Operation and Management of Contractor-Operated Correctional Facilities – Bay CF

The Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) is issuing an Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) for the operation and management of Bay Correctional Facility, a 985-bed minimum/medium security male adult correctional facility located in Bay County. The solicitation (FDC-ITN-25-069) seeks a private contractor to provide comprehensive correctional services including security, inmate programs, healthcare, food service, and facility maintenance, with a mandatory compliance to Florida Statutes and American Correctional Association standards. Vendors must demonstrate at least ten years of experience in correctional facility management and submit a detailed technical response covering operational plans, security operations, health services, and inmate programmatic services. The evaluation methodology will weight technical responses at 70% and pricing at 30%, with a mandatory site visit scheduled for April 2, 2025, and proposal responses due by May 16, 2025. Key deliverables include a comprehensive transition plan, quarterly performance reporting, and maintenance of specific inmate program participation levels across behavioral, academic, vocational, and substance abuse categories. Contractors must provide a reply bond of 5% of their total proposal price and be prepared to execute a performance guarantee of $8 million within 10 business days of contract award.

The contract has several specific vendor restrictions and compliance requirements, including mandatory use of the E-Verify system, adherence to drug-free workplace policies, and certification of non-involvement with foreign countries of concern. While no specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises are explicitly detailed, the solicitation includes provisions for vendors to declare minority, women-owned, or veteran-owned business classifications. The initial contract term is three years, with potential successive two-year renewals, and an estimated annual spend of $29,585,312. Vendors must maintain specific financial standards, including a Dun & Bradstreet Financial Stress Score between 1-4, and comply with numerous legal attestations regarding labor practices, commodity sourcing, and ethical business operations. Pricing will be evaluated to ensure a minimum seven percent cost savings requirement under Chapter 957 of Florida Statutes, with the Department reserving the right to negotiate with multiple vendors and select the most advantageous proposal based on comprehensive technical and financial evaluations.