Summer teen program pre-ETS services

The South Carolina Commission for the Blind (SCCB) is seeking vendors to provide Summer Teen Program Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) for students ages 13-21 who are blind or have low vision. The four-week program will run from June 6 through July 1, 2022, at SCCB Headquarters in Columbia, South Carolina, with nightly activities from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. The procurement is structured as a fixed-price bid with four distinct weekly line items focusing on STEM careers, post-secondary education counseling, workplace readiness and self-advocacy, and career exploration. Vendors must submit comprehensive curriculum for each nightly activity, demonstrate a minimum of two years' experience providing Pre-ETS services, and have proven experience working with blind and visually impaired students. Evaluation criteria include program expertise, curriculum quality, and compliance with federal regulations under 34 C.F.R. 361 and 2 C.F.R. 200. The solicitation requires submission of sealed bids online by April 26, 2022, at 2:00 PM, with questions due by April 20, 2022. Award notifications will be posted on April 28, 2022, with the potential for up to four different vendors to receive contracts.

The contract opportunity does not specify explicit set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises. Vendors must register as a South Carolina vendor and submit their Taxpayer Identification Number and state vendor number with their bid. Each weekly line item has a maximum pricing cap of $12,500, with bids exceeding this amount considered non-responsive. Vendors may bid on any combination of the four weekly items and are not required to bid on all items. The program is funded through federal Pre-ETS program funds and will serve approximately 20 students, with a maximum capacity of 36 participants. All vendors must complete and submit a Confidentiality Agreement and Drug-Free Workplace Affidavit, with the latter required for contracts valued at $50,000 or more. The SCCB will handle student invitations and transportation for approved off-campus activities, and SCCB staff will be present during all activities but will not assist with curriculum presentation. Invoicing will occur weekly upon completion of each week's activities, with payment processed within 30 business days of invoice receipt and service acceptance.