LINCOLN - Thirteen companies responded to a request for information on building a new prison in Nebraska. Only a few offered a potential cost, but one put out the notion that a public-private lease purchase could cost the state $750 million over 30 years. That one, CGL Companies of Sacramento, California, said construction alone, with support space and fees and contingencies, could cost $450 million.

Others proposed the prison could be built at a lower cost, and one of those — Hawkins Construction of Omaha — suggested the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services might be better off purchasing the land, contracting directly for design and construction, retaining ownership and operation and maintenance services.

CoreCivic of Brentwood, Tennessee, offered information on a project it completed this year in Kansas. It consists of four buildings — two maximum/medium security housing units totaling 1,920 beds, one 512-bed minimum security dormitory and one support building that houses medical, mental health, food services, recreation, spiritual life and staff support areas, totaling 380,000 square feet. The facility was privately financed with a lease term of 20 years. The annual lease rate starts at $14.9 million, including an annual 1.94% rent escalator. At the end of the lease term, the state of Kansas will own the facility.

The Nebraska companies were: Hawkins, Johnson Controls, Kitchell, The Weitz Co. and Shive-Hattery.

View article HERE.