C3-PoE camera provides three synchronized sensors in a single underwater housing with the optical characteristics and subsea connectivity required for the proposed implementation. Substitution of a camera having different optics or baseline geometry would require retuning of the sizing model. Integration of a non-C3 camera with Mangrove would also require additional software development and validation by MarineSitu.

Accordingly, another vendor could potentially propose a different underwater camera, software platform, or machine-learning approach, but it could not provide the specific integrated MarineSitu solution proposed for this project. An alternative vendor would have to provide or develop its own software, cloud platform, machine-learning models, hardware integration, model tuning, and validation. Such a solution would therefore constitute a materially different technical approach rather than another source for the required MarineSitu system.

Proprietary and Exclusive Components

MarineSitu has identified the following components of the proposed system as proprietary or exclusively available from MarineSitu:

Mangrove software license – proprietary to MarineSitu and available only from MarineSitu.

SaltySuite™ cloud platform – proprietary to MarineSitu and available only through MarineSitu.

Shrimp sizing machine-learning model – MarineSitu's model architecture, training pipeline, and methods are proprietary; the project deliverable will consist of a model specifically tuned for shrimp at the USM research site and operated within the MarineSitu software environment.

Shrimp behavior machine-learning model – MarineSitu's model architecture and methods are proprietary, and the project-specific model will operate within the MarineSitu environment.

C3-PoE underwater camera – the specific C3-PoE SKU proposed for this project is available only from MarineSitu and is not sold through another distribution channel.

MarineSitu has indicated that a different C3 camera SKU is distributed by Blue Robotics; however, that model is intended for ROV integration and is not the C3-PoE configuration proposed for this research system.

Commercially Available Components

Not every individual component included in the proposed purchase is proprietary.

The industrial control computer specified by MarineSitu is based on the commercially available NVIDIA AGX Orin platform. The shipping/storage case is also commercially available, and portions of the cabling are commodity components terminated for compatibility with the C3 system.

The inclusion of commercially available ancillary components does not form the basis of this sole-source request. The sole-source determination is based on USM's requirement for the complete integrated research system, including MarineSitu's proprietary software environment, cloud platform, tuned machine-learning models, validated camera integration, and the technical compatibility necessary to achieve the proposed research deliverables.

MarineSitu specifies and supplies the control computer because the Mangrove software and machine-learning models have been validated against that configuration. Although technically comparable hardware may exist, substituting components could require additional integration and validation and would not provide an alternative source for the proprietary software and models that constitute the core of the required solution.

Why an Alternative Product Will Not Meet the Requirement USM's research requirement is not limited to obtaining underwater imagery. The research requires an integrated system capable of collecting imagery and using project-specific machine-learning models to perform shrimp sizing and identify spawning behavior.

MarineSitu's proposed solution has been structured specifically around those research objectives. The sizing and behavior models will be tuned for the shrimp and conditions associated with this project and will operate within MarineSitu's proprietary Mangrove and SaltySuite™ environment.

Because MarineSitu does not license these technologies to third-party vendors, another supplier cannot provide the same software environment or the proposed models. A competing supplier would instead have to develop or substitute its own imaging system, processing software, cloud environment, and machine-learning models and independently integrate, train, tune, and validate those components for the project.

Therefore, another supplier could potentially propose a different method of attempting to achieve similar research objectives, but it could not supply the integrated system and project-specific model capabilities required under the proposed MarineSitu solution.

Compatibility and Technical Considerations

Compatibility between the imaging hardware and machine-learning models is a material consideration for this procurement.

The sizing model is calibrated using the optical geometry of the camera system on which it is trained.

Changes in camera optics, sensor arrangement, or baseline geometry can affect model performance and require additional model tuning.

MarineSitu has already integrated and validated the proposed C3 camera with its Mangrove software environment. Using another camera would require MarineSitu to perform additional integration work, and a camera with different optical characteristics would require retuning of the sizing model.

Maintaining the validated relationship among the underwater camera, Mangrove processing environment, SaltySuite™ cloud platform, and project-specific models is therefore necessary to obtain the proposed research deliverables without introducing additional development and validation requirements.

Determination

Based on the technical requirements of the research project and the information provided by MarineSitu, USM has determined that MarineSitu is the only known source capable of providing the required integrated solution as proposed.

The basis for this determination is not merely that MarineSitu's products are proprietary. Rather, the determination is based upon the combination of:

1. MarineSitu's exclusive ownership and distribution of the Mangrove software and SaltySuite™ platform;

2. MarineSitu's proprietary sizing and behavior machine-learning architectures and project-specific tuned models;

3. the fact that these models operate within MarineSitu's proprietary software environment and are not licensed to third-party suppliers;

4. the technical relationship between the sizing model and the optical geometry of the proposed underwater camera system;

5. MarineSitu's existing integration and validation of the C3 camera with its software and models; and

6. the inability of another supplier to provide the same integrated system without substituting a materially different software, cloud, imaging, and machine-learning solution requiring separate development, integration, training, tuning, and validation.

For these reasons, competitive procurement would require vendors to propose materially different technical solutions rather than competing sources for the required integrated system. MarineSitu is therefore requested for approval as the sole source for this procurement, subject to review and approval by the appropriate University and State procurement authorities.

Price Reasonableness and Best Price

USM will rely on the vendor's submitted quotation and applicable procurement review procedures to establish price reasonableness and will seek the best available pricing and terms from MarineSitu prior to award.

Because the proprietary software, cloud platform, machine-learning development, and integrated system are available only from MarineSitu, direct comparison of identical solutions from competing suppliers is not available. USM will evaluate the quoted pricing in relation to the scope of work, required hardware, software licensing and subscription access, machine-learning model development and tuning, integration requirements, and associated project deliverables.

Supporting Documentation: MarineSitu vendor correspondence identifying proprietary components, exclusive distribution, software/model licensing restrictions, camera/model compatibility requirements, and commercially available ancillary components.