9280-26-R-RFIN-00015

The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) has issued a Notice of Proposed Sole Source Purchase (USM SSP 26_012) for high-resolution satellite imagery, designated under RFx number 3150006611. The procurement is specifically seeking to acquire specialized satellite imagery with unique technical specifications that USM believes can only be provided by a single vendor. Interested parties or potential alternative vendors have until 8:00 a.m. Central Time on December 8, 2025, to submit written objections to the sole source designation. Any objections must be submitted to Jacob Cochran, Director of Procurement & Contracts, at the university's Hattiesburg address, with the subject line "Sole Source Objection USM SSP 26_012". Objecting parties must provide detailed documentation explaining why the commodity could be provided by another source. If valid objections are received with supporting documentation demonstrating alternative sources exist, USM will either withdraw the sole source designation and proceed with a competitive bid process or appeal to the Public Procurement Review Board to maintain the sole source classification.

The procurement notice does not explicitly specify set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises or specific vendor restrictions. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the available documentation. The notice does not outline a specific award value or budget range for the high-resolution satellite imagery procurement. USM retains the burden of proof to demonstrate that only one source can provide the required satellite imagery, which suggests potential flexibility in the procurement approach depending on the objections received. The university's procurement process allows for potential competitors to challenge the sole source designation, creating an opportunity for competitive bidding if alternative sources can be substantiated. The sole source procurement approach indicates that USM has identified a specific technological or capability requirement that they believe can only be met by a single provider of high-resolution satellite imagery.