Intent to Award Sole Source- Eckerd

The South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC) has issued an Intent to Award Sole Source contract to Eckerd Youth Alternatives for Motivational Interviewing (MI) training services, specifically targeting institutional and community corrections staff. The procurement focuses on providing comprehensive training for approximately 60 Intensive Supervision Officers and 30 institutional staff, including Rehabilitation Counselors and Correctional Officers. Training sessions will be conducted in small groups of 15-20 participants, with each session not exceeding 12 training hours or 2 business days, and will be held on-site at the SCDC Training Academy. Required deliverables include a Participant Manual with full curriculum and job aids, a Train the Trainers Instructor Manual, and evidence-based reference materials. Vendor qualifications mandate certification as MI training experts, experience with risk-asset assessment programs, knowledge of the youthful offender population (ages 17-25), and demonstrated experience training both institutional and community corrections staff. The response deadline is October 23, 2019, at 10:00 a.m., with the contract expected to be completed by June 30, 2018. Upon contract completion, SCDC will retain full ownership of all training materials and deliverables.

The sole source designation was justified by Eckerd Youth Alternatives being the only vendor to respond to the original Best Value Bid Solicitation 5400014791, awarded on May 2, 2018. No specific set-aside designations or restrictions on organizational types were explicitly mentioned in the document. Vendors interested in protesting the intended award must submit a notice of intent to protest within five business days of posting and the actual protest within fifteen days of posting to the Chief Procurement Officer at the Materials Management Office. While the specific contract value was not disclosed, the scope of training suggests a moderate-sized procurement focused on enhancing staff capabilities in working with youthful offenders. The contract appears to be part of a broader initiative integrating Motivational Interviewing techniques with existing Risk-Asset assessment (GRAD) and Community Reentry Striving and Thriving Intervention Sessions (CREST) programs. The procurement demonstrates SCDC's commitment to professional development and evidence-based training for corrections personnel.