SCSU seeks bids for $6.5M-$7.8M Olar Farm construction

South Carolina State University's 1890 Research and Extension program initiated a formal procurement for construction at the Olar Farm 1890 Research and Extension Center in Olar, Bamberg County. The public notice, posted January 7, 2026, sets a construction budget range of $6,500,000 to $7,800,000 and establishes a Design-Bid-Build delivery method. The solicitation reference number is H24-9665-PD and the submission deadline is February 12, 2026 at 2:00 PM.

The procurement was formally initiated January 6 and identifies Ken Davis as the agency project coordinator. Interested contractors are directed to obtain full bidding documents, plans, specifications, bonding and insurance requirements, and procurement instructions through South Carolina State University and the SCBO online edition. The notice makes clear that bidders must follow the university procurement procedures and demonstrate required bonding and insurance capacity as part of their submissions.

For Bamberg County the advertised budget represents a meaningful local investment. A construction program sized between $6.5 million and $7.8 million can generate short-term demand for local labor, building materials and subcontracting work in trades such as concrete, roofing, mechanical, and site work. That demand can ripple into nearby suppliers, equipment rental firms, and hospitality businesses that support project crews. Because the project is tied to an 1890 research and extension center, the work also supports infrastructure for agricultural research and community outreach that can have long-term benefits for area farmers and cooperative extension programming.

The use of a Design-Bid-Build procurement model means the project will separate design and construction responsibilities, which typically attracts contractors with clear experience in public-sector bidding and established subcontractor networks. Firms considering a bid should pay close attention to the plans, specifications and bonding/insurance sections of the procurement documents, and calendar the firm deadline of February 12 at 2:00 PM to ensure timely submission.

Local contractors and suppliers who want to compete should retrieve the full solicitation package from South Carolina State University or the SCBO online edition and assess capacity for bonding and the construction scope. Smaller firms may explore teaming or subcontracting arrangements to meet bonding and insurance requirements while capturing portions of the work.

Our two cents? If your company is interested, don't wait until the last week; review the H24-9665-PD package now, confirm bonding and insurance readiness, and consider partnering locally to translate this $6.5 million to $7.8 million investment into jobs and contracts for Bamberg County.