Inmate Unit of Assignment Assessment

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) is seeking a contractor to conduct a comprehensive assessment and exploratory report on the policies, procedures, workflows, mechanical processes, and data infrastructure that determine the assignment of inmates to facilities within the TDCJ system. This initiative, identified as the Inmate Unit of Assignment Assessment, aims to lay the groundwork for modernizing the unit assignment process through detailed analysis and actionable recommendations. The contractor must deliver a series of structured reports and presentations at defined milestones, including policy, procedures, and mechanical processes analyses at weeks 10, 19, and 28 respectively, with corresponding presentations at weeks 11, 20, and 29, culminating in a final comprehensive report due no later than 43 weeks after contract award and an in-person presentation of findings no later than 45 weeks after award. The project also requires a project plan with a RACI chart, weekly progress reports, and a transition plan, all performed under the governance of TDCJ’s internal policies including BP-03.85 and the Visitation Plan, as well as relevant state and industry standards. The solicitation, issued under number IW247306 on June 8, 2026, with a response deadline of June 29, 2026, is open exclusively to entities that meet stringent pass/fail eligibility criteria, including a minimum of eight years of experience supporting criminal justice agencies, proven specialized experience in inmate housing or unit assignment support for a state-level correctional system, the ability to obtain required insurance, financial independence to commence operations without state assistance, and a minimum vendor performance rating of “C.” The award will be based on best value, with technical merit accounting for 70% of the evaluation (30% methodology, 20% past performance, 20% staff experience) and cost comprising the remaining 30% (25% price, 5% financial strength). All submissions must be electronically filed via the Bonfire portal, adhering to strict formatting and content requirements including the inclusion of financial statements, compliance attestations, and complete pricing schedules with budget narratives. Contractors must ensure all personnel undergo rigorous background checks, including FBI CJIS clearance, fingerprinting, and HR vetting, and must sign TDCJ-specific confidentiality and data use agreements. All systems and data handling must comply with ISO 27001, SOC 2, and NIST 80