CANCELLED SS- ELPAS

The South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC) initiated a sole source procurement for an RTLS (Real-Time Location Services) Man-Down Duress System, originally solicited under bid number 5400025301. The procurement was for a comprehensive hardware and software solution designed to provide wireless monitoring and tracking of prison guards to enhance emergency response capabilities. The system requirements included integration with existing security infrastructure such as intrusion detection, CCTV, access control, and patient call systems, with a specific emphasis on a unified 433 MHz radio frequency platform. The proposed contract was structured with an initial one-year term from May 22, 2023, to May 21, 2024, with four additional automatic one-year renewal options, potentially extending the contract period to five years. Key system functionalities included man-down and duress alerts, wireless temperature monitoring across various facility locations, and the ability to distinguish locations across indoor, outdoor, and multi-floor environments. The solicitation required vendors to submit comprehensive documentation demonstrating authorization to perform contract obligations, with responses due by May 22, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. to the SC Department of Corrections Purchasing Branch in Columbia.

While the original solicitation did not specify explicit set-aside designations or vendor restrictions, the procurement was ultimately cancelled. The system was intended to be a sole source award, with SCDC determining that no alternative vendor could provide the complete functionality on a single integrated hardware and software platform. No specific budget range or award value was disclosed in the available documentation. The system was designed to work with existing technological infrastructure, requiring a Software Development Kit for external system interface development and web services-based integration capabilities. Vendors interested in the procurement were required to demonstrate the ability to provide a comprehensive solution that could reliably operate local devices capable of annunciating man-down duress alerts during potential network or server outages. Protests regarding the intended award were permitted, with a five-business-day window for initial protests and a fifteen-day deadline for formal protests to be submitted to the Chief Procurement Officer at the Materials Management Office in Columbia.