STUDENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

York Technical College, through the South Carolina Materials Management Office, is soliciting proposals for a comprehensive Student Assistance Program. The procurement seeks a vendor to provide 24/7 professional counseling services to students, faculty, and staff through multiple channels including toll-free telephone, online resources, and on-site campus events. Required services encompass a wide range of support including trauma/crisis counseling, anger management, stress management, financial services, legal services, childcare referrals, and elder care guidance. Specific deliverables include unlimited phone consultations, a minimum of three free in-person counseling sessions per student issue, two psychological assessments upon request, and mandatory presence at two campus events annually like the Health Fair. The contract is structured for an initial one-year term with four potential one-year renewals, spanning a maximum of five years from February 22, 2020, to February 21, 2025. Proposal submissions are due online at http://www.procurement.sc.gov by January 31, 2020, at 11:00 a.m., with questions accepted until January 3, 2020, at 3:00 p.m. EST. Award notification is scheduled for February 11, 2020.

Vendor qualifications include mandatory minimum requirements of three years' experience providing similar services to higher education institutions, with at least three professional references. All clinicians must possess a minimum of five years of licensed professional experience in their respective fields. The current annual budget maximum is $14,500, with pricing to remain fixed during the initial contract term and potential Consumer Price Index-based adjustments for renewal periods. Vendors may claim South Carolina Resident Contractor Preference if meeting specific statutory requirements. The incumbent provider is McLaughlin Young Employee Services. Bidders must be registered with the State of South Carolina and comply with various state procurement regulations, including certifications regarding debarment, drug-free workplace standards, ethics compliance, and immigration provisions. The award will be made to the lowest responsible and responsive bidder, with no sales tax to be included in pricing proposals. Potential offerors must submit a signed proposal form and identify themselves as a single, distinct legal entity with their specific business type and state vendor number.