Computerized Testing Services

The South Carolina State Fiscal Accountability Authority (SFAA), Division of Procurement Services, is soliciting proposals for computerized testing services on behalf of the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing, & Regulation (SCLLR). The procurement seeks a contractor to provide comprehensive testing services for multiple professional licensing boards, specifically covering Auctioneers, Barber, Cosmetology, and Dentistry testing programs. The successful vendor must deliver computerized examinations at multiple locations both in-state and out-of-state, with testing slots available six days per week. Key deliverables include daily electronic submission of test results, monthly examination statistics reporting, and maintaining rigorous security protocols for examination materials and candidate information. The contractor will be compensated solely through testing examination fees collected from applicants, with specific exam fees already established by Chapter 10 regulations. Critical dates include a non-mandatory pre-proposal conference on March 18, 2025 at 10:00 AM ET, questions due by March 19, 2025 at 12:00 PM ET, and proposals due by April 24, 2025 at 11:00 AM ET. The contract will be awarded on June 2, 2025, with an initial one-year term and four potential one-year renewals, creating a maximum contract period from June 12, 2025 to June 11, 2030.

The solicitation does not explicitly outline specific set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. The pricing structure requires bidders to provide unit pricing for various professional licensing examinations, including theory and practical tests across disciplines like Auctioneers, Barber, Cosmetology, Esthetician, Nail Technician, and Dentistry. Estimated test volumes are substantial, ranging from 175 Auctioneer tests to 10,000 Cosmetology theory tests and 7,000 practical tests. While no incumbent vendor is mentioned, the contract requires robust technological capabilities, including encryption of personally identifiable information at rest and in transmission. Bidders must complete the provided Excel pricing worksheet (Attachment D), inputting unit prices for each test type, with the total evaluated amount calculated automatically. Although specific budget ranges are not detailed, the compensation model is based entirely on examination fees, suggesting a self-funding mechanism where the contractor's revenue is directly tied to the number of tests administered. The comprehensive nature of the testing services and the multi-year contract potential indicate a significant opportunity for a qualified testing services provider.