Opportunity
Mississippi Procurement Portal #3150006964
Sole Source Procurement of Fibron RM0049 Armoured R.O.V. Lift Cable for USM mROV Program
Posted
August 09, 2026
Respond By
August 26, 2026
Identifier
3150006964
NAICS
423490
The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) is seeking to procure a highly specialized subsea umbilical cable for its mROV program. - Government Buyer: - University of Southern Mississippi (USM) Purchasing Department - Office of Procurement & Contracts, Director: Jacob Cochran - OEM Highlight: - Fibron BX Limited (UK) is the sole Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) specified - Product Requested: - Fibron RM0049 Armoured R.O.V. Lift Cable - Part number: RM0049 - Quantity: 5,100 meters - Double-armoured electro-optical umbilical cable - Contains three 5 mm power conductors and six single-mode optical fibres - Minimum breaking strength: 41,570 lb - Voltage rating: 2,800 V - Overall diameter: 0.681 inches - Designed for direct-drive winch compatibility and rigorous oceanographic use - Unique/Notable Requirements: - Only Fibron's cable meets USM's technical and operational requirements - Market research and technical testing found that alternative cables from other manufacturers (e.g., Rochester, Southbay) did not meet critical specifications - The cable must be compatible with USM's existing mROV systems and meet strict durability and performance standards - Estimated contract value: $239,300 USD - Sole source justification is based on technical necessity and market research; objections to the sole source designation are permitted under state law
Description
The University of Southern Mississippi is issuing a notice of proposed sole source purchase for an umbilical cable, specifically the Fibron RM0049 Armoured R.O.V. Lift Cable. This cable is specialized for subsea use with ROVs and has been tested and proven reliable for the MROV ROV and style of winch used by the university. The procurement includes a business justification, technical specifications, vendor correspondence, and advertisement. Comments or objections to the sole source designation are accepted until August 26, 2026, as per Mississippi Code Section 31-7-13 (C).