LOCK REPLACEMENTS

The South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC) Purchasing Department issued an Invitation for Bid (IFB) solicitation numbered 5400018421 for lock replacements at SCDC facilities, specifically targeting the Kershaw Correctional Institution. The procurement involves acquiring 1,024 individual lock components across eight lots (A through H), including Southern steel 1080A series deadbolts in right-hand and left-hand configurations, paracentric keys, and "P" mounting plates. All items must be new, with a mandatory delivery timeline of 60 days from purchase order receipt, and late delivery penalties ranging from 5% to 20% depending on delay duration. The bid was released on August 15, 2019, with a bid opening date of September 10, 2019, at 10:00 AM, and award notification scheduled for September 16, 2019. Procurement officer Brittany Driggers will manage the solicitation, and bids must be submitted in sealed packages to the SCDC Purchasing Department at 4420 Broad River Road, Columbia, South Carolina. Evaluation criteria include lowest responsible and responsive bidder, with vendors required to provide unit prices for each line item, acknowledge amendments, and submit manufacturer's literature and product specifications.

The solicitation allows for vendor preferences, including South Carolina resident vendor preference, South Carolina end-product preference, and U.S. end-product preference, requiring appropriate certifications for each line item. Alternative manufacturers Airteq and CPC were deemed acceptable as equals to the specified Southern steel products. The contract was ultimately awarded to Corrections Products Company, LTD, located in San Antonio, Texas, with a total contract value of $87,232.00. Pricing was established at $129.50 per deadbolt, $12.00 per paracentric key, and $39.00 per mounting plate. No specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises were explicitly mentioned in the documentation. The procurement did not require pre-award cost or pricing data, as the acquisition was below the $500,000 threshold. Standard state procurement certifications were mandatory, including independent price determination, debarment status, drug-free workplace compliance, and ethics compliance. Vendors were required to hold their bids open for a minimum of 30 calendar days after the opening date, with questions from offerors needing to be submitted five days prior to the opening date.