Creative consulting services

South Carolina State University is seeking creative consulting services through a Fixed Price Bid Solicitation (5400023092) issued by the State Fiscal Accountability Authority's Division of Procurement Services. The procurement aims to establish a qualified provider list of professionals to assist with campus projects on an as-needed basis across twelve specific creative service categories: art director, audio technician/engineer/producer, graphic artist/designer/illustrator, interior designer, photographer, public relations services, social media marketer, technical editor or writer, web developer or content creator, videographer, video editor or producer, and visual artist. The solicitation was originally issued on April 13, 2022, with questions due by April 28, 2022, at 11:00 AM and offers due by May 17, 2022, at 11:00 AM. Evaluation will be based on submitted 20-page maximum bids including completed bid schedules, hourly rates, project references, demonstration of suitability, and personnel summaries. Compensation is structured in three experience-based tiers with maximum hourly rates: Tier 1 ($100/hour for minimum three years' experience), Tier 2 ($200/hour for four to nine years' experience), and Tier 3 ($300/hour for ten or more years' experience). The resulting contract will have an initial term of one year with three additional one-year renewal options, and the university guarantees no minimum work volume.

The solicitation does not explicitly mention specific set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises, though it does require minority participation forms to be submitted. Contractors will be permitted to provide links, screenshots, or pictures to demonstrate their capacity to perform services. All work product will be owned by the university and cannot be sold or distributed without authorization. Add-on services or materials such as printing or media buying are subject to a maximum 10% markup of actual costs, with prior written approval required. The procurement allows for quarterly bid openings in 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 for offerors not responding to the initial opening. Offerors must hold their offers open for a minimum of 60 calendar days after the opening date, and actual hourly rates will be negotiated at the time of each Project Scope of Work, not to exceed the bid schedule maximum. While specific total contract value is not disclosed, the tiered hourly rate structure and flexible project-based approach suggest potential significant value for qualified creative service providers.