9280-25-R-RFIN-00010

The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) is pursuing a sole source procurement for the Piestar DPx software system, specifically designed for IDeA programs and Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR) requirements mandated by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The procurement covers an implementation fee and annual subscription for the software, which USM claims is uniquely tailored to their MS INBRE program's management needs. The procurement opportunity is specifically associated with Greene County, Mississippi, and is identified by the solicitation number 9280-25-R-RFIN-00010. The notice was posted on September 24, 2024, with a response deadline of October 11, 2024 at 8:00 a.m. Central Time. USM is seeking public comments or alternative proposals that might challenge the sole source designation, and if alternative sources are identified, they will withdraw the sole source request and pursue a competitive bidding process. The procurement objective is to acquire a specialized software system that can effectively manage NIH-specific reporting requirements for research programs.

The solicitation does not explicitly outline specific set-aside designations or restrictions on responding organizations. USM has indicated that the Piestar system costs are reasonable and comparable to pricing for other IDeA programs, suggesting some benchmarking of potential costs. If no alternative sources are identified during the comment period, USM will appeal to the Public Procurement Review Board to validate the sole source determination. While specific budget ranges are not detailed, the procurement includes an implementation fee and annual subscription for the software system. The sole source nature of the procurement suggests that Piestar is the current and potential sole vendor for this specialized software solution. Integration requirements appear focused on aligning with existing NIH reporting protocols and the specific needs of the MS INBRE program research management infrastructure.