9280-25-R-RFIN-00005

The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) is pursuing a sole source procurement for Ex Libris Primo, a comprehensive discovery tool designed to integrate multiple platforms, databases, and collections into a single search interface. The procurement seeks a proprietary software solution that can normalize data from various systems without requiring developer configurations or additional technical infrastructure. USM has determined that Ex Libris Primo is the only product meeting their specific requirements, which include creating a unified search experience across the university's diverse digital resources. The procurement is being conducted through the Mississippi Department of Finance and Administration under RFx number 3150005880, with comments and objections accepted until September 20, 2024, at 8:00 a.m. CST. If no compelling alternative is identified during the objection review, USM will proceed with the sole source purchase or appeal to the Public Procurement Review Board for final approval.

The procurement documents do not specify any set-aside designations or restrictions on respondent organizations. No incumbent vendor information or detailed integration requirements are explicitly outlined in the available documentation. The notice indicates that the cost of the Ex Libris Primo solution is lower than the annual salary of a qualified developer, with pricing negotiated to limit annual increases from 5% to 2%. While specific budget ranges are not disclosed, the procurement appears to be a multi-year software licensing agreement. The procurement process allows for potential challenges to the sole source determination, with USM prepared to shift to a competitive bidding process if alternative providers can demonstrate comparable capabilities. The university will bear the burden of proving Ex Libris Primo is the sole viable solution if substantive objections are received during the comment period.