Jefferson County Correctional Facility Professional Needs Assessment

Jefferson County is seeking professional consulting services through a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to conduct a comprehensive needs assessment for its Correctional Facility, with responses due by 11:00 am CT on November 5, 2025. The project aims to develop a 15-year inmate housing and operational needs plan for the existing facility, which was constructed in 1992 and currently has a total bed capacity of 1,056. Key deliverables include meeting with county leadership, conducting a facility inventory, identifying improvement areas, developing population projections, exploring facility configuration options, preparing a jail layout plan compliant with Texas Jail Commission standards, and producing an opinion of probable construction costs. The current facility's average daily population was 852 in 2025, comprising 120 male and 30 female misdemeanor inmates, and 575 male and 130 female felony inmates. The assessment is expected to be completed within 6 to 12 months after contract award, with an evaluation committee ranking responses based on firm qualifications, project team expertise, past experience, and project understanding. Respondents must submit one original and five copies to the Jefferson County Purchasing Department in Beaumont, Texas.

The county strongly encourages participation from Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs), Minority/Women Business Enterprises (M/WBEs), and Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUBs), indicating a commitment to diverse vendor participation. While specific award values are not explicitly stated, the comprehensive nature of the assessment suggests a significant consulting engagement that will require in-depth analysis of current correctional facility infrastructure and future needs. The RFQ indicates that the project will involve a detailed examination of the existing facility, which includes considerations for maximum security beds to be available in 2026. Potential respondents should have extensive experience in correctional facility planning, understanding of inmate population dynamics, and the ability to produce comprehensive architectural and operational recommendations. The evaluation process will prioritize firms with demonstrated expertise in similar municipal corrections projects, with a focus on qualitative assessment of the proposed project team's capabilities and understanding of the county's specific correctional facility challenges.