Project Information

Bid Title

RFP 26-42 Side Scan Sonar System

Issuing Agency

State Government of Mississippi

Location

Mississippi

Published Date

May 19, 2026

Closing Date

Jun 9, 2026

Government Level

State & Local

Status

Closed

Ref. #

9280-26-R-IFBD-00048

Original Source

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Project Description

Procurement Details

Smart Number	9280-26-R-IFBD-00048	Advertised Date	05/19/2026 12:00 AM
RFx #	3160008071	Submission Date	06/09/2026 2:00 PM
RFx Status	Open	Major Procurement Category	COMMODITIES
RFx Opening Date	06/09/2026 2:00 PM	Sub Procurement Category	EQUIPMENT - TECHNOLOGY
RFx Type	Invitation for Bid
Agency	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI
RFx Description	NOTICE TO BIDDERS Sealed bids will be received in the Office of the Director of Procurement Services, The University of Southern Mississippi, 118 College Drive #5003, Bond Hall, Room 214, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, until Tuesday, June 9, 2026, 2:00 p

Contact Information

Name	Amber Floyd	Email	amber.floyd@usm.edu
Phone	601 266 4855	Fax

RFx Items

PRODUCT CATEGORY	PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
22060	Sonar Instruments

Awarded

VENDOR NAME

VENDOR NUMBER

AWARD DATE

AWARD AMOUNT

FUNDING SOURCE

Bid Attachments

Attachments RFP 26-42 Side Scan Sonar System
Attachments USM BID 26-42 Legal Ad

Attachment Preview

THIS IS NOT

AN ORDER

REQUEST FOR BIDS/PROPOSALS COVERSHEET

THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI

Procurement and Contract Services

118 College Drive #5003, Hattiesburg, Mississippi 39406-0001

Date: May 19, 2026

Name: ____________________________________

Company: _________________________________

Address: __________________________________

City/State/Zip: ______________________________

TERMS - Bidder should state terms of sale. Our terms are 2% ten days, net 45 days.

These terms will apply per Mississippi law.

AWARDING CONTRACT - Cash terms will not be used as a basis for awarding

contracts; however, the University will accept cash discounts when earned.

BID No. 26-42

THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI is considering

the purchase of the following item(s). We ask that you submit your

bid and retain one copy for your files. Right is reserved to accept or

reject any part of your bid. Your quotation will be given

consideration if received in Bond Hall, Room 214 on or before:

2:00 p.m. CT

June 9, 2026

Buyer: Amber Floyd

NOTE: If you cannot quote on the exact material shown, please indicate any exception giving brand name and complete

specifications of any alternate. If additional space is required, use a separate sheet or letter of transmittal.

ITEM

QUANTITY

UNIT PRICE

TOTAL NET PRICE

DESCRIPTION

BID 26-42 Side Scan Sonar System

RFx # 3160008071

PROPOSAL MUST BE RETURNED TO THE UNIVERSITY IN

ACCORDANCE WITH THE SPECIFICATIONS. RFP NUMBER AND

DATE OF BID OPENING MUST BE SHOWN ON THE OUTSIDE OF

THE ENVELOPE IF USING THAT METHOD.

We quote you as above - F.O.B. The University of Southern Mississippi.

Shipment can be made in

days from receipt of order. DATE ______________

Return quotation to Procurement Services at above address.

AA/EOE/ADAI

Signature Required__________________________________________

SYSTEM DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS FOR A HIGH-RESOLUTION SIDE

SCAN SONAR SYSTEM

The University of Southern Mississippi

Prepared by Steve Stanic and Landry Bernard

May 5/2026

SYSTEM DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS FOR A HIGH-RESOLUTION SIDE

SCAN SONAR SYSTEM

I. Background

The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) has received funding to purchase a

high-resolution side scan sonar system (SSS). This system will be used to map the sea floor,

provide sediment acoustic response as a function of grazing angles, provide detection,

classification, and localization (DCL) of low/medium/high target strength targets over a broad

range of environmental and platform noise conditions.

II. Purpose

This system will be used in programs that map the location of specific targets inside USM’s

CUBEnet test range environment. This system will also be used to select and classify several test

sites for USM’s seabed warfare program. This document contains the minimum requirements for

a high resolution SSS system.

III. General Requirements

1. The SSS shall have lightweight stainless steel hydrodynamic tow fish and a portable

splash proof, water resistant, and ruggedized topside processor.

2. The top side processors shall provide power and downlink telemetry to the tow fish for

sonar control and receive uplink side scan data, sensor data, and status information from

the tow fish for processing, storage, and display.

3. The system shall meet the NOAA SSS requirements. “The hydrographer shall tow the

side scan sonar at a speed such that an object 1 m on a side on the sea floor would be

independently ensonified a minimum of three times per pass.”

4. The system shall provide 400 and 900 kHz ultra-high-resolution images of the seafloor.

5. The SSS shall use CHIRP processing technology.

6. The system shall provide calibrated bottom backscattering data.

7. The SSS system shall be powered by both AC and DC power sources.

8. The SSS shall be capable of providing the georeferenced raw backscattering data.

9. The tow fish shall have a rugged and potable transport case.

10. The sonar system shall weigh approximately 1.8 kg in water.

11. The SSS system shall be easily deployed and recovered.

12. The system will come with at least a 60 m tow cable.

13. The SSS system shall include a v-fin depressor and additional stabilizing keel weights.

14. The SSS system shall have additional tow cable mounting positions for different vehicle

configurations.

13. The vendor shall provide telemetry system options.

14. The system shall have some type of safety recovery system which will prevent the loss of

the tow fish if it becomes snagged on an obstacle during a survey.

15. The vendor shall provide a list and the cost of optional spares.

16. The delivery arrangements and transportation costs shall be the vendor’s responsibility.

17. The side can sonar systems shall be delivered to USM’s Marine

Research Center, 1030 30th Ave Gulfport, MS 39501.

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IV. Specific SSS Technical Specifications

The following tables outline the minimum specifications that the high resolution SSS system

shall meet to perform the tasks necessary to satisfy USM’s project objectives.

Physical System

Frequencies

Operating range

3 dB beam pattern

Cross track resolutions

Along track resolutions

Pulse type

Diameter

Length

Weight in air

Weight in water

Max depth rating

Tow fish material

Towing speed

Heading resolution

Integrated sensors

Pressure sensor accuracy

Navigation interfaces

SSS Tow fish Specifications

Description/Value

At least 400 and 900 kHz

At least 175 m at 400 kHz, and 65 m at 900 kHz

Less than -37 dB

At least 3 cm at 400 kHz and 2 cm at 900 kHz

At least 70 cm at 400 kHz and 20 cm at 900 kHz at

100 m and 50 m respectively

Simultaneous linear swept wide band FM and chirp pulses

General SSS Specifications

No greater than 11 cm

No greater than 120 cm

No greater than 25 kg

No greater than 20 kg

At least 175 m

Stainless steel

At least 1 – 7 knts

At least 0.20

At least Heading, Pitch, Roll and Pressure integrated sensors

0.75 % of working depth

RS-232, NMEA0183

Power inputs

Hardware

Connections

SSS top side processor

12-24 VDC or 115/220 VAC, 60 Hz

Splash proof ruggedized top side processor

10/100 Mb/s RJ-45 LAN connection

V. Specific SSS software requirements

1. The back scattered signals shall be processed into high signal-to-noise images

that are recorded and displayed by the top side processor software.

2. Ther software shall provide target feature detection.

2. The top-side software shall control and monitor the tow fish sonar subsystems and

displays.

3. The data shall be stored in XTF and JSF formats.

4. The top side control system shall be controlled by a ruggedized laptop computer.

5. The top side system shall interface global positioning system (GPS) devices over an

RS-232 serial (or USB to Serial) interface.

6. The software shall provide access to raw data files via a network interface.

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VI. Options

•

•

•

Magnetometer Interface

A pole mount and scan bracket for easy deployment from one of USM’s

dedicated vessels.

Telemetry options for short and long tow cable lengths.

VII. Software

The vendor shall provide Complete Software Package (backup) and product

documentation for the SSS system. This includes image software that provides high-

resolution seabed images and target detections.

VIII. Training

The vendor shall provide training on the operation, software, maintenance,

troubleshooting, and integration of all systems. This shall include mission

planning and basic mission data analysis and display. This training shall take place

at the USM facility located in Gulfport MS.

IX. Proof of Performance

The vendor shall provide a proven record of the SSS measurements and operating system

performance. The vendor needs to provide references where these systems and their

operating system in a similar configuration as specified above have operated successfully

within the last 3 years. The above requested information will assist USM in determining

the bidder’s capability of meeting these requirements.

X. Warranty Services

At a minimum, the contractor shall provide software/hardware warranty support for one

year from acceptance. Longer warranty periods are preferred. The Vendor shall agree to

repair, adjust, and/or replace (as determined by the University to be in its best interest)

any defective materials at the Vendor and/or manufacturers’ sole cost. The University

will incur no costs for service or replacement of materials during the warranty period.

The Vendor will be the sole point of contact for warranty issues.

XI. Documentation

The Contractor shall provide Operations and Maintenance manuals to USM.

Documentation provided shall include, but not be limited to the following:

A. Theory of operation

B. Operating procedures

C. Interfacing instructions with connector pin outs

D. Troubleshooting and maintenance procedures

E. IPB (Isometric Parts Breakout) drawings showing how all parts, especially

mechanical parts, relate to one another.

F. Documentation of the various software packages.

G. All sensor documentation and manuals.

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Commodity Codes

• NAICS 334511Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing

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