S.C. Code Ann. § 48-6-35: Third-party engineers; contractor qualifications and bidding eligibility.

(A) The Department of Environmental Services may hire one or more third-party, independent engineers to assist the department in its duties.

(B) The department must establish such reasonable regulations with respect to the qualifications of contractors allowed to bid on work of the department. Such regulations may fix eligibility requirements for bidders according to available capital and with due regard to experience and records of past performance.