Intent to award sole source- mitre

The South Carolina Department of Corrections intends to award a sole source contract to MITRE for consulting services related to Contraband Cell Phone Interdiction Systems. The procurement focuses on developing a Certified Contraband Interdiction System (CCIS) that complies with Federal Communications Commission requirements and enables disabling requests for contraband phones within correctional facilities. Key deliverables include comprehensive research and RFP development, technical site survey analysis, and establishing a laboratory testing environment with diverse cellular systems infrastructure. The consulting services will specifically support solution design, RFP development, proposal evaluation, and post-deployment system validation. Specific technical deliverables encompass industry research summaries, technical RFP inputs, RF site surveys utilizing specialized test equipment and modeling software, and access to a testing environment featuring 2G GSM, 3G WCDMA, 4G LTE, and 5G NR network solutions with base station simulators and software-defined radio capabilities. The response period deadline is January 23, 2023, at 10:00 a.m., with submissions directed to the SC Department of Corrections Purchasing Branch. No pre-bid conference or site visit is scheduled for this opportunity.

The sole source notice does not explicitly specify set-aside designations or restrictions on responding organizations. No incumbent vendor details or specific integration requirements with existing infrastructure are mentioned in the document. While the procurement involves sophisticated cellular interdiction technology, no specific budget range or award value is disclosed in the notification. Potential protesters must submit initial protests to the Chief Procurement Officer within five business days of notice posting, with full comprehensive protests required within fifteen days. The notice is being published in the South Carolina Business Opportunities database for the legally mandated five to ten business days as prescribed by SC Code 11-35-1560. The intended award will become effective after the opening date if no responsive protests or submissions are received, suggesting MITRE is the exclusively considered vendor for this specialized consulting engagement focused on contraband cell phone interdiction technology.