Universities have a need for Social Media Advertising. Social media advertising continues to grow year-to-year and is an essential medium for universities to reach new students and maintain their social media presence. By allowing a term contract, universities will maintain their social media presence over the term of the award. With social media advertising at the forefront of advertising, university ad placements are always increasing. Current world events make it challenging to predict the best outlet for advertising (social media is likely to play a larger role) with more perspective University community members spending more time indoors and plugged in. Without the ability to purchase social media advertising, universities will not be able to reach new students, new employees, and maintain outreach with alumni, resulting in financial loss. The university, on information and belief, has concluded that only one vendor can meet its need or can meet the need economically. That vendor is Instagram. Instagram is the only vendor that can satisfy the need to advertise on Instagram. The university has provided detailed justification to support its conclusion as shown on the attached Sole Source Justification Form. Although the university has presented this as a sole source procurement, we are seeking competitive information from firms with the capability of meeting the university's need (even if performed in a manner different from what has been presented) to contact us and provide sufficient information to show the need can be met. If we receive that information, the Chief Procurement Officer will offer a public hearing to consider the matter. Hearing information is described below.

The University has determined that this purchase is only economically available from this source because the item or service is copyrighted or patented and is not available except from the holder of the copyright or patent.