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

Florida Department of Corrections is soliciting replies under Invitation to Negotiate FDC-ITN-27-022 for operation and management of the Blackwater River Correctional Facility in Santa Rosa County, Florida, with a mandatory site visit on October 27, 2026 and replies due December 8, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. ET. The Department seeks a single contractor for security operations, health services, inmate programs, and general operations at the 2,000-bed facility, which houses minimum, medium, and close custody inmates. Mandatory responsiveness requires a prime vendor capable of serving 1,948 contracted inmates and a minimum of ten years' experience providing similar services, documented through business experience references.

Respondents must certify compliance with Florida requirements, including E-Verify, a Dun & Bradstreet Financial Stress Class of 1, 2, 3, or 4, a Foreign Country of Concern attestation (PUR 1355), forced-labor certifications under section 287.1346, and data remaining within the United States. Financial stability documentation may include audited financial statements for the last two fiscal years, investment-grade credit ratings, or written declarations from the chief financial officer. The awardee must execute a HIPAA Business Associate Agreement and report security incidents within 72 hours of discovery. Existing facility assets listed in Attachment B transfer to the contractor on award. The contractor must maintain current programming, including academic services for 12.5% of the population, behavioral programs for 15%, substance abuse programs for 12.5%, and vocational programs for 8%.

Pricing uses per diem rates for up to 90% capacity of 1,800 inmates and for the additional 200 inmates above 90% up to 100%, blended and multiplied by the three-year initial term for scoring. Per diem pricing must meet the seven percent cost-savings requirement under Chapter 957, F.S., and excludes the Enhanced In-Prison and Post-Release Recidivism Reduction Program and activities funded by the Privately Operated Institutions Inmate Welfare Trust Fund. The estimated annual spend is $52.338 million. The initial term is three years, with successive two-year renewals subject to satisfactory performance evaluations and fund availability. Reply bonds equal 5% of the total proposal price for one year. A performance guarantee of $8 million, or the average annual contract price, is due within ten business days of execution. The awardee must deliver a Project Management Plan within ten business days of execution and meet a baseline service commencement date of July 1, 2027.

Technical replies are scored at 70 points, with 24 points for experience and ability and 46 points for the proposed technical solution, covering operational, security, health services, programmatic, and transition plans. Price replies account for 30 points.

The Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure Agreement was due October 22, 2026. Questions are due November 2, 2026. Replies open publicly on December 8, 2026 at 2:01 p.m. ET, with negotiations anticipated from December 2026 through January 2027 and contract execution anticipated in July 2027. Submissions go through the MyFloridaMarketPlace Sourcing Event via the SAP Business Network. Procurement Officer Sharita Newman handles inquiries at Purchasing@FDC.MyFlorida.com, with the solicitation number in the subject line.