Notice End Date: December 6, 2023

Vendor Name: Microsoft Enterprise Services

Contract Amount: 614,426.88

Agency Procurement Manager: Daniel W. Covey

Agency Procurement Manager Email: daniel.covey@dss.sc.gov

Agency Procurement Manager Telephone#: 803-898-8176

The Agency hereby provides notice that it intends to enter into a sole source contract per S.C. Code Ann. §11-35-1560 with Vendor for the following supplies, services, information technology, or construction:

In accordance with §11-35-1560 (A) of the SC Consolidated Procurement Code, it is the intent of the South Carolina Department of Social Services (SCDSS) to award without competition a sole source contract in accordance with Regulation 19-445-2105(B) (5) to Microsoft Services for Unified Enterprise Support Services (Services).

SCDSS is an enterprise customer of Microsoft products and services. These products and services are integral to the daily operation of SCDSS mission critical systems. Microsoft Enterprise Support Services are comprised of a comprehensive support solution that helps reduce costs, enhance productivity and security, and use technology throughout the IT lifecycle. They offer direct, expedient, and unique access to Microsoft product development teams, software developers and source code for current and future products.

Microsoft product development teams provide specialized training on how enterprise customers can best plan for, deploy, manage, and maximize productivity of existing and future Microsoft products to including both reactive and proactive services. Reactive services are comprised of Problem Resolution Support, Advisory Support, and Support Assistance. Maintenance Services, Optimization Services. Microsoft includes Education Services as Proactive Services. A Microsoft Customer Success Account Manager is responsible for all these services and this person also assists with problem prioritization and escalation. A website portal enables SCDSS staff to enter, update, and monitor service requests. Microsoft Corporation if the only company that provides the breadth and depth of services described above. The price is fair and reasonable.

Agency's justification for a sole source procurement may be viewed or immediately obtained at: Agency Procurement Manager (Listed Above)

PROTESTS:
Any actual or prospective bidder, offeror, contractor, or subcontractor aggrieved in connection with the intended award or award of this sole source contract, shall notify the appropriate chief Procurement officer in writing of its intent to protest within five (5) business days of the date this notice is posted. Any actual or prospective bidder, offeror, contractor, or subcontractor who is aggrieved in connection with the intended award or award of this sole source contract and has timely notified the appropriate chief procurement officer of its intent to protest, may protest to the appropriate chief procurement officer in the manner set forth below within fifteen days of the date this notice is posted; except that a matter that could have been raised as a protest of the solicitation may not be raised as a protest of the award or intended award of a contract.
A protest must be in writing, filed with the appropriate chief procurement officer, and set forth the grounds of the protest and the relief requested with enough particularity to give notice of the issues to be decided. The protest must be received by the appropriate chief procurement officer within the time provided above. Days are calculated as provided in S.C. Code Ann. § 11-35-310(13).

Any Notice Of Intent To Protest And Protest Must Be Addressed To: Information Technology Management Officer