Intent to award sole source - persevere

The South Carolina Department of Corrections intends to award a sole source contract to Persevere for comprehensive inmate job skills training and support services. The procurement focuses on delivering instructor-led, facilitated courses in coding and technical subjects, including Responsive Web Design, JavaScript Algorithms & Data Structures Certification, Front-end Libraries Certification, Data Visualization Certification, APIs & Microservices Certification, and Information Security & Quality Assurance Certification. Additional services encompass job search and placement, soft skills instruction, life skills education, mentoring support, and entrepreneurial training to prepare inmates for potential coding service businesses post-release. The solicitation requires vendors to be fully authorized to perform all specified services and training. Key submission details include a response deadline of July 6, 2021, at 10:00 a.m., with responses to be submitted to the SC Department of Corrections Purchasing Branch either physically at 4420 Broad River Road, Columbia, SC 29210, or via email to purchasing@doc.sc.gov with "SOLE SOURCE" as the subject line. Vendors must submit a signed Intent to Award form and agree to keep their offer open for a minimum of thirty calendar days after the opening date.

No specific set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises were explicitly mentioned in the document. The sole source procurement is specifically for Persevere, indicating they are the intended sole vendor for this contract. The training program includes an innovative expansion into residential transitional services, offering structured home-like environments for program graduates. While no specific award value or budget range was provided in the documentation, the comprehensive nature of the program suggests a significant investment in rehabilitative and skills training services. Vendors who disagree with the sole source designation have specific protest rights under South Carolina Code Section 11-35-1560, including the ability to file a notice of intent to protest within five business days of posting and submit a formal protest within fifteen days to the Chief Procurement Officer at the Materials Management Office in Columbia. The notice will be posted in the South Carolina Business Opportunities (SCBO) for at least ten business days to ensure transparency in the procurement process.