FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (20-41)

CONTACT Laura Strimple, Chief of Staff

OFFICE 402-479-5713 | laura.strimple@nebraska.gov

Request for information concerning state prison facility publically released

March 16, 2020 (Lincoln, Neb.) – Today, the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services (NDCS) launched a request for information pertaining to the design, construction, and financing for a new state prison facility. The request for information (RFI) has been posted on the Nebraska State Purchasing Bureau website (http://das.nebraska.gov/materiel/purchasing/RFI%203016/RFI%203016.html). Responses are due May 27, 2020 and will be posted publically shortly thereafter.

“This is the tool by which we will be able to gather details about the appropriate size of a facility, where it is best situated in terms of location, staffing and other considerations and what custody levels should be incorporated to meet the needs of NDCS now and far into the future,” said Director Scott R. Frakes.

Features of a new facility would include food service operations, medical amenities, maintenance, a library, programming space, commissary and other features that would ensure the facility is a stand-alone operation.

“Again, the number of support spaces will depend on the ultimate size of the facility and the number of people it is built to accommodate,” noted Dir. Frakes. “General budgetary figures, including costs associated with those operations, in addition to construction costs, maintenance and leasing should be included with the submitted response.”

Responses to the RFI will remain sealed until they are opened on May 27. Dir. Frakes made clear that submissions are not binding offers; rather, those responses will be used to evaluate the best options for the state going forward. If necessary, the agency will submit a subsequent request for proposal (RFP) which will solicit more specific information from vendors, based on the information provided to the agency through the RFI process.

“As noted previously, this is a first step to identifying what is required in a prison facility, given current and forecast population projections,” said Dir. Frakes. “We may speculate all we wish to, but the fact is the vendors who respond to the RFI have the best experience in analyzing all facets of this type of project. It would be wise to consider that expertise.”

###