Intent to award sole source- talktelio

The South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC) has issued an Intent to Award Sole Source contract for TalkTelio's DetectTalk cellular detection and monitoring system designed for use in correctional facilities. The procurement (Solicitation Number 5400020051) seeks to acquire a specialized technology capable of identifying and monitoring illegal cell phones possessed by inmates through advanced detection capabilities. DetectTalk uniquely monitors multiple frequency bands simultaneously using hardware-based technology with response times as fast as 1 millisecond, enabling detection of phone calls, texts, data transmissions, and encrypted communications across 12 concurrent bands including WLAN and Bluetooth. The solicitation requires responses to be submitted by July 20, 2020, at 10:00 a.m., either physically to the SC Department of Corrections Purchasing Branch at 4420 Broad River Road, Columbia, SC 29210, or via email to purchasing@doc.sc.gov with "SOLE SOURCE" in the subject line. No pre-bid conference or site visit is scheduled, and the award becomes effective after the opening date if no responses are received.

The sole source procurement appears to have no specific set-aside designations or restrictions on responding organizations. TalkTelio is identified as the exclusive manufacturer and proprietor of the DetectTalk system, with SCDC determining it is the only product meeting their specific requirements. The system includes comprehensive monitoring software called SecureStudio, offering remote configuration capabilities, tamper recognition, and adjustable coverage areas ranging from 5 feet to 1,200 feet. Vendors wishing to protest the intended sole source award must submit a notice of intent to protest within five business days of posting and the actual protest within fifteen days to the Chief Procurement Officer at the Materials Management Office. No specific pricing information, contract term, or renewal options were disclosed in the notice. The procurement appears to be focused on acquiring a specialized technological solution for cellular device detection within correctional environments, with SCDC having specifically evaluated and rejected alternative vendor products that relied on software-only sensors, mobile applications, or WLAN architecture.