STC temporary medical services

The State of South Carolina is seeking to establish a Statewide Term Contract (STC) for temporary medical staffing services through a fixed-price bid solicitation. The procurement targets locum tenens agencies capable of providing temporary medical personnel including Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, Licensed Baccalaureate Social Workers, and Phlebotomists for state agencies and optional political subdivisions. All temporary staff must be licensed by the South Carolina Board of Nursing or hold a multi-state license through the Nurse Licensure Compact. The contract covers 78 distinct healthcare positions ranging from entry-level support roles to advanced clinical positions, with established pay bands and hourly rate ranges. Contractors must comply with specific requirements including providing criminal background checks, drug screening, and quality assurance testing. Key submission dates include a pre-bid conference on July 23, 2024, offer submissions due by August 21, 2024, at 11:00 AM, and an anticipated contract award on September 27, 2024. The initial contract term runs from November 18, 2024, through November 17, 2029, with an initial one-year term and four optional one-year renewal periods.

The solicitation is open to qualified locum tenens agencies, excluding individual medical professionals and sole proprietorships. Contractors must be registered with the State of South Carolina and maintain comprehensive liability insurance, including general liability, auto liability, workers' compensation, and information security coverage. The contract implements markup percentage restrictions, with a maximum of 45% for W2 employees and 25% for 1099 freelancers, and requires an administrative services fee of 1.25% on total quarterly sales. While no specific set-aside designations are mentioned, contractors must comply with federal equal employment opportunity and affirmative action requirements. The State will not guarantee minimum work volume, and temporary staff may be initially assigned for up to 12 months with potential extension. Contractors are responsible for all employee-related costs, including wages, taxes, insurance, and Affordable Care Act compliance. The contract allows for additional vendor submissions on specific dates: February 21, 2025; August 21, 2025; August 21, 2026; and August 23, 2027, providing ongoing opportunities for vendor participation.