UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI Notice of Proposed Sole Source Purchase #ITSS 497

Description: Commodity or commodities to be purchased (manufacturer, model, description): Start Up Space Catalyzer v2.3.10 The need to be fulfilled by this item(s) and why it is the only one that can meet the specific needs of the department: The Mississippi Small Business Development Center Network (MSBDCN) requires a statewide platform to manage client intake, advising, service documentation, network coordination, and program reporting across its advisors, regional centers, and partners. The requested service is the Catalyzer platform, developed and provided by Startup Space, LLC. Catalyzer combines client intake, advisor case management, service tracking, and impact reporting within one integrated system designed to support the operational needs of the MSBDCN and its statewide advising network. The platform provides one statewide intake process and supports the assignment of clients to appropriate advisors or centers based on factors such as business needs, industry, location, and other relevant characteristics. It also enables MSBDCN administrators to coordinate and monitor advising activity across the network while allowing individual advisors and centers to maintain their established workflows. Catalyzer records advising hours, training participation, and technical assistance within the client record and aggregates this information for statewide analysis and reporting. This enables the MSBDCN to evaluate clients served, services provided, jobs created or retained, counties reached, and other program outcomes without requiring each center or advisor to compile separate statewide reports. Name of company/individual selling the item and why that source is the only possible source that can provide the required item(s): Startup Space is the developer and owner of the proprietary Catalyzer platform. EIC created the platform's centralized network architecture and the integrated functionality connecting statewide MSBDCN administration with regional and local advising operations. The platform's integrated design, network-coordination model, and statewide reporting capabilities are proprietary features of EIC's system. Why the amount to be expended for the commodity is reasonable: The proposed expenditure is considered reasonable based on the scope, specialized functionality, and statewide operational requirements of the services. Obtaining comparable functionality through multiple separate systems would likely require additional integration, implementation, administrative, and reporting resources. Efforts that the agency went through to obtain the best possible price: The agency discussed the required scope and cost of services with Startup Space, LLC dba Economic Impact Catalyst and sought the most favorable pricing available for the Catalyzer platform and related services. The final amount reflects the agreed-upon scope and pricing determined to provide the best value while satisfying the agency's documented needs. Submission Instructions and Format of Response from Objecting Parties: Interested parties who have reason to believe that the item(s) above should not be certified as a sole source should provide information in the following format for UM to use in determining whether or not to proceed with awarding the Sole Source purchase. 1.1 Interested Party Information 1.1.1 Contact Name, Phone Number, Address and email address 1.1.2 Company Website URL, if applicable 1.2 Objection to Sole Source Certification 1.2.1 Interested parties must present specific objections to the Sole Source certification using the criteria listed above. 1.2.2 A statement regarding the Interested Party's capabilities as related to this Sole Source Certification Request. 1.2.3 Comments will be accepted at any time prior to Monday, November 23, 2026 at 10:00 am (Central Time). Comments should be addressed to: Jeff Wells, Procurement Manager The University of Mississippi Procurement Services 164 Jeanette Phillips Drive PO Box 1848 University, Mississippi 38677 1.2.4 Responses may be delivered by hand, via regular mail, overnight delivery, or e-mail at solesource@olemiss.edu with cc: to bids@olemiss.edu and must reference the sole source number. 1.2.5 UM WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DELAYS IN THE DELIVERY OF RESPONSES. It is solely the responsibility of the Interested Parties that responses reach UM on time. Interested parties may contact Jeff Wells at 662-915-7448 to verify the receipt of their responses. Responses received after the deadline will be rejected. If after a review of the submitted notice and documents, UM determines that the commodity in the proposed sole source request can be provided by another person or entity, then UM will withdraw the sole source certification and submit the procurement of the commodity to an advertised competitive bid or selection process. If UM determines after review that there is only one (1) source for the required purchase, then UM will follow applicable ITS procedures for making the purchase.