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County finalizing solicitation for correctional facility design team

An aerial view of the land acquired by Lancaster County for a new prison. (Source: Lancaster County)

Lancaster County anticipates releasing a request for proposals, or RFP, in mid-March for a firm or firms to design the county’s new correctional facility.

The county and its owner’s representative, CGL, are “in the final stages” of drafting the RFP for architectural and engineering services, CGL Senior Program Manager Wayne Freeh said at Thursday’s Prison Board meeting.

The county’s Purchasing Department anticipates submitting it to the county commissioners at their Feb. 28 work session, for an approval vote the next day, March 1, Director Linda Schreiner said.

The RFP will be posted online. It will be advertised in LNP as required by statute and listed on Public Purchase, an online clearinghouse for government contracting.

The project planning committee will review proposals, Schreiner said. There will be a public interview of the top three candidates, then the committee will provide a recommendation to the Prison Board and the commissioners for their approval.

CGL will provide its input to the committee, but won’t have a vote, Schreiner said: “It’s a county decision.”

Once a finalist is picked, the county would negotiate a contract. That should be complete and signed by early summer, Freeh said.

The county is encouraging both local and national firms to apply. Shreiner noted it’s not uncommon for local and national entities to partner on such projects.

The county is not yet soliciting bids for construction or related services. That won’t happen until much later in the process, officials said.

The project to replace the aging County Prison on East King Street is expected to be the largest building project in county history. It has attracted intense public interest, with advocates urging officials to re-examine criminal justice practices and focus on building as small a facility as possible.

The county is hoping to complete and occupy the new building by late 2026. Things are still on track to meet that goal, Commissioner Ray D’Agostino said.