VESSEL TURN-IN PROGRAM

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM) is seeking contractors for a comprehensive Vessel Turn-In Program (VTIP) and fiberglass recycling pilot project in Richland County. The solicitation covers four distinct service lots: staging area management, vessel transportation, vessel decontamination and dismantling, and fiberglass processing. Contractors must provide a staging area within 40 miles of the DHEC OCRM office capable of accommodating up to 60 vessels for a minimum of six weeks, with services spanning trailering, transportation, vessel dismantling, material separation, and specialized fiberglass grinding. The procurement requires detailed pricing for each lot, with separate pricing for two potential events in June and Fall 2024. Key submission deadlines include a question submission deadline of February 20, 2024, at 12:00 PM ET, and a solicitation closing date of March 12, 2024, at 2:30 PM ET (subsequently amended to March 19, 2024). Contractors must be licensed in South Carolina, obtain all necessary permits, and provide proof of insurance, with award determined by the lowest responsible and responsive bidder for complete lots.

No specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises were explicitly mentioned in the solicitation documents. The contract period runs from March 29, 2024, to March 28, 2025, with a potential second VTIP event contingent on public participation and initial event success. Contractors will be required to provide comprehensive documentation including survey forms, photographic evidence, material weights and volumes, and end processor receipts. A unique aspect of the contract is that any recycling or salvage fees collected by the contractor will be split 50-50 with DHEC OCRM, potentially offsetting disposal costs. While no specific budget range was provided, the solicitation suggests flexibility in service volumes, with DHEC not guaranteeing minimum usage of any lot due to the voluntary nature of the vessel turn-in program. Subcontracting is expressly prohibited, meaning prime contractors must be capable of executing all required services directly. Final invoices must be submitted within 30 days of work completion and at least 60 days prior to purchase order closure.