The SC Department of Corrections is currently facing a correctional officer shortage of (876) officers. Our Recruiting division is understaffed and now with the COVID-19 pandemic we are now in a crisis and need an immediate resolution to our situation. With the closing of many businesses and unemployment up 400% in SC there are recruiting opportunities available now for which SCDC does not have the staff to engage. Markstein is, an integrated marketing communications company based in Birmingham, AL, specializing in crisis management and workforce development. Markstein assisted the US Department of Justice in assessing the needs of The Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) in relation to the severe correctional officer shortage in their agency. As a result, ADOC brought Markstein in to assist in resolving their correctional officer shortage issue. The knowledge Markstein has acquired in working with both the Alabama and Maryland Department of Corrections has put them in the position of being able to immediately move into action assisting to aide resolving our crisis. Markstein is prepared to be onsite and remote within 24-48 hours and immediately begin recruiting. The SCDC is preparing to procure Marksteins marketing and recruiting services thru June 30, 2020 while an RFP is being developed for the long term marketing and recruiting services. Without the Emergency Procurement in place the SCDC would create an unsafe environment as this correctional officer shortage grows for it’s Inmates and its employees. It is the SCDC’s responsibility to provide and maintain a safe enviornment for SCDC inmates, employees, as well as the safety and welfare of the private citizens that live in the communities that surround SCDC Institutions.