Board approves five finance and budget contracts for state universities

The Mississippi Public Universities Board of Trustees approved five finance and budget items in a special-call meeting, including contracts for electronic nursing textbooks at Mississippi University for Women, a student‑recruitment customer‑relationship management system, an amended lease at the Port of Gulfport with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a predevelopment agreement for University of Mississippi student housing with GS Development Services (Greystar), and a five‑year apparel and equipment contract for Mississippi Valley State University.

The approvals cover multiple funding streams — student course fees, general fund revenues, E&G and designated funds — and include long‑term commitments and predevelopment work that the board said will be followed by future approvals (including a ground lease for the Ole Miss project). Several items were the result of competitive procurements or state bidding processes; legal staff reviewed each agreement and board staff recommended approval.

Mississippi University for Women — Wolters Kluwer Health: Dr. Pierce, presenting item 1, said the university requested a new three‑year agreement with Wolters Kluwer Health Inc. beginning Aug. 2, 2025, to provide electronic textbooks and educational materials for its associate of nursing program. The agreement will be funded by student course fees and has a maximum potential cost of $577,000 based on enrollment. "The contract may be terminated for breach," Dr. Pierce said. Board staff said the original 2023 agreement had been selected through a competitive procurement process; legal staff reviewed the new agreement and recommended approval. The trustees approved the item by roll call vote.

Mississippi University for Women — Technolutions CRM: Item 2 is a five‑year agreement beginning July 1, 2025, with Technolutions Inc. to provide a software‑as‑a‑service customer‑relationship management platform to manage student applications and admissions. The initial contract amount is $250,000; board staff said that brings aggregate contract value with the vendor to $500,000 since 2020. The procurement was led by the University of Southern Mississippi with the Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services serving as contracting agent. Legal staff reviewed the agreement and board staff recommended approval; trustees carried the motion by roll call vote.

University of Southern Mississippi — NOAA lease amendment, Port of Gulfport: Item 3 is an amendment to USM's lease with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for facilities at the Port of Gulfport. Dr. Pierce described the amendment as acknowledging NOAA's acceptance of battery storage space and phased occupancy requirements and increasing the rent. The amendment establishes a 20‑year term with a 15‑year point after which NOAA may terminate with one year's notice, and provides certain termination rights if required improvements are not completed within 24 months. The presentation stated the lease value over the term could be up to $32,400,000, exclusive of operating and insurance costs. Legal staff reviewed the amendment and board staff recommended approval; trustees approved the item by roll call vote.

University of Mississippi — Predevelopment agreement with Greystar: Item 4 requests authority for the University of Mississippi to enter a predevelopment agreement with GS Development Services Central LLC (Greystar) for preconstruction services related to student housing, dining and parking. The scope includes feasibility assessment, environmental and site testing, title and survey review, demolition and abatement, infrastructure design and installation, design drawings and specifications, budgeting, and consultant services. The agreement expires on execution of a future ground lease or by Dec. 31, 2026, whichever comes first; Dr. Pierce stated the maximum financial exposure in the event of termination is $13,400,000 based on an escalating schedule of due‑diligence costs. The university said Greystar was selected through a competitive RFP; the board retained independent financial advisers and the law firm Reed Smith to provide outside analysis under Board Policy 7.14. Trustee Clark was recused from the discussion and vote on this item; legal staff reviewed the agreement and board staff recommended approval. Trustees approved the item by roll call vote.

Mississippi Valley State University — BSN Sports (Nike apparel): Item 5 is a five‑year purchase and supply agreement between Mississippi Valley State University and BSN Sports LLC for Nike apparel, footwear and athletic equipment, effective July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2030. The total contract cost was presented as $742,000, funded by educational and general (E&G) and designated funds; BSN will be the university's exclusive supplier for athletic apparel and equipment. The agreement allows the university to terminate subject to payment of liquidated damages. Board staff said BSN Sports was selected through the Mississippi State Department of Finance and Administration competitive bidding process in which it was the sole bidder; legal staff reviewed the agreement and recommended approval. The trustees approved the item by roll call vote. The board chair recused himself from item 5 and Trustee Stevenson led discussion of that item in his absence.

Procedural note and next steps: After approving the five items, the board voted to close the meeting to determine the need for an executive session. Board staff said the University of Mississippi expects to return to the board with a ground lease and further documentation on the Greystar predevelopment project in the coming months.