Paracentric locks and keys

The South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC) issued Solicitation 5400025217 for paracentric locks and keys to be used across four correctional facilities: Lee, Evans, McCormick, and Lieber Correctional Institutions. The procurement involves 26 specific line items, including FA 806ES-LL gate locks with key override and paracentric keys, with quantities ranging from 2 to 8 units per lot across different facilities. All proposed items must be new and meet established quality standards, with delivery required within 120 days of purchase order receipt to the SCDC Facilities at 4322 Broad River Road, Columbia, SC. The bid opening was originally scheduled for May 16, 2023, at 10:00 AM, with offers to be submitted to the SCDC Purchasing Branch at 4530 Broad River Road, Columbia, SC 29210. Bidders were required to submit a signed Cover Page and Page Two with their offer, and unit prices were to be fixed for the contract's duration. Award was intended to be made to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, with award notification originally planned for May 23, 2023.

However, the solicitation did not proceed to award, as SCDC determined there were ambiguous specifications in the original documents. The procurement requires vendors to be registered as a South Carolina vendor to be eligible for award, and includes provisions for South Carolina and U.S. end-product preferences, as well as resident vendor preferences. The solicitation contained standard state terms and conditions, including provisions for changes, default, termination, and dispute resolution under South Carolina law. Vendors were instructed to submit questions no later than five days prior to the bid opening, with all amendments and award notices to be posted at www.procurement.sc.gov. Payment was to be made via electronic funds transfer following submission of proper invoices. The procurement officer, Chad Byrd, indicated that a new solicitation would be issued at a later date to address the specification deficiencies, effectively canceling the original procurement opportunity.