Vending Machines and Vending Services

The State Fiscal Accountability Authority, Division of Procurement Services, on behalf of the SC Criminal Justice Academy in Richland County, is issuing a Best Value Bid solicitation for vending machines and vending services. The procurement seeks two refrigerated vending machines, two freezer-style vending machines with locking mechanisms, a purchasable point-of-sale (POS) system accepting debit and credit cards, and comprehensive maintenance services for these units, along with beverage vending services for five machines (three outdoor and two indoor) equipped with refrigeration and cash/card payment capability. Offerors must provide weekly inventory stocking and routine maintenance services, with all delivery and services to be performed at the SC Criminal Justice Academy located at 5400 Broad River Road, Columbia, South Carolina. Proposals will be evaluated on a weighted basis: price at 60 percent, technical response at 30 percent, and offeror qualifications at 10 percent. Offerors must be registered South Carolina vendors and demonstrate financial capability, relevant experience from the past five years including vending operations on school campuses or in South Carolina, and provide three comparable contract references. The non-mandatory pre-bid conference is scheduled for March 26, 2026 at 10:00 AM EST via Microsoft Teams, with questions due by the same date at 4:00 PM EST. Proposals are due April 15, 2026 at 11:00 AM EST, with award notification posted on May 13, 2026, contract commencement on May 26, 2026, and an initial one-year term with four optional one-year renewal periods for a maximum five-year contract life.

The solicitation requires separate technical and price proposals structured in two lots: Lot One covers the outright purchase cost of refrigerated and freezer machines, the POS system, and 60 months of financial processing services, while Lot Two encompasses beverage vending services operating on a percentage commission of gross sales with a minimum commission requirement of 25 percent for consideration. No specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises are mentioned in the available solicitation documentation, and no incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified. The contract allows for modifications and price adjustments during renewal terms upon procurement officer approval, with increases limited to the Consumer Price Index for all items. While specific budget ranges or award values are not explicitly stated in the solicitation materials, the contract encompasses both capital equipment procurement and ongoing service delivery over a potential five-year period.