Notice of Emergency Procurement – Therapeutic Foster Care Services

The South Carolina Department of Social Services issued an emergency procurement notice on September 1, 2026 to secure therapeutic foster‑care services for children in the state’s foster‑care system, allocating a total contract amount of $6,475,000. The agency entered into separate emergency contracts with thirteen nonprofit vendors to avoid a service gap while a formal solicitation is pending. This action is driven by a court‑mandated requirement that placement settings be least‑restrictive and family‑like, rendering group‑home placements unsuitable. The procurement is conducted under South Carolina Code Ann. §11‑35‑1570 and includes a protest process directed to the Materials Management Officer. • Multiple vendors awarded simultaneously; each receives a portion of the $6.475 M budget. • Purpose: Provide therapeutic foster‑care services that meet statutory “least‑restrictive” standards. • Emergency sole‑source award to prevent interruption of care pending formal competition.