9280-27-R-RFIN-00032

The University of Mississippi is proposing a sole-source purchase of Collegiate Sports Connect software under Mississippi Code Section 31-7-13(C), with comments and objections due by 8:00 a.m. on July 17, 2026 (RFx 3150006905, Contract 9280-27-R-RFIN-00032). This is a non-competitive procurement; no sealed bids or proposals are being solicited.

Collegiate Sports Connect is a specialized NCAA-focused candidate identification and recruitment platform for collegiate athletics administrative hiring. The vendor maintains a database of over 30,000 administrative profiles as of June 2026 and provides real-time candidate identification and engagement capabilities with continuous updates. Search functionality is tailored to NCAA institutional requirements, including filtering by conference and competitive level experience, geographic and institutional ties, functional expertise, and career background specific to intercollegiate athletics.

The University's business justification asserts that no comparable platform combines NCAA-specific administrative talent data, structured search capabilities, and athletics-focused recruitment functionality at equivalent scale, and that general recruiting platforms and job boards lack this specialization. Collegiate Sports Connect is currently used by more than 50 NCAA Division I institutional partners.

Under Mississippi's transparency requirements, any interested party may file formal comments or objections during the specified comment period. The procurement remains subject to competitive challenge; the state will not award the contract if a valid objection is received and upheld. No pricing, contract term, renewal options, or funding source is disclosed in the posted materials.