Prison project seeks design-builders

The next phase begins for building a new prison at Point MacKenzie. Tomorrow, April 4, the Borough Purchasing Division is releasing the Phase 1 Request for Qualifications to the public, inviting interested and qualified Design-Build teams to submit qualifications in order to be invited for participation in the request for proposals. Design-Build is a single contract that involves both the design and construction of the project.

From this group of responders, up to three firms will be selected to compete for the final design and construction contract for the 1,530-bed project.

Russ Krafft, purchasing officer, is managing the contracts. "It is at that point we will start to see just what type of facility will be constructed as the first architectural drawings will be produced helping us visualize the final product," Krafft said.

The prison will be located off Alsop Road and Point MacKenzie Road. The project is expected to generate construction jobs and 350 prison jobs. The prison is a joint project between the Borough and the state of Alaska. The project is expected to cost more than $250 million. The prison will be financed by the sale of revenue bonds. The Department of Corrections will lease the prison from the MAT-SU Borough, operate it, and eventually own it when the lease-revenue bonds are repaid through 25 annual lease payments. Borough taxpayers are not paying for the project. The sale of lease, revenue bonds is expected to occur in September.

The siting process for the prison won a national communications award in American City & County magazine in July 2007. For more information call Russ Krafft or Todd Lindstrom at (907) 745-9601.