2019 South Carolina Code of Laws
Title 11 - Public Finance
Chapter 35 - South Carolina Consolidated Procurement Code
Section 11-35-1525. Competitive fixed price bidding.

(1) Conditions for Use. When the procurement officer determines in writing that the use of competitive sealed bidding is either not practicable or not advantageous to the State, a contract may be entered into by competitive fixed price bidding subject to the provisions of Section 11-35-1520 and the ensuing regulations, unless otherwise provided for in this section.

(2) Fixed Price Bidding. The purpose of fixed price bidding is to provide multiple sources of supply for specific services, supplies, or information technology based on a preset maximum price which the State will pay for such services, supplies, or information technology.

(3) Public Notice. Adequate public notice of the solicitation shall be given in the same manner as provided in Section 11-35-1520(3).

(4) Pricing. The State shall establish, before issuance of the fixed price bid, a maximum amount the State will pay for the services, supplies, or information technology desired.

(5) Evaluation. Vendors' responses to the fixed price bid will be reviewed to determine if they are responsive and responsible.

(6) Reserved.

(7) Award. Award must be made to all responsive and responsible bidders to the state's request for competitive fixed price bidding. The contract file shall contain the basis on which the award is made and must be sufficient to satisfy external audit.

(8) Bids Received After Award. As provided in the solicitation, bidders not responding to the initial fixed price bid may be added to the awarded vendors' list provided the bidder furnishes evidence of responsibility and responsiveness to the state's original fixed price bid as required by the solicitation.

HISTORY: 1997 Act No. 153, Section 1; 2006 Act No. 376, Section 26; 2019 Act No. 41 (S.530), Section 19.A, eff May 13, 2019.

Editor's Note

2019 Act No. 41, Sections 19.B, 80, provides as follows:

"[SECTION 19.]B. The deletion of Section 11-35-1525(9) may not be interpreted as an indication that the failure of a specific offeror to receive business is grounds for a dispute."

"SECTION 80. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor and applies to solicitations issued after that date."

Effect of Amendment

2019 Act No. 41, Section 19.A, in (1), in the second sentence, substituted "When the procurement officer" for "When a purchasing agency"; reserved (6), which related to discussions with responsive bidders; in (8), in the second sentence, substituted "As provided in the solicitation, bidders" for "Bidders" and "required" for "authorized"; and deleted (9), which related to remedies.