In compliance with the requirements in Section 11-35-1560 of the South Carolina Consolidated Procurement Code and in accordance with Regulation 19-445.2105, South Carolina Judicial Branch, SCJB, announces the intent to award a Sole Source procurement to BIS Digital.
Since 2017, the SCJB has been experiencing difficulty attracting and hiring a sufficient number of traditional court reporters to capture the record using stenography and voice writing technologies in Circuit and Family courts. Owing to the nationwide shortage of traditional court reporters, the SCJB had to implement digital/electronic technologies to ensure that the record could be captured accurately and reliably.
In fiscal year 2020, SCJB solicited 3 written quotes for commercial of the shelf software to assist SCJB with its digital recording needs. Pursuant to 11-35-1550 (2b) SCJB entered into an agreement with BIS to provide its Digital Court Reporter (DCR) software. This partnership is extremely advantageous to SCJB since BIS can also provide the necessary hardware for the project through the South Carolina State Wide Contract for Audio Visual Products and Services.
BIS is the only company that can maintain and support their software. They are also the only company that can train new SCJB employees on the use of their software.