ECONOMIC SVCS SYSTEM APP MODERNIZATION

The South Carolina Department of Social Services (DSS) is seeking a comprehensive design, development, implementation, stabilization, maintenance, and operations solution for the Economic Services System Application Modernization (ESSAM) project. This procurement aims to replace legacy systems supporting SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) benefits administration, covering approximately 1,125 core staff users and 500 secondary users across the state. The contract requires a contractor to propose either a Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) solution, a transferred system from another state, or a cloud-based SaaS/PaaS solution, with custom-built systems explicitly prohibited. Key deliverables include a modernized eligibility determination system, comprehensive data conversion from existing systems, integration with 41 external interfaces, and full compliance with federal requirements including FNS Handbook 901 and SNAP System Integrity Review Tool standards. The procurement follows a multi-phase approach with an initial 6-year implementation period, followed by potential 2-year renewal terms. The solicitation timeline includes a pre-proposal conference on August 30, 2023, with questions due by that date, and a proposal submission deadline of December 8, 2023, at 11:00 AM. Evaluation criteria will weight understanding of requirements (30%), contract experience (25%), personnel qualifications (20%), pricing (20%), and assumptions/risk (5%), with a subsequent demonstration evaluation.

The procurement does not specify explicit set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises, but requires contractors to have successfully completed at least one large-scale SNAP/TANF system implementation within the past 60 months. Existing technology infrastructure includes Microsoft Azure platforms, SharePoint, various mainframe systems (CHIP, WINS, SCOSA), and multiple integration points with state and federal agencies. The contract will require on-site presence in Columbia, South Carolina, with most key personnel mandated to work core business hours. While no incumbent vendor is explicitly identified, the state's current systems involve legacy mainframe technologies from Software AG and IBM, with strategic investments in Microsoft technologies. The cost proposal workbook indicates the contract encompasses a total 12-year term with implementation phases and ongoing maintenance, with labor rate escalations capped at 2% annually and a mandated 15,000 annual hours for system enhancements. Though specific budget ranges are not directly stated, the comprehensive nature of the procurement and multi-year term suggest a substantial contract value potentially reaching millions of dollars, with federal funding covering 50 percent of administrative costs for SNAP-related activities.