School counseling program review and pro

The South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) for a School Counseling Program Review and Professional Learning initiative, seeking qualified vendors to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the state's school counseling programs. The procurement aims to identify contractors capable of performing an internal review of state-level school counseling program artifacts, systems, and policies, with the primary objective of providing feedback and recommendations for improvement. Specific deliverables include developing professional learning resources aligned with the South Carolina Comprehensive School Counseling and Career Guidance Model, creating a program handbook, and supporting schools and districts in implementing comprehensive counseling programs as mandated by state law. Vendors must demonstrate expertise in designing professional learning for school counseling programs, technical program evaluation capabilities, and the ability to deliver training through various modalities including in-person, virtual, and hybrid formats. The RFI response deadline is August 1, 2025, at 2:00 PM EST, with clarification questions having been due by July 24, 2025, at 5:00 PM EST. Respondents are required to submit one original copy and potentially a redacted version, with responses limited to ten single-sided pages. The procurement officer for this opportunity is Karishma Bolar, who can be contacted at 803-734-4839 or kmbolar@ed.sc.gov for additional inquiries.

The RFI does not specify any specific set-aside designations or restrictions on responding organizations, and there is no mention of an incumbent contractor for this potential project. The document explicitly states that this is an information-gathering phase, and no direct contract will be awarded from the RFI itself. Vendors are requested to provide information about their general pricing models, which may include fixed fees for defined deliverables, hourly billing, or a hybrid approach. The project's scope includes developing professional learning opportunities for multiple stakeholder audiences, such as school counselors, career specialists, administrators, and district leaders, with a focus on transforming counseling programs from reactive to proactive approaches. The ultimate goal is to align counseling programs with the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate. While no specific budget range is mentioned, the comprehensive nature of the project suggests a significant potential investment in improving the state's school counseling infrastructure. The SCDE will use the information gathered through this RFI to determine the feasibility and precise scope of a future solicitation.