Telephonic Behavioral Health Services for Upstate

The University of South Carolina has issued solicitation GS-IFB-250002-01 seeking qualified and experienced contractors to provide telephonic behavioral health services for the Upstate campus. The contract requires delivery of telephone-based triage and mental health support services staffed by licensed mental health professionals. Services include answering crisis calls, offering language translation as needed, and maintaining high standards of confidentiality and security in compliance with HIPAA, South Carolina state regulations, and HITRUST certification requirements. The contract term is set initially for one year beginning approximately August 5, 2024, with four one-year renewal options, potentially extending performance through August 2029. The procurement is conducted via a competitive Invitation For Bids (IFB) process, with awards based on lowest price among technically acceptable bidders, who must meet strict pass/fail eligibility criteria such as relevant experience with universities, appropriate clinical licenses, and accreditations from the American Association of Suicidology and Crisis Information Call Center. The contract imposes rigorous security and compliance obligations on the contractor, including completion and maintenance of a Service Provider Security Assessment Questionnaire, adherence to administrative, physical, and technical safeguards for protected information, and required insurance coverage for information security and privacy liability with high coverage limits. Offshore contracting is expressly prohibited. Contractors must maintain all necessary licenses and permits, ensure subcontractor compliance with security and confidentiality requirements, and disclose any organizational conflicts of interest. Payment terms allow for electronic funds transfer or check, and evaluations are strictly based on price after meeting technical acceptability standards; no negotiations will be conducted. Services are to be performed at locations specified in purchase orders issued post-award and will involve handling an estimated volume of calls with flexible quantity adjustments reserved by the university. Attachments include bidder checklists, references, and tax notices, and the solicitation emphasizes timely and complete electronic submission through the official South Carolina supplier portal.