Kitchen hood inspections

The South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC) issued an Invitation for Bid (IFB) for comprehensive kitchen hood inspection and maintenance services across multiple correctional facilities in South Carolina. The solicitation sought a one-year contract with potential three-year renewal options, covering four primary service lines: fire suppression system inspections, pressure cleaning of kitchen hoods and exhaust systems, annual cleaning of rotisserie/revolving ovens, and chemical recharging of suppression systems. The project required semi-annual inspections of approximately 154 hood/exhaust units, with specific compliance requirements including South Carolina fire code adherence and emergency response protocols. Contractors were mandated to respond to emergency recharge requests within 12 hours and complete them within 24 hours. The original bid submission deadline was November 5, 2020, at 10:00 a.m., with award notification scheduled for November 11, 2020. Bidders were required to submit sealed bids to the SCDC Purchasing Branch located at 4420 Broad River Road in Columbia, South Carolina.

Notably, the solicitation included specific vendor preference provisions for South Carolina-based businesses, as defined in Section 11-35-1524 of the South Carolina Code of Laws. Contractors were required to maintain substantial insurance coverage, including $1,000,000 in Commercial General Liability, $1,000,000 in Auto Liability, and statutory Workers' Compensation insurance. Bidders were mandated to register as a South Carolina vendor prior to submission and provide all necessary documentation at the line-item level. However, the procurement process concluded without any bids being received, and SCDC indicated they would republish the solicitation for kitchen hood inspections at a future date. While no specific award value was disclosed, the comprehensive nature of the services suggested a potentially significant contract scope covering multiple correctional institutions and administrative locations across the state. The procurement was managed by Brittany Driggers, Buyer, and Ruthie H. Bishop, CPPB, Director of Procurement for the agency.