The South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) intends to secure a contract with the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, on behalf of the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Wisconsin Center for Education Research (WCER) for the administration, scoring, and reporting of English language proficiency assessments for public school students in kindergarten through grade 12 for the period July 1, 2021, through September 30, 2022. The total estimated dollar value of the purchase is $1,550,000. English language proficiency assessments measure students’ proficiency levels and progress in the four domains of language: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. The assessments must include customized forms for students with disabilities. A screener for the identification of English learners must be also available to schools to be administered as needed.

In addition, an alternate assessment for students with significant cognitive disabilities must be provided to meet the requirements of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA).

These assessments must meet the requirements of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA).

This notice will be posted in the South Carolina Business Opportunities (SCBO) as required by SC Code 11-35-1560.

This Notice of Intent to Sole Source is to determine the availability of vendors able to provide the requested supplies and services. Please send responses via e-mail to SC Department of Education, Attn.: Elsie Montgomery, Procurement Director, at EMontgomery@ed.sc.gov for this Intent to Sole Source no later than the date and time listed here.

PROTESTS:

If you are aggrieved in connection with the intended award or award of the contract, you may be entitled to protest, but only as provided in Section 11-35-4210. To protest an award, you must (i) submit notice of your intent to protest within five (5) business days of the date this notice is posted, and (ii) submit your actual protest within fifteen days of the date this notice is posted. Days are calculated as provided in Section 11-35-310(13). Both protests and notices of intent to protest must be in writing and must be received by the appropriate Chief Procurement Officer within the time provided. The grounds of the protest and the relief requested must be set forth with enough particularity to give notice of the issues to be decided. Any protest or notice of intent to protest must be addressed to the Chief Procurement Officer, Materials Management Office, and submitted in writing:

(a) by email to: protest-mmo@mmo.state.sc.us

(b) by post or delivery to: 1201 Main Street, Suite 600, Columbia, SC 29201