Nighthawk handheld backscatter

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) on behalf of SC Midlands HIDTA is seeking to procure a Nighthawk handheld backscatter x-ray imager with a wide area detector or equivalent product through an Invitation for Bid solicitation. The procurement is specifically for Richland County and will involve acquiring one new x-ray imaging system to be delivered within 30 days of purchase order receipt to the HIDTA-DEA location in North Charleston. The solicitation was issued on May 1, 2020, with critical deadlines including May 12, 2020, at 9:00 AM for submitting questions and May 18, 2020, at 10:00 AM as the final offer submission deadline. Award will be determined based on the lowest responsible and responsive bidder, with unit price being a primary evaluation criterion. Bidders must submit a signed cover page, page two, and a state vendor number registration, with pricing to be submitted on a fixed-price basis that includes the system cost and freight.

The solicitation does not explicitly outline specific set-aside designations or restrictions on respondent organizations. Contractors must comply with drug-free workplace requirements, ethics standards, and debarment certification provisions. The contract includes provisions for accepting payment via South Carolina Purchasing Card with no additional charges and allows for prompt payment discounts. No sales or use taxes should be included in the initial pricing, though the State reserves the right to add applicable tax percentages if a South Carolina governmental entity submits an offer. The contract also includes termination for convenience clauses and will maintain fixed pricing throughout its duration. While a specific budget range is not detailed in the available documentation, the procurement is for a single specialized x-ray imaging system, suggesting a focused and potentially high-value technical acquisition for law enforcement purposes.