Scdmh security guard services (CAMHC)

The South Carolina Department of Mental Health (SCDMH) has issued an Invitation for Bid (IFB) for security guard services at the Columbia Area Mental Health Center (CAMHC), located at 2715 Colonial Drive in Columbia. The procurement seeks armed and unarmed security personnel to provide on-site services across two primary locations: Suite 200B (Emergency Services) and Suite 200A (Adult Clinic Services). Specifically, the contract requires three armed security personnel at Emergency Services and one unarmed security personnel at Adult Clinic Services, operating from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding state holidays. Security personnel will be responsible for routine building and parking lot checks, patient monitoring, emergency response, incident reporting, and staff escorts. The solicitation is structured with two line items: Line 0001 for 21,600 hours of armed security services and Line 0002 for 7,200 hours of unarmed security services. Key procurement dates include a pre-bid site visit on January 19, 2024, at 10:00 a.m., question submissions due by January 22, 2024, at 4:00 p.m., bid submissions due by January 29, 2024, at 3:00 p.m., and anticipated award posting on February 1, 2024.

The contract allows for South Carolina resident vendors and in-state contractors to claim preference if they meet specific statutory requirements. Current security services are provided by Security Solutions of America at $15.99 per hour per guard, though no preference is indicated for retaining current personnel. Contractors must maintain a district office in Columbia with supervisors available to respond within 30 minutes of urgent situations. All security personnel must be certified through the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) to carry firearms, provide pre-placement physicals, tuberculosis clearances, and complete supplemental training on mental illness, HIPAA, patient rights, emergency procedures, and de-escalation techniques. The contract is structured for an initial one-year term with two potential one-year renewals, creating a maximum potential contract period of three years. While specific budget ranges are not explicitly detailed, the total estimated service hours are 28,800 (21,600 armed and 7,200 unarmed), which will factor into the overall contract value. Preference will be given to contractors with demonstrated experience providing security services in hospital or medical environments similar to a mental health facility.