Nebraska gets prison bids, won't disclose price tag

The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services says it’s received three bids to build a new prison in Lincoln, but the department won’t say how much they’re for.

The deadline for companies to bid on building a new 1,500-bed prison was last week.

Nebraska Public Media News filed a request for information about the bids under the state’s public records law. In response, the Department of Correctional Services said it has received three bids.

But the department declined to provide additional information, including how much the bids were for. It cited an exception that the public records law allows for appraisals and negotiations about the purchase of real or personal property before the purchase is complete.

The cost of a new prison has become an issue as the state faces budget shortfalls. The Legislature has set aside $350 million for the project, but critics say the cost could be far higher. A similar-sized project in South Dakota is expected to cost more than $800 million.

But in a recent interview with Nebraska Public Media News, Corrections Director Rob Jeffreys said “Our building is completely different than what Dakota’s is building.”

Jeffrey’s said South Dakota’s prison will contain all maximum security beds, the most expensive kind of construction, whereas Nebraska’s prison will contain a mix of maximum, medium, and minimum security beds.