Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) in USA announced the next step in the procurement process for new prisons with a Request for Qualifications (RFQ). Participation in the RFQ phase is mandatory and requires that interested developer teams submit a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ), which demonstrates the team’s financial capacity and technical expertise.

The project involves the development of three turnkey build-to-suit prisons that will be leased to the State of Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC). Two of the facilities will be almost identical while the other facility (Facility 2) will be larger and will centralize ADOC’s special services (e.g., medical, mental health, aged care, and inmate reception) into one facility. This facility will be located in the central part of the State. The project works include replacement of prison facilities that pose the greatest risk to public safety and inhibit the development of programs for inmate rehabilitation. The plans of ADOC would allow enhanced security through updated structures and the implementation of current technology resources.

The facility would also enable an improvement in medical and mental health services by consolidating more than a dozen men’s prisons into just three large prisons, one of which will have additional space for centralized health and mental health care facilities for special needs populations. Each of the new facilities will include space for educational and vocational training programs.

The RFQ provides structure to protect the interests of the state of Alabama, ensuring that only qualified developer teams are permitted to participate in the proposal process. Prior to the RFQ, a request for Expressions of Interest (EOI) was released for a response; however, EOI submissions are not mandatory nor obligatory for participation in the procurement process.

RFQ responses are due on August 2, 2019.