Intent to award sole source- verensics

The South Carolina Department of Corrections is pursuing a sole source procurement for Verensics, a specialized pre-employment screening platform designed specifically for the corrections industry. The platform offers an advanced assessment tool that evaluates candidate reliability, honesty, and integrity beyond standard background screening methods. Key features include algorithmic evaluation of cursor movement, response consistency, and response timing, with dynamic questionnaires that adapt based on candidate performance. The platform provides immediate results through a cloud-based system and offers corrections-specific risk category assessments, including evaluations of gang affiliation, potential abuse of authority, excessive use of force, and inappropriate relationships. Interested parties must submit any responses or protests by July 6, 2021 at 10:00 a.m., either via email to purchasing@doc.sc.gov with "SOLE SOURCE" in the subject line or by physical mail to the SC Department of Corrections Purchasing Branch at 4420 Broad River Road, Columbia, SC 29210. Aggrieved parties have five business days from the posting date to submit a notice of intent to protest and fifteen days to submit a formal protest to the Chief Procurement Officer.

No specific set-aside designations or restrictions on responding organizations were explicitly mentioned in the documentation. The procurement appears to be open to the vendor Verensics as a sole source provider, with no indication of competitive bidding or alternative vendor considerations. While a precise award value was not specified, the procurement represents a targeted technology solution for pre-employment screening within the corrections sector. The cloud-based platform appears to offer organizational customization capabilities, suggesting potential scalability and adaptability to the department's specific screening requirements. The notice will be posted in the South Carolina Business Opportunities (SCBO) for at least ten business days, in accordance with SC Code 11-35-1560, ensuring transparency in the procurement process. No pre-bid conference or site visit is required, and the award becomes effective after the opening date and time if no responses are received.