9250-27-R-RFIN-00025

Mississippi State University is issuing a Notice of Proposed Sole Source Purchase for one Redwire Stalker Block 40 UAV in fixed configuration, with objections due October 23, 2026. This is a sole-source procurement — MSU justifies the designation on the basis that the Department of Homeland Security has mandated this specific platform and completed its own competitive selection at the federal level, and that Redwire possesses exclusive technical knowledge and integration capabilities necessary to customize the aircraft for the government's mission requirements.

The acquisition supports a DHS project award and requires MSU to perform modifications and integration work incorporating custom payloads specified by the government sponsor. The system represents a systems-of-systems approach designed to support DHS and the Homeland Security Enterprise with multi-mission operational capabilities.

The estimated procurement cost is $2.086 million for a single aircraft unit. MSU is accepting objections to the sole source classification through its Chief Procurement Officer, Jennifer Mayfield. Objectors must provide detailed documentation demonstrating that alternative sources are available. If MSU sustains the sole source determination, the matter may be escalated to the Public Procurement Review Board.