The UI Cancer Center (UI CC) is currently in the process of applying to be a nationally recognized cancer center. This designation comes from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) who have their own guidelines and requirements in order to qualify any Cancer Center to be designated.

One of the many requirements for our UI CC to be eligible is performing an all-around creation & update of content as well as optimization of our website's design. Therefore, a master content calendar (i.e. editorial calendar) which schedules the when and where to publish upcoming content, such as upcoming pieces, status updates, planned promotional activity, partnerships, and updates to existing content, etc. must be created and maintained on the website.

NCI requires that the website present a Cancer Center Members' directory with biographical content and images that must be created and content changes be implemented. The research content that occurs in labs (i.e. from the bench) to show case in a Members-only section the Data on Cancer Disparities, and Clinical Trials at UI CC has to be available and well represented on the website.

The ongoing technical support, updates and maintenance are action items that must be available to UI CC's website to provide monthly backups and ensure restoration of the most recent versions of the site. The standard that NCI requires of its designated cancer centers' websites require updates to WordPress (the platform our website is on) while making sure plugins are done bi-weekly. Additionally, analytics reporting is a very integral part of this process to show the websites' productivity and user flow.

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 CareContent, Inc. 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.

All sole source hearings under the jurisdiction of the Chief Procurement Officer for Higher Education will be conducted by tele-conference only until the in-person option is reinstated.

The University has determined that this purchase is only economically available from this source because the compatibility of equipment, accessories, replacement parts, or service is a paramount consideration.