Property mgmt and vacant property secure

The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) regarding property management and vacant property securing services for the I-526 West expansion project in Richland County. This procurement seeks vendor input on two distinct service categories: (1) property management for occupied properties during transition periods following acquisition while replacement housing is completed, and (2) securing of vacant properties after tenant relocation and prior to demolition. The project impacts approximately 70 properties across North Charleston, including single-family residences, duplexes, triplexes, apartment buildings, mobile home parks, vacant lots, and commercial properties, with an estimated 144 individuals requiring relocation assistance. SCDOT is using this RFI to determine optimal solicitation structure—whether to issue one combined solicitation or two separate solicitations for these services. Respondents must address specific operational questions including fee structures (per building, square footage, or flat fees), contract flexibility options for indefinite quantity arrangements, materials and methods for securing properties, lead times for property retrieval and securing, penalty structures for delayed tenant relocations, and capacity to provide both services simultaneously. Responses are limited to 35 single-sided pages in native Microsoft Office formats and are due by May 28, 2026, at 2:30 p.m. via email to Emmett Kirwan, the SCDOT Procurement Director, at KirwanEi@scdot.gov or 803-737-0676. The RFI explicitly states that no contract will be awarded based on this information request and that SCDOT will not compensate respondents for their submissions.

The RFI contains no disclosed set-aside designations or restrictions limiting responses to specific organization types, disadvantaged enterprises, or minority-owned businesses at this preliminary information-gathering stage. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the available documentation. No existing infrastructure or technology integration requirements are specified in the RFI materials. Similarly, no award values or budget ranges are disclosed in this initial information request phase, as SCDOT is still determining the optimal procurement structure and gathering vendor capability data to inform future solicitation development. Respondents should clearly mark any proprietary or confidential information, as all submissions are subject to South Carolina Freedom of Information Law. The sole point of contact is Emmett I. Kirwan, and respondents are explicitly prohibited from contacting other SCDOT personnel regarding this RFI.