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Iowa State University Procurement

Sole Source Procurement

Solicitation: Not available
Notice ID: ia_Source
DepartmentIowa State University ProcurementStateIAPostedDueNo due date posted

Federal opportunity from Iowa State University Procurement. Place of performance: IA.

Market snapshot

Baseline awarded-market signal across all contracting (sample of 400 recent awards; refreshed periodically).

12-month awarded value
$546,655,675
Sector total $546,655,675 • Share 100.0%
Live
Median
$97,181
P10–P90
$33,967$992,402
Volatility
Volatile200%
Market composition
NAICS share of sector
A simple concentration signal, not a forecast.
100.0%
share
Momentum (last 3 vs prior 3 buckets)
+100%($546,655,675)
Deal sizing
$97,181 median
Use as a pricing centerline.
Live signal is computed from awarded notices already observed in the system.
Signals shown are descriptive of observed awards; not a forecast.

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Place of Performance
Not listed — check the files for details.

Point of Contact

Not available

Agency & Office

Department
Iowa State University Procurement
Agency
Not available
Subagency
Not available
Office
procurement@iastate.edu
Contracting Office Address
Not available

Description

Sole Source Procurement The Board of Regents has acknowledged that there are occasions when products or services must be purchased from one specific source or manufacturer. If a request is made to purchase a product or service from only one supplier, yet several sources can provide a similar product, the request will be subject to the normal bid process. Should you request that products or services be purchased on a sole source basis, it must meet one of the criteria shown below. You must provide a written explanation, commonly referred to as a "sole source justification", to support your request. Use the Sole Source Request Form to submit your request. The four most commonly accepted sole source justifications are outlined below. Compatibility with existing equipment This justification may be used if your products or services are being purchased to directly interface with or attach to equipment of the same manufacturer, and no other manufacturer's products will correctly interface with existing equipment. Compatibility for instructional purposes This justification may be used if the products are being purchased to supplement existing equipment in a classroom. The product must exactly match the existing equipment and is being purchased to provide uniformity for instructional purposes. Compatibility for research This justification may be used if the main purpose for acquiring equipment or supplies is to replicate specific experiments, using the exact products that produced the original results. You may also use this justification if you are collaborating with another researcher and can show that identical products are required to fulfill your part of the agreement. Only one supplier can be identified to supply a compliant product or service or only one supplier is uniquely qualified to provide the product or service In rare cases, only one supplier may exist to provide a particular product or service. When providing a justification based on the availability of one supplier, the product or service must be defined in generic terms. Specifying patented products or processes, when not necessary to meet functional requirements, is not acceptable as a sole source justification. Alternatively, only one supplier may be identified as being uniquely qualified or having specific experience and expertise to provide the product or services. The justification must describe why the supplier is uniquely qualified. To request a sole source use the Sole Source Request Form and email to Procurement Services at procurement@iastate.edu or include as an attachment on a non-catalog requisition in Workday. The form can also be completed through Adobe Sign , the document will route automatically to the Director of Procurement for review. Once fully signed, you will receive an email with the signed document from Adobe. Final determination as to whether products/services will be purchased on a sole source basis will be made by the Procurement Services Department, in consultation with the requester. Your sole source documentation will remain on file as part of the official procurement documents and may be subject to audit or review by interested parties. For requests that are using federal funds and exceed $50,000 , only the following sole source reasons may be used as justification: The item is only available from a single source (and can be documented as such. This does not mean only one source can sell a particular brand or style but that no other source for the item required can be identified even through a bid process.) The public exigency or emergency for the requirement will not permit a delay resulting from competitive solicitation; The Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity expressly authorizes noncompetitive proposals in response to a written request from the non-Federal entity; or After solicitation of a number of sources, competition is determined inadequate. The requester must write the justification in their own words. Sole source justifications that are written by a supplier may be provided as additional documentation only. See also: Competitive Procurement Sole Source Procurement The Board of Regents has acknowledged that there are occasions when products or services must be purchased from one specific source or manufacturer. If a request is made to purchase a product or service from only one supplier, yet several sources can provide a similar product, the request will be subject to the normal bid process. Should you request that products or services be purchased on a sole source basis, it must meet one of the criteria shown below. You must provide a written explanation, commonly referred to as a "sole source justification", to support your request. Use the Sole Source Request Form to submit your request. The four most commonly accepted sole source justifications are outlined below. Compatibility with existing equipment This justification may be used if your products or services are being purchased to directly interface with or attach to equipment of the same manufacturer, and no other manufacturer's products will correctly interface with existing equipment. Compatibility for instructional purposes This justification may be used if the products are being purchased to supplement existing equipment in a classroom. The product must exactly match the existing equipment and is being purchased to provide uniformity for instructional purposes. Compatibility for research This justification may be used if the main purpose for acquiring equipment or supplies is to replicate specific experiments, using the exact products that produced the original results. You may also use this justification if you are collaborating with another researcher and can show that identical products are required to fulfill your part of the agreement. Only one supplier can be identified to supply a compliant product or service or only one supplier is uniquely qualified to provide the product or service In rare cases, only one supplier may exist to provide a particular product or service. When providing a justification based on the availability of one supplier, the product or service must be defined in generic terms. Specifying patented products or processes, when not necessary to meet functional requirements, is not acceptable as a sole source justification. Alternatively, only one supplier may be identified as being uniquely qualified or having specific experience and expertise to provide the product or services. The justification must describe why the supplier is uniquely qualified. To request a sole source use the Sole Source Request Form and email to Procurement Services at procurement@iastate.edu or include as an attachment on a non-catalog requisition in Workday. The form can also be completed through Adobe Sign , the document will route automatically to the Director of Procurement for review. Once fully signed, you will receive an email with the signed document from Adobe. Final determination as to whether products/services will be purchased on a sole source basis will be made by the Procurement Services Department, in consultation with the requester. Your sole source documentation will remain on file as part of the official procurement documents and may be subject to audit or review by interested parties. For requests that are using federal funds and exceed $50,000 , only the following sole source reasons may be used as justification: The item is only available from a single source (and can be documented as such. This does not mean only one source can sell a particular brand or style but that no other source for the item required can be identified even through a bid process.) The public exigency or emergency for the requirement will not permit a delay resulting from competitive solicitation; The Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity expressly authorizes noncompetitive proposals in response to a written request from the non-Federal entity; or After solicitation of a number of sources, competition is determined inadequate. The requester must write the justification in their own words. Sole source justifications that are written by a supplier may be provided as additional documentation only. See also: Competitive Procurement Sole Source Procurement The Board of Regents has acknowledged that there are occasions when products or services must be purchased from one specific source or manufacturer. If a request is made to purchase a product or service from only one supplier, yet several sources can provide a similar product, the request will be subject to the normal bid process. Should you request that products or services be purchased on a sole source basis, it must meet one of the criteria shown below. You must provide a written explanation, commonly referred to as a "sole source justification", to support your request. Use the Sole Source Request Form to submit your request. The four most commonly accepted sole source justifications are outlined below. Compatibility with existing equipment This justification may be used if your products or services are being purchased to directly interface with or attach to equipment of the same manufacturer, and no other manufacturer's products will correctly interface with existing equipment. Compatibility for instructional purposes This justification may be used if the products are being purchased to supplement existing equipment in a classroom. The product must exactly match the existing equipment and is being purchased to provide uniformity for instructional purposes. Compatibility for research This justification may be used if the main purpose for acquiring equipment or supplies is to replicate specific experiments, using the exact products that produced the original results. You may also use this justification if you are collaborating with another researcher and can show that identical products are required to fulfill your part of the agreement. Only one supplier can be identified to supply a compliant product or service or only one supplier is uniquely qualified to provide the product or service In rare cases, only one supplier may exist to provide a particular product or service. When providing a justification based on the availability of one supplier, the product or service must be defined in generic terms. Specifying patented products or processes, when not necessary to meet functional requirements, is not acceptable as a sole source justification. Alternatively, only one supplier may be identified as being uniquely qualified or having specific experience and expertise to provide the product or services. The justification must describe why the supplier is uniquely qualified. To request a sole source use the Sole Source Request Form and email to Procurement Services at procurement@iastate.edu or include as an attachment on a non-catalog requisition in Workday. The form can also be completed through Adobe Sign , the document will route automatically to the Director of Procurement for review. Once fully signed, you will receive an email with the signed document from Adobe. Final determination as to whether products/services will be purchased on a sole source basis will be made by the Procurement Services Department, in consultation with the requester. Your sole source documentation will remain on file as part of the official procurement documents and may be subject to audit or review by interested parties. For requests that are using federal funds and exceed $50,000 , only the following sole source reasons may be used as justification: The item is only available from a single source (and can be documented as such. This does not mean only one source can sell a particular brand or style but that no other source for the item required can be identified even through a bid process.) The public exigency or emergency for the requirement will not permit a delay resulting from competitive solicitation; The Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity expressly a

Files

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BidPulsar Analysis

A practical, capture-style breakdown of fit, requirements, risks, and next steps.

Updated: Feb 22, 2026
Executive summary

Iowa State University Procurement is seeking justifications for sole source procurement requests based on specific criteria set by the Board of Regents. Requests can be made in cases of compatibility with existing equipment, instructional uniformity, or unique supplier qualifications. The process includes submitting a Sole Source Request Form, which must provide adequate justification to support the procurement approach.

What the buyer is trying to do

The buyer is looking to procure specific products or services from a sole source while ensuring compliance with established justifications, particularly for requests exceeding $50,000 that involve federal funds.

Work breakdown
  • Identify products or services requiring sole source justification.
  • Gather necessary compatibility or uniqueness evidence.
  • Complete the Sole Source Request Form.
  • Submit the form via email or through Adobe Sign.
  • Await review by the Procurement Services Department.
Response package checklist
  • Completed Sole Source Request Form
  • Written justification for sole source
  • Any additional documentation or evidence supporting the request
Suggested keywords
sole source procurementIowa State Universityprocurement servicessole source justificationfederal funding
Source coverage notes

Some notices publish limited source detail. Confirm these points before final bid/no-bid decisions.

  • Timeline for requests and review process specifics.
  • Exact products or services needing sole source justification.
  • Any pre-established vendor preferences or exclusions.

FAQ

How do I use the Market Snapshot?

It summarizes awarded-contract behavior for the opportunity’s NAICS and sector, including a recent pricing band (P10–P90), momentum, and composition. Use it as context, not a guarantee.

Is the data live?

The signal updates as new awarded notices enter the system. Always validate the official award and solicitation details on SAM.gov.

What do P10 and P90 mean?

P10 is the 10th percentile award size and P90 is the 90th percentile. Together they describe the typical spread of award values.