EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

The South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice (SCDJJ) is procuring an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for its 1,163 full-time employees, serving Richland County and the broader state jurisdiction. The solicitation seeks a comprehensive EAP provider to deliver confidential counseling and referral services to employees and their dependents, including four pre-paid confidential assessment and therapeutic counseling sessions annually per participant. Required services encompass 24/7 availability, crisis/trauma counseling, mental health checks, suicide prevention, financial counseling, workplace conflict resolution, substance abuse counseling, and wellness programs. The evaluation criteria are weighted with Portfolio of Services as the most critical factor, followed by Qualifications & Experience, and Cost as the third consideration. Key procurement dates include a submission deadline of January 23, 2025, at 3:00 PM, with questions due by December 31, 2024, and an anticipated contract award posting on February 12, 2025. The initial contract period is set from February 25, 2025, through February 24, 2030, with vendors required to provide monthly Per Employee Per Month (PEPM) and per-incident rates. Contractors must maintain liability and malpractice insurance at minimum levels of $1,000,000 per incident.

The solicitation does not explicitly mention specific set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. The current incumbent vendor is Deer Oaks, who has been serving SCDJJ at a rate of $1.30 PEPM. The EAP must support both in-person and virtual service delivery, with no mandatory minimum hours for the Alcohol and Substance Abuse Awareness Program. Proposers are required to submit electronic technical and price proposals through the South Carolina procurement portal, with one original and one redacted copy of each. While a specific budget range is not provided, the current per-employee monthly rate of $1.30 suggests a baseline for cost expectations. The program will serve employees and their household members, offering a comprehensive suite of counseling and support services designed to address various personal and professional challenges. Vendors must demonstrate the capability to provide a robust, confidential, and accessible support system for SCDJJ employees across multiple service domains.