Solicitation Waiver, Disposition of Deceased Offenders

The State of Nevada Department of Administration Purchasing Division is seeking a solicitation waiver for cremation services for deceased offenders, specifically targeting the Nevada Department of Corrections. The primary contractor will be Giddens Memorial Chapel, identified as a sole source provider for transportation and cremation services across rural southern Nevada correctional facilities, including High Desert State Prison and Southern Desert Correctional Center. The contract aims to ensure compliance with NRS 451.400 regarding proper handling and disposition of unclaimed bodies of deceased inmates. Services will encompass comprehensive cremation logistics, including transportation from correctional facilities and processing of deceased offenders. The procurement is structured as a solicitation waiver with a contract term from Board of Examiners approval through February 28, 2028. The solicitation was posted on October 27, 2025, with the same date designated as the proposal due date, indicating an expedited procurement process.

The contract appears to have no specific set-aside designations or restrictions on vendor qualifications beyond the sole source determination for Giddens Memorial Chapel. The total estimated contract value is $60,000, covering fiscal years 2026, 2027, and 2028, which represents an increase from the previous contract valued at $24,000 that ran from July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2025. Funding will be drawn from the 3763 Inmate Welfare Account Category 55. The agency has indicated plans for a future Request for Proposal (RFP) that will potentially include both northern and southern Nevada correctional facilities and camps. While the current procurement is a direct award to Giddens Memorial Chapel, the planned future RFP suggests potential opportunities for broader competition. The sole source justification is based on the vendor's multiple facilities and willingness to service remote correctional locations in southern Nevada.