NIGP 83986: Telephones, Prison

NIGP 83986 Telephones, Prison (Item) encompasses inmate communication systems and services that county and local corrections facilities procure to support facility operations — specifically phone service, tablet-based messaging and video visitation, mail handling, and integrated resident banking and records management. State and local corrections agencies solicit under this code to replace aging systems, upgrade capabilities, and refresh multi-year service contracts as incumbents' terms expire. The scope spans hardware (fixed phones, kiosks, tablets, handsets), software (communications platforms, billing systems, integration with detention-management records), installation, ongoing maintenance, and 24/7 technical support. County sheriff's offices and corrections departments are the primary issuing bodies.

Recent activity shows a mix of counties actively re-competing or upgrading inmate services. Dane County, Wisconsin issued RFP 2026-RFP-051-PR in June 2026 for a five-year digital resident telephone, tablet, and video visitation system covering three facilities (957-bed total) with 168 fixed phones, 70 kiosks, 600–800 tablets, and integrated visitation handsets; proposals closed August 5, 2026, with a mandatory vendor conference on July 9, 2026 and a 5-point local-vendor preference in scoring. Denton County, Texas posted RFP 26-2901 in March 2026 for comprehensive inmate mail and phone services across county jail and juvenile detention facilities with a three-year initial term and two optional one-year renewals; proposals closed April 30, 2026, with a pre-proposal conference on April 8, 2026 at the Denton County Law Enforcement Center. Orange County, Florida issued an IFB (Y26-750) in June 2026 for corrections-facility security-controls and secure-door-and-lock replacement construction at the Corrections Bureau Reception Center and Building E, estimated at $7 million, with bids due July 21, 2026. Recent activity concentrates in Texas, Wisconsin, and Florida, with FCC rate caps ($0.07 per minute for calls; $0.12 per minute for remote video visitation) binding pricing structures across all solicitations.