NDCS plans to award Hausmann Construction with $313 million contract for new prison

Construction of the new 1,500-bed state prison north of Lincoln has an official price tag.

The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services announced Wednesday that it intends to award Hausmann Construction with the project after receiving a $313 million bid from the Lincoln-based company.

Hausmann has worked on other Nebraska projects including the Bob Devaney Sports Center, Lincoln Children’s Zoo and Pillen Family Farms Headquarters.

“Today marks an important step forward in our mission to create a safer, more effective correctional system,” NDCS Director Rob Jeffreys said. “Hausmann Construction is a local company who understands our commitment to fiscal responsibility, completing this project the Nebraska way.”

Hausmann beat out a $340,987,000 bid from a joint venture between Clark Construction and MCL Construction as well as a $344,342,000 bid from a joint venture between Sampson Construction and Caddell Construction.

Each of the bids were below the $350 million previously set aside by the Nebraska Legislature for the project.

A similar-sized prison in South Dakota, currently in the planning phase, could cost between $600 and $825 million.

“Bids for this project came in well below prison construction projects in other states,” Jeffreys said. “NDCS has funding for this entire project, and we will stay within that appropriated funding.”

Construction on the prison is expected to begin in the early fall.