Notice of emergency procurement

The South Carolina Department of Corrections issued an emergency procurement notice on January 28, 2022, for the urgent purchase of 3-compartment Styrofoam hinge trays specifically designed for meal service during COVID-19 pandemic quarantine conditions. The procurement directly responds to the Omicron variant's impact, which resulted in twenty-one correctional institutions being placed under quarantine statewide, requiring the department to provide three daily meals to isolated inmates. The required trays measure 9.50" x 9.25" x 3.75" and are critical for maintaining safe feeding operations during the pandemic emergency. Sealed offers were required to be submitted by February 7, 2022, at 10:00 AM to the SC Department of Corrections Purchasing Branch located at 4420 Broad River Road, Columbia, SC 29210. The solicitation was not advertised through standard channels due to urgent supply chain constraints, and the award was scheduled to be posted on February 7, 2022, with notification available on the state procurement website.

The emergency procurement does not appear to have specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises, though South Carolina vendor preferences do apply by line item as outlined in Section 11-35-1524 of the South Carolina Code of Laws. The department has already entered into an emergency contract with DEM Logistics of Chapin, South Carolina, for the required trays, establishing a precedent vendor. Prospective bidders who believe they are aggrieved by the intended award may file a protest with the Chief Procurement Officer within five business days of the award posting date, with formal protest procedures to follow within fifteen days. Offerors are required to acknowledge receipt of amendments and agree to hold their offers open for a minimum of thirty calendar days after the opening date. The procurement's primary objective is to prevent potential threats to public health, welfare, and safety for Department employees, inmates, and the surrounding community members during the pandemic emergency.