INTENT TO AWARD SOLE SOURCE - APEX LEARN

The South Carolina Department of Corrections is issuing a sole source intent to award a contract for APEX Learning digital curriculum for the Palmetto Unified School District. The procurement seeks a comprehensive web-based digital curriculum platform designed for grades 9-12 and adult education populations, serving approximately 2,500 incarcerated student inmates across 21 facilities in 16 counties. The required platform must provide unlimited course access, including career and technical education, adult basic education, test preparation, and tutorials with one-year access for unlimited students. Specific technical requirements include compatibility with SonicWall firewalls, comprehensive IP and port documentation for IT security vetting, and web-based accessibility with visual and auditory learning components. The platform must offer differentiated instruction, tiered intervention strategies, frequent assessments, adaptive remediation, and robust reporting tools for teachers and administrators. The response period closed on July 7, 2022, at 10:00 a.m., with submissions accepted at the SC Department of Corrections Purchasing Branch or via email to purchasing@doc.sc.gov. Vendors must provide authorization documentation demonstrating full capability to perform all required aspects and submit a complete three-page intent form.

The sole source procurement does not explicitly mention specific set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. The curriculum platform must incorporate learning theory, evidence-based approaches, and support for diverse student populations, including special needs students, struggling learners, advanced learners, and those with foundational skill deficiencies. While no specific budget range is provided, the contract includes comprehensive implementation support, 24/7 technical support via toll-free access and live chat, online training through recorded videos and webinars, professional development, and a knowledge base. Potential vendors must meet stringent technical and educational requirements, demonstrating expertise in digital learning platforms for correctional education environments. The procurement allows for protests to be submitted within five business days of posting, with formal protests required within fifteen days and addressed to the Chief Procurement Officer at the Materials Management Office in Columbia. No incumbent vendor is specifically mentioned in the documentation, suggesting this may be a new or replacement educational technology procurement for the state's correctional education system.