Self-advocacy - middle & high school

The South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department (SCVRD) is soliciting Best Value Bid proposals for Self-Advocacy services targeting middle and high school students with disabilities across the state. The procurement seeks experienced service providers to deliver Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) instruction in self-advocacy to eligible and potentially eligible students ages 13-21 in public, private, charter, or secondary education programs. The solicitation is divided into eight geographic lots, each covering specific county clusters and targeting 350 unique students per year. Vendors must submit online offers by January 8, 2025, at 11:00 AM EST, with questions due by December 18, 2024, at 12:00 PM EST. The evaluation will follow a best value methodology, with technical proposals weighted at 40 points (20 points for capabilities and approach, 20 points for experience and qualifications) and price proposals weighted at 60 points. Contractors must have a minimum of five years' experience providing Pre-ETS to students with disabilities in South Carolina and demonstrate collaboration with school districts. The contract term is set from February 6, 2025, to February 5, 2030, with potential automatic one-year renewals.

Potential bidders must be registered with the State of South Carolina and maintain appropriate insurance coverage. All contractor personnel are required to pass a national background check. The contract is funded through federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funds and must comply with specific federal regulations. Invoicing will be based on actual student attendance at established per-student rates, with payment due within 30 business days of invoice acceptance. Vendors are encouraged to target rural and underserved areas, with services potentially extending beyond the initial 350-student allocation per lot through VR Counselor and Job Coach provision. While no specific set-aside designations are mentioned, contractors must demonstrate extensive experience in working with students with disabilities. The procurement emphasizes that services should not be duplicatively billed under other grants or contracts, though students receiving separate services may still access these self-advocacy services. The award notification is scheduled for February 21, 2025, and will be posted on the state procurement website at www.procurement.sc.gov.