9280-26-R-RFQI-00005

The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) has issued a Notice of Proposed Sole Source Purchase (SSP 26_019) for InnovaSea transponders and receivers, with RFx number 3140004520. This procurement seeks to establish a sole source agreement with InnovaSea as the exclusive supplier of passive acoustic telemetry equipment used for tracking fish populations in Mississippi's waters and collaborative monitoring efforts across the Gulf region. The equipment will support research initiatives funded by state and federal sponsors through Michael Andres' lab in the Division of Coastal Sciences and the Center for Research and Development. The primary objective is to procure InnovaSea transponders and receivers that are compatible with the most recent technology updates while maintaining backward and forward compatibility with USM's existing infrastructure and that of regional collaborators. Key deliverables include the acoustic telemetry devices themselves, along with associated cloud-based data storage capabilities, technical training, and customer support services. USM justifies the sole source procurement based on InnovaSea's unique ability to provide technology that integrates seamlessly with current systems, superior data precision, and unmatched customer service quality; competing vendors have been evaluated and determined to lack the necessary compatibility and performance standards required for the research mission. The public comment period for objections to the sole source designation extends until 2:00 p.m. Central Time on April 2, 2026, with objections to be submitted in writing to Millissa Weaver at 703 E. Beach Dr, Ocean Springs, MS 39564, with the subject line "Sole Source Objection USM SSP 26_019." The notice was published on March 15, 2026, and March 22, 2026, with a posted date of March 16, 2026.

InnovaSea is positioned as the sole vendor meeting the procurement requirements due to its proprietary technology, exclusive development and manufacturing of the Vemco line of acoustic telemetry receivers and transmitters, and sole ownership of the Vemco tag ID database critical for successful research operations. The company has maintained stable pricing over more than a decade of procurement history with USM and provides additional value through technical workshops and professional training for university staff and students. InnovaSea holds exclusive rights to provide all support services, including study advice, data analysis, VR2W Positioning System data analysis, false detection analysis, and repairs performed exclusively at its Nova Scotia production facility using factory-certified parts and techniques. The procurement documents do not identify any set-aside designations, disadvantaged enterprise restrictions, or alternative incumbent vendors; rather, the sole source justification emphasizes that InnovaSea's proprietary technology, integrated system requirements, and warranty exclusivity for operation with other Vemco products create a situation where no alternative sources can adequately meet USM's operational and collaborative research needs. No specific contract value or budget range is provided in the available procurement documentation. If objections to the sole source designation are sustained, USM will withdraw the procurement and initiate a competitive bidding process or refer the matter to the Public Procurement Review Board, which will require USM to bear the burden of proof regarding InnovaSea's sole provider status.