Purchase of Matlab.

USM SSP 26_028 Notice of Proposed Sole Source Purchase of Matlab.
http://www.ms.gov/dfa/contract_bid_search/Bid
RFx: 3150006877
Comments/objections will be received as required per Section 31-7-13 (C) of the Mississippi Code until
8:00 a.m. (Central Time) on July 6, 2026.
Any person or entity that objects and proposes that the commodity listed is not sole source and can be
provided by another person or entity shall submit a written notice to:
Jacob Cochran
Director of Procurement & Contracts 118 College Dr. Box 5003 Hattiesburg, MS 39406
bids@usm.edu
Phone: 601-266-4131
Subject Line must read "Sole Source Objection USM SSP 26_028"
The notice shall contain a detailed explanation of why the commodity is not a sole source procurement.
Appropriate documentation shall also be submitted if applicable.
If after a review of the submitted notice and documents, USM determines that the commodity in the
proposed sole source request can be provided by another person or entity, then USM will withdraw the
sole source request publication from the procurement portal website and submit the procurement of
the commodity to an advertised competitive bid or selection process.
If USM determines after review that there is only one (1) source for the required commodity, then USM
will appeal to the Public Procurement Review Board. USM will have the burden of proving that the
commodity is only provided by one (1) source.
Run Dates: 6/11, 6/18

The University of Southern Mississippi
Notice of Proposed Sole Source Purchase
SSP 26_028
The University of Southern Mississippi anticipates purchasing the item(s) listed below as a sole
source purchase. Anyone objecting to this purchase shall follow the procedures outlined below.
1. Description of the commodity that USM is seeking to procure: Individual Academic
licenses for MATLAB and associated toolboxes, including Simulink and various discipline-
specific toolboxes, purchased through The MathWorks, Inc. The licenses are for use by named
faculty, staff, and researchers across multiple departments at the University of Southern
Mississippi for teaching and research purposes.
2. What efforts were made to determine that the proposed provider is the only entity that
can provide the commodity needed? The MathWorks, Inc. was contacted directly to confirm
their sales policy. MathWorks confirmed that MATLAB software and license maintenance are
sold exclusively through MathWorks and that no third-party resellers or alternative sales
channels exist through which these licenses can be purchased.
3. What efforts were made to ensure the best possible price for the commodity was
obtained? A formal quote was requested directly from MathWorks. The pricing provided
reflects the academic discount for which USM qualifies as a degree-granting institution.
Academic pricing represents the lowest available tier for individual licenses and was confirmed
by MathWorks as the best available pricing for USM's license category.
4. Why is the commodity the only one that can meet the needs of the Agency? MATLAB is
the industry-standard platform for technical computing used across USM's mathematics, science,
engineering, and research departments. It is the only software that enables cross-departmental
collaboration on both teaching and research projects at USM. Simulink, available exclusively
through MathWorks, is required for Model-Based Design of dynamic and embedded systems.
Active courses and ongoing research projects are built specifically around MATLAB and its
toolboxes, for which no functionally equivalent alternative exists.
5. Why is the amount expended for the commodity reasonable? MathWorks is a commercial
software company that provides a significant academic discount for which USM qualifies. The
quoted price reflects academic individual annual license pricing - the most cost-effective license
structure available for the named users involved. MathWorks has confirmed that this represents
the best available pricing for USM's institution type and license category, and the cost is
consistent with pricing provided to peer institutions purchasing under the same academic license
terms.
1

The University of Southern Mississippi
Notice of Proposed Sole Source Purchase
SSP 26_028
Advertisement Schedule Date
1st scheduled 06/11/2026
2nd scheduled 06/18/2026
Any person or entity that objects and proposes that the commodity listed is not sole source and can be
provided by another person or entity shall submit a written notice by July 6, 2026, 8:00 AM CST, to:
Jacob Cochran
Director of Procurement & Contracts
Jacob.Cochran@usm.edu
Subject Line must read "Sole Source Objection 26_XXX"
The notice shall contain a detailed explanation of why the commodity is not a sole source
procurement. Appropriate documentation shall also be submitted if applicable.
If after a review of the submitted notice and documents, USM determines that the commodity in the
proposed sole source request can be provided by another person or entity, then USM will withdraw
the sole source request publication from the procurement portal website and submit the procurement
of the commodity to an advertised competitive bid or selection process.
If USM determines after review that there is only one (1) source for the required commodity, then
USM will appeal to the Public Procurement Review Board. USM will have the burden of proving
that the commodity is only provided by one (1) source.
2