Jail/Correctional Facility Construction-- Update
Brandon Stephens-Tribal Building Construction Manager
DOJ CHANGES SCOPE OF WORK

(Cherokee, NC) - -    Many people have been waiting to see when the Tribe will release a request for qualification (RFQ) for architectural and engineering services for design on the jail project.  In a recent conference call the United States Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) told members of our Tribal project team that it would not allow construction of a court and police station.  In earlier grant documents BJA wrote that the facility should include a correctional facility, courthouse, and police station.  The Tribe was prepared the release the RFQ this week.  Principal Chief Hicks has given instructions to hold the RFQ until a meeting with BJA can be made.  This will mean the RFQ will not be release earlier than February 15, 2010.  For proposing firms, this does not mean that the RFQ will be released at that time, just that you may not expect it to be release any earlier than that. 

At the time of this release (January 20, 2010) the Tribe is writing a new RFQ and preparing for its release upon authorization of the Principal Chief. 

Any portions of work that will be sought through outside sources will be competitively bid and evaluated for qualifications or price depending on the services like architecture or engineering. 
For more information you may contact the Tribal Building Construction Office at (828) 497-1846 or return to this website. 
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) has received an $18 million grant from the United States Department of Justice (USDOJ) to construct a jail this past fall (2009).  The award comes as one of if not the largest grant award in the Tribe’s History. 

The USDOJ is making the grant through its American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 funding that was provided this past spring.  The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians will be the only Tribe east of the Mississippi to construct a correctional facility or jail. 
The EBCI does not have a jail.  The Tribe houses its inmates in surrounding county jails and with the Federal jails in Swain and Buncombe counties.  Juveniles are also sent a great distance to facilities that have space.  Some juveniles have been housed in distant states. 

 

Jail/Correctional Facility Construction
Brandon Stephens-Tribal Building Construction Manager
EBCI IS AWARDED $18 MILLION FOR JAIL CONSTRUCTION

(Cherokee, NC) - -    The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) has received an $18 million grant from the United States Department of Justice (USDOJ) to construct a jail.  The award comes as one of if not the largest grant award in the Tribe’s History. 
The USDOJ is making the grant through its American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 funding that was provided this past spring.  The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians will be the only Tribe east of the Mississippi to construct a correctional facility or jail. 
The EBCI does not have a jail.  The Tribe houses its inmates in surrounding county jails and with the Federal jails in Swain and Buncombe counties.  Juveniles are also sent a great distance to facilities that have space.  Some juveniles have been housed in distant states. 

The Tribe is in the process of satisfying some USDOJ grant compliance requirements and making final determinations on a location for construction.  At the time of this story being written (10-27-2009), the Tribe is not ready to solicit outside professionals (architecture and engineering) for this project.  The EBCI will do some initial testing and surveying on potential locations before seeking consulting. 

Any portions of work that will be sought through outside sources will be competitively bid and evaluated for qualifications or price depending on the services like architecture or engineering. 
For more information you may contact the Tribal Building Construction Office at (828) 497-1846 or return to this website.