Intent to award sole source- talktelio

The South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC) has issued a sole source intent to award a contract for DetectTalk, a specialized cellular detection and monitoring system manufactured by TalkTelio. The procurement is specifically designed to detect illegal cell phones within SCDC correctional institutions, targeting advanced technological capabilities for monitoring and identifying cellular devices and communication methods. The system's unique technology includes hardware-based multi-band monitoring that can detect signals in 1 millisecond, concurrent monitoring of up to 12 frequency bands, and the ability to detect encrypted data transmissions such as VOIP calls, emails, and messaging applications. Responses to this sole source procurement are due by July 6, 2021, at 10:00 a.m., with sealed offers to be submitted to the SCDC Purchasing Branch either physically at 4420 Broad River Road, Columbia, SC 29210, or electronically via email to purchasing@doc.sc.gov. The procurement officer, Brittany Driggers, can be contacted at Driggers.brittany@doc.sc.us or 803-896-8533 for any inquiries, and no pre-bid conference or site visit is scheduled.

The solicitation does not explicitly indicate specific set-aside designations or restrictions on responding organizations. SCDC has justified the sole source award by asserting that DetectTalk possesses unique technological capabilities not available from competing vendors, particularly emphasizing its superiority over other vendors' software-based spectrum analysis solutions. The document does not specify precise pricing terms or funding sources for the procurement. Potential vendors should note that protests to the intended award must be submitted in writing to the Chief Procurement Officer at the Materials Management Office, with a notice of intent to protest required within five business days of posting and the actual protest due within fifteen days. While specific contract value details are not provided, the procurement appears focused on acquiring a sophisticated technological solution for cellular detection within correctional facilities. The technology's key differentiator is its ability to identify all cellular devices and hotspots through advanced monitoring techniques that surpass traditional software-based detection methods.