9270-25-R-RFIN-00009

The University of Mississippi (UM) is pursuing a sole source procurement for an Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS) sensor replacement to maintain critical airport weather monitoring infrastructure. The procurement involves replacing two existing sensors for visibility and present weather conditions, with a specific requirement to ensure FAA compliance and certification. Remote Systems Integration (RSI) has been identified as the sole authorized dealer capable of providing compatible AWOS sensors for the current system. The procurement is time-sensitive due to the current system's end-of-life status and its inability to report weather conditions accurately, which presents potential safety risks. The sole source notice was posted on November 24, 2024, with a deadline for comments and objections set for December 9, 2024, at 10:00 am Central Time. Interested parties have the opportunity to submit objections to the sole source certification before this deadline. The university will review any submitted comments and, if no alternative sources are identified, will seek approval from the Public Procurement Review Board to proceed with the purchase.

The procurement appears to be unrestricted in terms of set-aside designations or specific enterprise requirements. Remote Systems Integration is the identified vendor, with no indication of multiple potential contractors or competitive bidding. The procurement is specifically tailored to replace existing infrastructure with a system that maintains full compatibility with the current AWOS technology. While the exact cost is not explicitly stated in the provided documentation, the university has deemed the sensor and installation cost reasonable given the critical nature of airport weather monitoring equipment. The procurement is focused on a direct replacement that ensures continued operational capability and safety compliance for the airport's weather observation systems. The university will ultimately seek approval from the Public Procurement Review Board to finalize the sole source purchase after the comment period concludes.