SSP 27_006 Dropout Detective

Location:	Mississippi
Posted:	Aug 7, 2026
Due:	Aug 28, 2026
Agency:	University of Southern Mississippi
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	70 - General Purpose Information Technology Equipment (including software).
Solicitation No:	SSP 27_006
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

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USM SSP 27_006 Notice of Proposed Sole Source Purchase of Dropout Detective.

http://www.ms.gov/dfa/contract_bid_search/Bid

RFx: 3150006949

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 August 28, 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 27_006"

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: 8/13, 8/20

The University of Southern Mississippi

Notice of Proposed Sole Source Purchase

SSP 27_006

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:

 The recent behavior of students in their courses can tell you whether they are going to

succeed. Dropout Detective™ integrates with your existing learning management

system (LMS), which already tracks these behaviors. Our solution retrieves the

necessary data, applies the algorithm, and populates an easy-to-use dashboard to the

school’s administrators and/or instructors. Students are assigned a Risk Index Score and

are displayed in a red-yellow-green “stop light” format to draw attention to the most at-

risk members of the student body. Administrators can then drill into the individual

student’s profile to determine the risk reasons and to develop a pro-active plan of

action. Through search capabilities and filters, the institution can target its efforts by

assigning the right staff to the right students.

2. What efforts were made by the Agency to determine that the proposed provider is the

only entity that can provide the commodity needed?

 Direct integration with the LMS allows us to analyze data every day;

 LTI integration gives us single-sign-on with the LMS; we don’t look like a

separate system

 Minimal training and technical support leads to strong adoption in your school;

 Implementation can be completed within days, with minimal resources required

from you;

The University of Southern Mississippi

Notice of Proposed Sole Source Purchase

SSP 27_006

 Includes tools for manual flagging and support of students – not just data-driven;

3. What efforts were made to ensure the best possible price for the commodity was

obtained?

 Price is set and non-negotiable

4. Why is the commodity the only one that can meet the needs to the Agency?

 Direct integration with the LMS allows us to analyze data every day;

 LTI integration gives us single-sign-on with the LMS; we don’t look like a

separate system

 Minimal training and technical support leads to strong adoption in your school;

 Implementation can be completed within days, with minimal resources required

from you;

 Includes tools for manual flagging and support of students – not just data-driven;



5. Why is the amount expended for the commodity reasonable?

 Least expensive retention tool integrating with Canvas and timely API

The University of Southern Mississippi

Notice of Proposed Sole Source Purchase

SSP 27_006

Advertisement Schedule

1st scheduled

2nd scheduled

Date

8/13/26

8/20/26

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 August 28, 2026, 8:00 AM CST, to:

Jacob Cochran

Director of Procurement & Contracts

Jacob.Cochran@usm.edu

Subject Line must read "Sole Source Objection 27_006"

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.

This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.

Solicitation	Submission Deadline	Request Documents and Specifications
SSP 27_006 Dropout Detective	8/28/26 8:00 AM	SSP 27_006

SSP 27_006 Dropout Detective

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See also