Amendment 1.docx

State of South Carolina

FIXED PRICE BID

AMENDMENT 1

Solicitation:

Date Issued:

Procurement Officer:

Phone:

E-Mail Address:

Mailing Address:

5400029256 04/28/2026

ANASTASIA SINGH

803-896-8334 asingh@mmo.sc.gov SFAA, Div. of Procurement Services 1333 Main Street, Suite 700 Columbia SC 29201

DESCRIPTION: APS - ETPS - HOMEMAKER - CNAs -PCAs

USING GOVERNMENTAL UNIT: DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

SUBMIT YOUR OFFER ON-LINE AT THE FOLLOWING URL: http://www.procurement.sc.gov

SUBMIT OFFER BY (Opening Date/Time): 05/21/2026 11:00AM ET (See "Deadline For Submission Of Offer" provision)

QUESTIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY: 04/23/2026 04:00PM ET (See "Questions From Offerors" provision)

NUMBER OF COPIES TO BE SUBMITTED: 1 original and 1 Redacted. Initial here if no redacted copy is necessary.

CONFERENCE TYPE: Non -Mandatory

DATE & TIME: 04/23/2026 10:00AM

(As appropriate, see "Conferences - Pre-Bid/Proposal" & "Site Visit" provisions) LOCATION: Microsoft Teams Email: asingh@mmo.sc.gov if you would like to attend.

You must submit a signed copy of this form with Your Offer. By signing, You agree to be bound by the terms of the Solicitation. You agree to hold Your Offer open for a minimum of ninety (90) calendar days after the Opening Date. (See "Signing Your Offer" provision.)

NAME OF OFFEROR

(full legal name of business submitting the offer) Any award issued will be issued to, and the contract will be formed with, the entity identified as the Offeror. The entity named as the offeror must be a single and distinct legal entity. Do not use the name of a branch office or a division of a larger entity if the branch or division is not a separate legal entity, i.e., a separate corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship, etc.

AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE

(Person must be authorized to submit binding offer to contract on behalf of Offeror.)

DATE SIGNED

TITLE

(business title of person signing above)

STATE VENDOR NO.

(Register to Obtain S.C. Vendor No. at www.procurement.sc.gov)

PRINTED NAME

(printed name of person signing above)

STATE OF INCORPORATION

(If you are a corporation, identify the state of incorporation.)

OFFEROR'S TYPE OF ENTITY: (Check one) (See "Signing Your Offer" provision.)

___ Sole Proprietorship ___ Partnership ___ Other_____________________________

___ Corporate entity (not tax-exempt) ___ Corporation (tax-exempt) ___ Government entity (federal, state, or local)

COVER PAGE - ON-LINE ONLY (MAR. 2015)

PAGE TWO

(Return Page Two with Your Offer) HOME OFFICE ADDRESS (Address for offeror's home office / principal place of business)

NOTICE ADDRESS (Address to which all procurement and contract related notices should be sent.) (See "Notice" clause)

_________________________________________________ Area Code - Number - Extension Facsimile

_________________________________________________ E-mail Address

PAYMENT ADDRESS (Address to which payments will be sent.) (See "Payment" clause)

____Payment Address same as Home Office Address ____Payment Address same as Notice Address (check only one) ORDER ADDRESS (Address to which purchase orders will be sent) (See "Purchase Orders and "Contract Documents" clauses)

____Order Address same as Home Office Address ____Order Address same as Notice Address (check only one)

ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF AMENDMENTS

Offerors acknowledges receipt of amendments by indicating amendment number and its date of issue. (See "Amendments to Solicitation" Provision)

DISCOUNT FOR PROMPT PAYMENT

(See "Discount for Prompt Payment" clause)

PREFERENCES - A NOTICE TO VENDORS (SEP. 2009): Preferences do not apply. See SC Consolidated Procurement Code Reference 11-35-1524 (E) (2)

AMENDMENTS TO SOLICITATION (JAN 2004)

(a) The Solicitation may be amended at any time prior to opening. All actual and prospective Offerors should monitor the following web site for the issuance of Amendments: www.procurement.sc.gov(b) Offerors shall acknowledge receipt of any amendment to this solicitation (1) by signing and returning the amendment, (2) by identifying the amendment number and date in the space provided for this purpose on Page Two, (3) by letter, or (4) by submitting a bid that indicates in some way that the bidder received the amendment. (c) If this solicitation is amended, then all terms and conditions which are not modified remain unchanged.

[02-2A005-1]

The solicitation is hereby amended as follows:

Underline text is added.

QUALIFICATIONS - SPECIAL STANDARDS OF RESPONSIBILITY (MAR 2015): (a) This section establishes special standards of responsibility. UNLESS YOU POSSESS THE FOLLOWING MANDATORY MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS, DO NOT SUBMIT AN OFFER: [TO BE COMPLETED BY PROCUREMENT OFFICER] (b) Provide a detailed, narrative statement with adequate information to establish that you meet all the requirements stated in subparagraph (a) above. Include all appropriate documentation. If you intend for us to consider the qualifications of your key personnel, predecessor business(es), or subcontractor(s), explain the relationship between you and such person or entity. [R. 19-445.2125(F)] [05-5010-2]

QUESTIONS FROM OFFERORS - AMENDMENT (JUN 2017)

THE SOLICITATION IS AMENDED AS PROVIDED HEREIN. INFORMATION OR CHANGES RESULTING FROM QUESTIONS WILL BE SHOWN IN A QUESTION-AND-ANSWER FORMAT. ALL QUESTIONS RECEIVED HAVE BEEN REPRINTED BELOW. THE “STATE’S RESPONSE” SHOULD BE READ WITHOUT REFERENCE TO THE QUESTIONS. THE QUESTIONS ARE INCLUDED SOLELY TO PROVIDE A CROSS-REFERENCE TO THE POTENTIAL OFFEROR THAT SUBMITTED THE QUESTION. QUESTIONS DO NOT FORM A PART OF THE CONTRACT; THE “STATE’S RESPONSE” DOES. ANY RESTATEMENT OF PART OR ALL OF AN EXISTING PROVISION OF THE SOLICITATION IN AN ANSWER DOES NOT MODIFY THE ORIGINAL PROVISION EXCEPT AS FOLLOWS: UNDERLINED TEXT IS ADDED TO THE ORIGINAL PROVISON. STRICKEN TEXT IS DELETED. [02-2A097-1]

The following questions were received pursuant to the date and time specified on the cover page of the solicitation:

Question 1. What is the dollar amount of funding allocated for each service provided?

State’s Response: The agency does not have specific dollar amount allocated for each service provided.

Question 2. How many clients needed services last year?

State’s Response: Approximately 25 clients was in need of services last year.

Question 3. What are some of the underserved counties that will need the most caregivers?

State’s Response: Some of the underserved counties that will need the most caregivers are Berkeley, Charleston, Florence, Greenville, Lexington, Orangeburg, Oree, Richland and Spartanburg because there’s not enough Provider(s) to meet the needs in those locations. However, we need Providers in all locations to meet SCDSS APS need of services.

Question 4. How will referral be disbursed?

State’s Response: All APS client referrals for Homemaker or Emergency Temporary Personal Care services will be made by county SCDSS, APS Unit, unless otherwise notified by SCDSS State Office staff. The APS State Office will share a list of providers to include, their names and contact information, with staff in county offices the provider has been approved to serve in.

Question 5. How many referrals will be disbursed monthly?

State’s Response: The referrals are based on the needs of the agency and it is difficult to project how many referrals per month.

Question 6. Will DSS pay gas mileage reimbursement for travel?

State’s Response: The agency will not reimburse mileage for gas.

Question 7. If our agency has not had a financial audit, what can we submit in place of that?

State’s Response:

a). A written reference on letter head stationary with contact information and relationship to Offeror (banker, Certified Public Accountant, or someone who if asked), could provide written documentation that the Offeror’s program is financially sound, and that Offeror has two months operating expenses.

Or b). Offeror must have sufficient capital to operate at least two months before receiving reimbursement from the SCDSS and must provide written reference on letterhead stationery with contact information and relationship to Offeror(s) (banker, Certified Public Accountant, or whoever can provide written documentation that Offeror(s) has two months operating expenses.

Question 8. Where will the amendments be located when they are ready for review?

State’s Response: As indicated on page 1 - Any amendments and all notices will be posted on the website, www.procurement.sc.gov (directly below the solicitation).

Question 9. We had a question about having an LPN on staff versus an RN. In section IV, subsection 2C it states that "if contractor will be providing Certified Nursing Assistant Emergency Temporary Personal Care Services a licensed Practical Nurse must be on staff." Our question is if a RN is considered a step above LPN, is it okay if our company staffs RN's instead of LPN's? The reason for asking is because in the past our RN's always had to sign the LPN's paperwork for Medicaid and VA clients, so we thought it made more sense to employ RN's.

State’s Response: Program is ok with companies staffing RNs instead of LPNs. As RNs have higher level of degree and training. The expectation will remain the same for both.

Question 10. What is the standard 'net' payment cycle (e.g., Net 30) from the time a clean invoice is submitted to DSS?

State’s Response: The standard ‘net’ payment cycle is always ‘Net 30’.

Question 11. If payments are not made within the State-required timeframe, will interest be paid?

State’s Response: No, the agency will not pay interest.

Question 12. When choosing the Counties that we will be serving, do we choose the county that we expect the client to reside or the county that may be making the referral?

State’s Response: Provider(s) will be choosing Counties that they will be available to serve in. Provider(s) will not choose counties they expect client to reside or making referral.

Question 13. I have a question regarding the upcoming financial audit. How should we provide the required information if we do not currently have a CPA on staff?

Please let us know the best way to proceed or if there are alternative documentation requirements we should follow.

State’s Response: Please refer to Question #7.

Question 14. On Page 37, Qualifications – Required Information (Modified); Question: Are proposers required to include in their proposal responses to (a) through (f) in this section, or only “If requested by the procurement Officer..”

State’s Response: Yes, you will only submit that information as stated – If requested by the Procurement Officer.

Question 15. Page 23, Section IV Background Checks and Random Drug Testing. Question: What are the requirements for Randon Drug Testing?

State’s Response: Please refer to (Section 44-70-70) for a license in-home Contractor and an individual employed as an in- home caregiver as a license in-home care Contractor who are subject to random drug testing.

Question 16. Page 34, Section IV Information for Offerors to Submit; (6) Submission of References. Question: Are references from clients who have/or are receiving services acceptable for this requirement?

State’s Response: Yes, submission of references from clients who have/or are receiving services is acceptable for this requirement.

Question 17. Are Offerors required to include proof of financial capability with their proposal submission?

State’s Response: Yes, please refer to Question #7.

Question 18. Page 37 states, " you meet all requirements in subpart a" what section is subparagraph a?

State’s Response: Please see clause QUALIFICATIONS - SPECIAL STANDARDS OF RESPONSIBILITY (MAR 2015) added at the beginning of Amendment 1.

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