The Ministry of Public Works with the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights has issued a call for bids for the concession of the new Talca Penitentiary Establishment in Chile.

This concession encompasses the authorization, operation, and maintenance of the 63,000 sq m facility, designed to house 2,320 individuals deprived of liberty. An undertaking requiring an investment of approximately US$56 million is set to be concessioned for nearly 30 years. The aim is to enhance security services and improve prison conditions by providing increased space for the incarcerated population. The initiative also includes support services for social reintegration, healthcare, and nutrition. The upcoming Talca Penitentiary Establishment will feature 14 confinement modules, strategically segmented based on the degree of danger posed by its population. It will incorporate a security strip with eight surveillance booths and controlled vehicular access, a school emphasizing the social reintegration of inmates, a penal health unit, and a food production center for both inmates and Chilean Gendarmerie officials.

The call for bids for this concession is scheduled to be published on January 13, 2024. Subsequently, technical offers are expected by May 24, 2024, followed by the unveiling of economic offers on June 25 of the same year. The contract for the project is anticipated to be awarded in Q4 of 2024. A partial commencement of operations is projected for 2024, with an estimated 400 inmates, while full-fledged operations are expected to commence in 2025.