Amendment 1.docx

State of South Carolina

Invitation for Bid

Amendment 1 Solicitation Number:

Date Issued:

Procurement Officer:

Phone:

E-Mail Address:

5400023407 05/19/2022 Jennifer Coleman 803-898-8814 jennifer.coleman@sccb.sc.gov

DESCRIPTION: Statewide Needs Assessment Plan

USING GOVERNMENTAL UNIT: SC Commission for the Blind

The Term "Offer" Means Your "Bid" or "Proposal". Unless submitted on-line, your offer must be submitted in a sealed package. Solicitation Number & Opening Date must appear on package exterior. See "Submitting Your Offer" provision.

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

SUBMIT OFFER BY (Opening Date/Time): 05/24/2022 by 14:00:00 (See “Deadline For Submission of Offer” provision)

QUESTIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY: 05/18/2022 by 14:00:00 EXPIRED (See "Questions From Offerors" provision)

NUMBER OF HARD COPIES TO BE SUBMITTED: “One Original”

CONFERENCE TYPE: Not Applicable

DATE & TIME:

(As appropriate, see "Conferences - Pre-Bid/Proposal" & "Site Visit" provisions) LOCATION: Not Applicable

You must submit a signed copy of this form with Your Offer. By submitting a bid or proposal, 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" and "Electronic Signature" provisions.)

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.)

TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NO.

(See "Taxpayer Identification Number" provision)

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)

(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 (NOV. 2007)

AMENDMENTS TO SOLICITATION (JANUARY 2006) (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.

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.

1. Is there an incumbent for this work? If yes, please identify the organization and share the most recent CSNA?

- State’s Response: No Change. San Diego Research Foundation completed the CSNA for SCCB in 2019. The most recent CSNA is not available for review.

2. Question: What case management system does the Blind Commission use?

- State’s Response: No Change. The case management system that SCCB uses is AWARE.

3. Question: RFP section III. Scope of work/specifications indicates that mixed methods data will be gathered through electronic and hard copy surveys, focus groups, and key informant interviews. The volume of data gathered, and method(s) used to gather it (e.g., in-person, virtual, by mail), changes the cost of execution. Please clarify expectations by providing the total number of each data collection method. Is this even possible?

- State’s Response: No change. A total number of each data collection method is not available at this time, but all methods are expected to be used as much as possible to gather as many surveys as needed.

4. Question: RFP section III. Scope of work/specifications states that “On-site research visits to major service areas identified by SCCB that will include a review of existing agency data and interviews with key informants.” As a result of the pandemic, our organization found effective ways to conduct CSNA activities virtually. We have found that virtual methods both reduce the cost to the State and increase access for hard-to-reach populations such as individuals living in rural communities or those who have limited transportation access. Would the State be interested in amending the in-person specification, or open to this in a proposal?

- State’s Response: No Change. SCCB prefers face to face interviews to minimize accessibility concerns, but virtual will be considered if necessary.

5. Question RFP section III. Scope of work/specifications states that “On-site research visits to major service areas identified by SCCB that will include a review of existing agency data and interviews with key informants.” Does the agency have an approximate number of service areas they would like included as part of this task?

- State’s Response: No Change: SCCB has eight (8) offices statewide therefore the on-site assessments should occur in those locations.

6. Question: RFP section VI. Award Criteria indicates that the award will be made to the lowest responsible and responsive bidder. Please clarify if and how the modified qualifications of the offeror, including special standards of responsibility, will be assessed, and considered in scoring.

- State’s Response: No Change: Please see Section IIA, Page 9, Clause Responsiveness/Improper Offers (Jun 2015) image1.png