ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ
ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ, The Military College of South Carolina, traces its origins to December 20, 1842 when the Legislature of South Carolina passed an act providing for the establishment of ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ. The college was located on Marion Square until September 1922 and derived its name from the building in which it was first housed at that location. Since 1922, ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ has been situated on a beautiful campus between Hampton Park and the Ashley River. While the college is proud of the military records of its alumni and expects them to respond in national emergencies, its chief purpose is to prepare them for civil pursuits by providing a sound education reinforced by the best features of a disciplined environment. Annual enrollment is approximately 2,300 cadets and 1,100 graduate and undergraduate students in ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ Graduate College.
About Procurement Services
ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ operates a centralized procurement and materials management system which includes responsibility for purchasing, receiving, delivering, and maintaining inventory control over the materials provided to the college community by vendors. The Procurement Services Office exists to assist faculty and staff with the acquisition of goods and services. Its objective is to procure goods and services of the proper quality, at the right time, in the correct quantity at a reasonable price, and from the right source. The purchasing office is organized into two buying teams which have responsibility for the departments they serve. The two functional areas are (1) administrative, academic and operations purchasing and (2) physical plant and athletic purchasing. Both procurement officers are located in the Central Supply Warehouse on ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ Campus. To reach the administrative, academic, and operations procurement officer please call (843) 953-6873 and to reach the physical plant and athletic procurement officer call (843) 953-6861.
Doing Business With ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ
ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ has a central purchasing office responsible for acquiring a wide variety of products and services. ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ is a state agency governed by state laws with regards the procurement of goods and services. The purpose of this guide is to help you better understand how to do business with ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ.
Governing State Law
The South Carolina Procurement Code governs the expenditure of all funds, regardless of source, unless specifically exempted. The Purchasing Office adheres to and abides by the Procurement Code and its implementing regulations. Where a procurement involves the expenditure of federal assistance or contract funds, ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ is required to comply with the federal law and authorized regulations which are applicable.
Certification
The Division of General Services has certified ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ to make direct purchases of up to $500,000.00 for Goods, Services and Consultant Services, Construction Contract Awards and Information Technology. Purchases exceeding these limits are forwarded to Central State Purchasing for processing.
Contracts
A properly executed purchase order constitutes a contract which is binding on the College and the vendor. The Vice President for Finance, Director of Procurement Services, and designated procurement officers are the only persons authorized to bind ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ. Vendors are cautioned not to accept verbal orders without receiving a purchase order number from the person placing the order. ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ will not be responsible for orders received without a valid purchase order. Failure to follow these procedures will result in delayed payments or the return of material to the vendor.
Direct Contact With Departments
Direct discussion between vendor representatives and potential users in the departments is acceptable and encouraged regarding the following subject matters: availability of specified requirements, technical information, instructional information, requests for literature, etc., unless instructed otherwise in a solicitation notice. However, it is ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ’s practice that all contacts or correspondence pertaining to negotiations affecting purchases or prospective purchases which involve prices, terms, conditions, and delivery shall be carried on by the Procurement Services Office. Further, all correspondence pertaining to a purchase order which has been placed and which involves prices, terms, conditions, delivery, quantity, substitution, complaint, or anything whatsoever involving the commitment, shall be processed through the Procurement Services Office.
Office Hours And Appointments
The Procurement Services Office is open from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday, except on designated college holidays. During the summer from June through the middle of August, our offices are open four (4) days a week (Monday – Thursday) from 8 AM – 5 PM. While appointments are not required with the procurement officers, it is to the vendor’s advantage to make an appointment in advance to permit uninterrupted discussions. You may contact us using the phone numbers listed below for an appointment.
| Director of Procurement Services | ||
| Luke Bollmann | Procurement Manager | (843) 953-6873 |
| James de Luca, CPPO | Procurement Advisor | (843) 953-6861 |
Parking
Visitor parking spaces on campus are very limited. Please report to the Public Safety Office at the Moultrie Street entrance to obtain a visitor’s pass. Some limited parking is available between the Central Supply Warehouse and ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ’s Boating Center. Public Safety will provide a map upon request to reflect additional parking available to visitors.
Purchases Under $10,000
Orders for less than $10,000 do not require bidding. There are two methods used to process orders for less than $10,000. The first method is by use of the purchasing card, whereby, college department heads and certain others are authorized to purchase goods costing less than $10,000 without processing a purchase order. (Please note, ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ’s purchasing card limit is only $2,500.) The second method is by use of the purchase order system. Departments forward their request forms to the purchasing office for processing. If the total estimate is close to $10,000 or if a procurement officer feels a better price can be obtained, the order may be informally bid. Final discretionary authority rests with the Procurement Officer. Otherwise, the orders are processed and sent directly to the suggested vendor.
Purchases For More Than $10,000
Purchases for more than $10,000 require bidding. Orders between $10,000.01 and $25,000 require three written quotes. The quotes may be obtained telephonically and confirmed in writing or the purchasing office may use a Request For Quotation Form. Orders between $25,000.01 and $100,000 are purchased using the Request For Quotation and require advertisement in the “South Carolina Business Opportunities” online publication. The SC Budget and Control Board’s Procurement Services Division provides, online, “South Carolina Business Opportunities” (SCBO) to the public at no charge. The following is the link to SCBO online: .
Purchases over $100,000
Contracts with a total or potential value in excess of $100,000 require a formal solicitation be issued by the College. A notice of award of the contract must be posted and must be sent to all bidders responding to the solicitation on the same day that the notice is posted. Contracts with a total or potential value of $100,000 or greater require that an Intent to Award of a contract be given by posting the notice 10 days before entering into a contract and must be sent to all bidders responding to the solicitation on the same day that the notice is posted. The posting date shall appear on the face of all these notices. Before posting of the award, the procuring officer may negotiate with the lowest responsive and responsible bidder to lower his bid within the scope of the invitation for bid. The Invitation for Bids, Notice of Award or Notice of Intent to Award must contain a statement of a bidder’s right to protest pursuant to Sections 11-35-4210 (1). When only one response is received, the Notice of Intent to Award and the Delay of Award may be waived.
MBE Assistance
ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ fully supports the efforts of the Governor and the State Legislature to assist minority-owned businesses to develop as part of the State’s policies and programs which are designed to promote balanced economic and community growth. Therefore, ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ wishes to ensure that those businesses owned and operated by minorities in the State of South Carolina are afforded the opportunity to participate fully in the overall procurement process that will result in awarding contracts and subcontracts to certified, qualified and responsive minority business firms.
Vendor Performance: Vendors are expected to perform per the bidding document/contract with an honest, earnest effort. Delivery times when stated in bidding documents and responded to by the vendor become mandatory delivery times. Vendors not meeting performance standards may be removed from bidders’ list, found in default or otherwise penalized.
Delivery Conditions
All shipments are to be made F.O.B. destination, freight prepaid, to receiving point at ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ, Charleston, South Carolina, unless otherwise indicated on the purchase order/contract. If other than FOB destination, as indicated on the purchase order/contract, all transportation, insurance, crating and/or packing charges are to be entered as separate items on seller’s invoice. Delivery by the vendor to the common carrier does not constitute delivery to ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ. Any claim for loss or damage incurred during transport shall be between the vendor and the carriers.
Drug-Free Workplace Act: The Drug-Free Workplace Act requires that persons receiving a grant or contract from a state agency for goods, construction, or services for a stated or estimated value of fifty thousand dollars or more certify to the using agency that it will provide a drug-free workplace. The Purchasing Office is required to obtain the prior to finalizing the purchase order. A copy of the Act may be obtained from the Procurement Officer responsible for the purchase.
Public employment is a public trust. Procurement decisions are made solely on the basis of the South Carolina Procurement Code which prohibits accepting, directly or indirectly, any rebate, gift, money or anything of value, or any promise of future reward or compensation. ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ has adopted the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP) Code of Ethics.
Taxes
ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ is required to pay South Carolina sales taxes.
Bidders’ List
All solicitations over $25,000 are advertised in the “South Carolina Business Opportunities.”
Additional Information
Any question regarding the contents of this publication or any other question regarding doing business with ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ should be addressed to the Director of Procurement Services, Jessica Favor, NIGP-CPP, CPPO, CPPB 843-953-2737
Invoicing
Forward all invoices for goods and services to: Accounts Payable, 171 Moultrie Street, ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ, Charleston, SC, 29409. Invoices received without the purchase order number referenced will be returned to the vendor.
Conclusion
When properly executed, ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ’s procurement process will benefit both the users at the College and our vendors while assuring the citizens of South Carolina and ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ students that their tax monies and fees are utilized to the best possible advantage.