Construction supplies - vocational

The South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC) Purchasing Branch issued a Request for Quote (RFQ) solicitation for construction supplies to support the Vocational Education Division. The procurement sought bids for 35 line items of construction materials and equipment, including electrical components (circuit breakers, outlets, switches, wiring), plumbing fixtures (sinks, faucets, pipes), building materials (paint, insulation foam, laminate flooring), windows, and specialty tools. Quantities varied by item, ranging from single units to 20 units for specific materials like laminate flooring. The solicitation was originally posted on February 15, 2022, with a bid opening date of February 24, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. All items were required to be new, with delivery mandated within 45 calendar days of the purchase order to Manning Correctional, located at 502 Beckman Drive, Columbia, South Carolina. Pricing was to be submitted on a unit price basis, with award determined by the lowest responsible and responsive bidder for individual line items. Evaluation criteria focused on unit pricing, with extended prices calculated by multiplying quantity by unit price, and unit prices taking precedence in award determination.

The solicitation did not specify explicit set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises, though state vendors could claim in-state preferences under South Carolina Code Section 11-35-1524 if maintaining an in-state office. Bidders were required to be registered as state vendors and submit signed Cover Page and Page Two documentation. The procurement did not disclose specific budget ranges or award values, and no incumbent vendor information was provided. A nonresident taxpayer registration affidavit might be required for contractors not registered with South Carolina. Ultimately, the solicitation resulted in a non-award status due to the receipt of no responsive bids, as documented in the accompanying non-award notice. The procurement was overseen by Myrtle DeWerdt as the buyer, with Ruthie H. Bishop, CPPB, serving as the Director of Procurement. Vendors were instructed to exclude sales and use taxes from quoted prices, with the state agreeing to pay applicable taxes separately.