What information does the Information Technology Management Office (ITMO) Chief Procurement Officer, Mike Spicer, need to initiate the procurement process?
As a minimum you should provide the information to:

    1.  A Cover Letter providing an overview of the supplies or services you need for ITMO to procure.
    2.  A State Purchasing Requisition Form filled out with as much information as you can provide ITMO.
    3.  A copy of your approved IT Plan, if applicable. 
For more additional information please visit the CIO’s IT Planning web site.

Which members of your team do you want ITMO to keep informed of the procurement process?
ITMO needs the name, phone number and email addresses of the individuals you want kept informed of the status and progress of the procurement.  ITMO suggests that you provide the minimum following information: IT Director, Procurement Director and the ultimate end user.

What is your budget and is your requisition for a multi-year contract?
Please specify if the funds listed are for one (1) year or for five (5) years.  We may or may not share your budget requirements with the vendor community in the solicitation but ITMO must enter the total potential dollar value in its system. An area of interest on the requisition which requires clarification is the time frame for the funds you provided on your requisition.  

Do you have any recommended vendors for ITMO to inform of the solicitation?
In the requisition package you submit to ITMO please provide the recommended vendor’s name, phone number and email address.  ITMO uses the Advanced Procurement System (APS) to electronically notify the vendor(s) you recommended.

What type of procurement process do you think this procurement should be?
Is your requisition a Bid, Fixed Price Bid, Best Value Bid, Request for Proposal, Sole Source or an Emergency Procurement?  If you are not sure, the Procurement Officer in charge of your procurement will discuss the options available to you.

If your procurement is an RFP, should it be a Solutions-Based RFP?
Do you need to describe all of the details in your statement of work or do you want to describe the problem and let the vendor community provide possible solutions? If you are not sure, the Procurement Officer in charge of your procurement will discuss the options available to you with this very critical phase.  A good start assists the procurement process greatly.  On our web page we have some information regarding defining the problem and not defining the solution.
http://www.cio.state.sc.us/itmo/main.htm

Which office should I call ITMO or Material Management Office (MMO)?
If you are wondering which procurement office to call with your questions, please look at the following definitions for information technology.  The SC Consolidated Procurement Code further defines Information Technology in §11-35-310(1) as:

“Information Technology (IT)” means data processing, telecommunications and office systems technologies and services:

• “Data Processing” means the automated collection, storage, manipulation and retrieval of data including: central processing units for micro, mini and mainframe computers; related peripheral equipment such as terminals, document scanners, word processors, intelligent copiers, off-line memory storage and printing systems, data transmission equipment; and related software such as operating systems, library and maintenance routines and applications programs.
•  “Telecommunications” means voice, data, message and video transmissions, and includes the transmission and switching facilities of public telecommunications systems, as well as operating and network software.
•  “Office Systems Technology” means office equipment such as typewriters, duplicating and photocopy machines, paper forms and records; microfilm and microfiche equipment and printing equipment and services.

 “Services” means the providing of consultant assistance for any aspect of information technology, systems, and networks.

Give us a call; we will assist you with getting in touch with the correct office.


Who do I call in ITMO?
ITMO has provided its staff directory for your use on our web site     

***The procurement process can appear to be overwhelming at times, but the proper expenditure of public funds is of great importance to ITMO.  The entire ITMO staff is here to assist you and your agency with ensuring that we procure the right item or service the first time, on time and within your budget, in accordance with the guidelines of the South Carolina Consolidated Procurement Code & Regulations.  If you have any questions please call any member of the ITMO staff.