9280-27-R-IFBD-00013

The University of Southern Mississippi is requesting proposals for comprehensive banking services under RFP 27-16, with sealed proposals due October 8, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. CDT at the Procurement and Contract Services Office in Bond Hall, Hattiesburg. Vendors must be designated as Qualified State Depositories by the Mississippi State Treasurer and maintain compliance with state collateralization and public funds protection requirements throughout the contract term — a mandatory eligibility gate.

The scope spans depository and account maintenance services, collections, funds availability management, disbursement float optimization, investment income maximization, and banking advisory services. Required capabilities include interest-bearing demand deposit accounts, monthly statements with electronic file transmissions, daily electronic deposit notifications, local branch accessibility within 10 miles of USM's Hattiesburg, Long Beach, and Ocean Springs campuses, comprehensive online banking systems, domestic and international wire transfer capabilities, positive pay fraud prevention, return item processing, account reconciliation, direct deposit (ACH) processing, remote deposit capture, and business continuity and disaster recovery plans. Vendors must provide pricing for all services in comprehensive fee schedules and specify interest rates across three tiers ($1–$5 million, $5–$10 million, and $10 million and above). Current transaction volumes include approximately 495–661 monthly electronic deposits, 12 remote deposits monthly, and 1,346 average monthly disbursements. The General Account maintains an average monthly balance of $63,096,566, with additional accounts carrying student loan, payment card, business services, and payroll-related balances.

The contract term runs five years from January 1, 2027 through December 31, 2031, with termination by either party upon 180 days' written notice. Evaluation criteria prioritize service team responsiveness and relationship coverage (30%), operational capabilities and technology (25%), financial value and pricing sustainability (20%), implementation and transition support (10%), higher education experience and references (10%), and financial strength and institutional capacity (5%). Written questions are due September 28, 2026. USM anticipates award on October 15, 2026, with contract negotiations finalized by October 29, 2026.