REPLACE WELL PUMP

The South Carolina Department of Corrections issued a solicitation (SAP State Solicitation 5400024598) for a well pump replacement project at Lieber Correctional Institution located in Ridgeville, SC. The procurement specifically seeks the furnishing and installation of a new Franklin Pump Model 200STS20D6X-0564 (5-stage, 200 GPM @ 275' TDH), a Franklin 6" Submersible Motor (20 HP, 230/460 Volts), 162 feet of new Size #4 double jacketed power cable, and a new 4" Simmons Ductile Iron Check-valve. The project also requires comprehensive labor to remove the existing pump assembly, install new components, and complete chlorination/bacteria testing and startup services. Sealed offers were required to be submitted by January 5, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. to the SC Department of Corrections Purchasing Branch in Columbia. The award was initially scheduled for January 11, 2023, with delivery of equipment and services required within 45 days after receipt of purchase order. Evaluation criteria included unit pricing for each line item, with the contract to be awarded to the lowest responsible and responsive bidder.

Offerors were allowed to claim South Carolina or U.S. end-product preferences and resident vendor preferences if qualifying under Section 11-35-1524 of the South Carolina Code of Laws. A state vendor number was mandatory for bid submission. Interestingly, the initial solicitation did not result in an award, as all received bids exceeded the department's budgeted amount for the work. Consequently, a non-award statement was issued on January 26, 2023, indicating that a new solicitation would be forthcoming to procure the service within available funding constraints. The procurement included standard certifications regarding independent price determination, debarment status, drug-free workplace compliance, and ethics requirements. No specific funding amount was disclosed in the original solicitation, and no pre-bid conference or site visit was scheduled. All proposed items were required to be new, and the contract would be formed upon final award without further action by either party.