S.C. Code Ann. § 11-51-190
The research universities while engaging in projects related to this act shall be exempt from the state procurement process, except such research universities must work in conjunction with the Budget and Control Board's Chief Procurement Officer to establish alternate procurement procedures, and must submit a procurement process to the State Commission on Higher Education to be forwarded to the State Budget and Control Board for approval. These processes shall include provisions for audit and recertification.