Florida Department of Corrections releases revised requests for bids on prison health care

Sep 22, 2011

The following article was published in The Florida Current on September 22, 2011:

Department of Correction releases revised request for bids on prison healthcare 

The Florida Department of Corrections has released revised requests for proposals to provide health care in state prisons.

In accordance with budget language passed by lawmakers earlier this year, the department is looking to outsource health care for inmates in each of its four regions. It is also accepting proposals that combine the three regions in the northern and central parts of the state.

The department withdrew the five requests in August, and reissued them last week after making some changes.

The revised requests call for comprehensive health care services accredited by the American Correctional Association or the National Commission on Correctional Health Care, or both.

The department has lowered the value of performance bonds intended to hold successful bidders to the terms of their contracts. The updated request for a proposal covering three regions calls for a guarantee worth $82 million, after originally calling for $100 million.

The department expects the proposals by early November, and must submit them to the Legislative Budget Commission for approval by Dec. 1. According to the requests, contractors will be expected to assume operations before June 30.

Find this article here:  http://www.thefloridacurrent.com/article.cfm?id=24668765