1997 Press Releases

Dec. 23, 1997 - State agencies approve prison contracts with CCA
Sept. 26, 1997 - CCA to build and manage 1,250-bed private prison proposed for Boise

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State agencies approve prison contracts with CCA

BOISE - Idaho Board of Correction Chairman John Hayden signed a landmark contract Tuesday morning (Dec. 23) with Corrections Corporation of America of Nashville, Tenn. to operate a proposed 1,250-bed medium- and minimum-security prison south of Boise.
CCA will design, build and manage the prison. Also Tuesday, the Idaho State Building Authority unanimously approved a building contract with CCA.
Both contracts will save the state about $27 million in construction and operational costs during the first three years of operation. CCA will build the prison for about $18 million less than the state's estimated cost of construction. The operations contract beat the state's cost per day by $3 million a year.
"Both the Board and the Department feel the contract is a good and solid one," Hayden said. "This was definitely a successful joint effort between Corrections and the Building Authority, the Attorney General's Office, the Division of Purchasing, JFAC (Joint Appropriations and Finance Committee) and the Governor's Office."
Legislation authorizing the contract was approved earlier this year. Eight qualified bids were submitted. CCA was selected after an extremely comprehensive review process.
"This is a good contract for Idaho and its taxpayers," IDOC Director James Spalding said. "Although it was not the least expensive, the CCA proposal was the best long-term investment for the state."
"CCA was selected on the combined strengths of their proposals for construction and operations. It has more years of operating experience, more beds under contract and more company net worth than any other private prison firm. It also submitted a bid that was favorable in cost-per-day and per-foot construction costs.This new prison will ensure adequate bed space for several years."
The historic signing culminates a yearlong effort. The final obstacle to signing the contract was cleared Monday after a district judge in Boise rejected an attempt to obtain a permanent injunction to halt the approval process until legislators could review the contracts. Fourth District Judge D. Duff McKee ruled that the Department of Correction properly followed the intent of the legislation in negotiating a contract with CCA.
"CCA is thrilled to have the opportunity to work with the Idaho Department of Correction on this important project," said Doctor <cq> R. Crants, CCA chairman and CEO. "We are grateful for Idaho's support, and we look forward to a long-term partnership."
Construction of the new prison is expected to begin early next year and is scheduled to be completed by fall 1999. The prison has been designed to expand to 3,000 beds if needed.

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Nashville firm chosen to build and manage 1,250-bed private prison proposed for Boise

BOISE - Corrections Corp. of America (CCA) of Nashville, Tenn., has been selected to design, construct and manage a proposed 1,250-bed medium- and minimum-security private prison south of Boise, the Idaho Department of Correction announced Friday (Sept. 26).
The eight qualified bidders for the project were notified of the decision Friday morning. The unsuccessful companies have five working days to file an appeal of the decision.
"We have successfully completed an extensive and comprehensive selection process and are hopeful to have a contract signed within the next month," said IDOC Director James Spalding. "They could have the private prison done by mid-1999."
An exploding prison population prompted the IDOC to look at the possibility of a private prison being built in Idaho. Legislation was passed earlier this year that gave the IDOC the ability to contract with a private firm.
CCA was one of nine companies that submitted a bid. Proposals also were received from Correctional Services Corp. of Sarasota, Fla.; U.S. Correction Corp. of Louisville, Ky; Wackenhut of Palm Beach, Fla.; GRW of Brentwood, Tenn.; Cornell Corrections of Houston, Texas; Group 4 of Lanham, Md.; Capital Correctional Resources Inc. of Jackson, Miss.; and Wilderness Mountain of Mackay, Idaho.
The State Division of Purchasing made an initial review of the bids for completeness and responsiveness and approved eight of the bids for review. The DOP disqualified the proposal from Wilderness Mountain as "non-responsive."
The IDOC and Idaho State Building Authority (ISBA) established two proposal review teams. These teams were supported by staff from CRSS Constructors, Inc. The teams were responsible for detailed review of specific portions of the proposals. A third team, comprised of IDOC and ISBA personnel, was responsible for scoring and ranking the proposals.
The construction of the facility will be financed by the Idaho State Building Authority. The management contract will be between IDOC and CCA. The prison, which will be expandable to 3,000 beds, will be built on state land near the three existing prisons south of Boise.
It is uncertain when the remaining 200 Idaho inmates in Texas will be returned.

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