Notice End Date: December 27, 2024

Vendor Name: Learning A-Z

Contract Amount: $42,000.00

Agency Procurement Manager: Julie Hunter

Agency Procurement Manager Email: juliehunter@pickens.k12.sc.us

Agency Procurement Manager Telephone#: 864-397-1035

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:

The School District of Pickens County  intends to enter into a sole source purchase.with Learning A  - Z, specifically RAZ Plus and RAZ Plus ELL.    Learning A-Z is a software package that offers a range of resources, including decodable books, to help students practice and master phonics skills. It provides targeted instructional support in foundational literacy, filling gaps in student learning when no consistent curriculum was in place. At the time, SCDE had not yet adopted an official English Language Arts (ELA) curriculum for this area, which left schools searching for affordable, effective solutions. The SDPC Academic Services Team chose Learning A-Z stood out because it offered cost-effective access to a variety of resources, including personalized reading tools, phonics-focused activities, and progress tracking. This ensured students could have resources to start the school year and continue developing their literacy skills even in the absence of a state-approved curriculum. The state eventually adopted HMH (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) to provide comprehensive support. The anticipated dollar amount for the 24-25 School Year is less than $45,000.00.  This will be publicly advertised in accordance with SECTION 1560 of the SC 2021 Model School Code

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: Materials Management Officer