Carolina stalite

The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) is pursuing a sole source procurement for lightweight aggregate (LA) from Carolina Stalite through Solicitation ID 5400020571. The procurement specifically targets lightweight aggregate used in chip seal projects and automated maintenance zone (AMZ) patching machines, with unique characteristics that reduce equipment wear and minimize operational downtime. Carolina Stalite is the only provider of rotary kiln expanded lightweight aggregate approved for bituminous surface treatment in South Carolina, and their product has been tested and approved by the DOT Material Lab for highway projects. The solicitation was posted on November 20, 2025, with proposals due on December 1, 2020, at 2:30 p.m., to be submitted online at http://www.procurement.sc.gov. The procurement is being conducted under South Carolina Code Sections 11-35-1560 and 11-35-4210, which allow for sole source procurement when a specific vendor meets unique technical requirements. Potential bidders who wish to protest the intended award must submit a written notice of intent to protest within five business days of the award notification, with formal protests required within fifteen days.

The procurement appears to be open to all qualified vendors, with no specific set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises mentioned in the documentation. While no explicit award value or budget range is specified, the justification document notes that a Drug-free Work Place certification is required for sole source procurements exceeding $50,000. The procurement covers Richland County and is specifically focused on acquiring lightweight aggregate from Carolina Stalite as the sole source provider. No information is provided about incumbent vendors or existing infrastructure integration requirements. The procurement is being authorized by Justin P. Powell, Deputy Secretary for SCDOT Finance & Administration, and the primary contact for procurement-related questions is Vernell H. Goodwin, who can be reached at 803-737-3618 or goodwinvh@scdot.org. Potential vendors should carefully review the sole source justification and procurement guidelines before submitting their responses.