The California Dept. of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the California Prison Health Care Services broke ground on Nov. 5 on a $906-million, 1,722-bed inmate medical facility in Stockton. The 1.2-million-sq-ft facility will include a kitchen area, a diagnostic and treatment center, warehouse and support areas. Security will include a 13-ft-high lethal electrified perimeter fence and 11 45-ft-tall guard towers.

Renering: Courtesy CRCR

First bid package of $906-million program includes sitework, grading and an electrified fence, with facility work to follow.

Sacramento-based URS-Bovis Lend Lease was awarded the construction management consultant contract as part of its ongoing work with CPHCS. Sacramento-based Kitchell CEM is the criteria architect. The request for qualifications for the $140-million first bid package, which includes sitework utilities, grading and the fence is due on Nov. 19. A second RFQ, to build the actual residence and medical facilities, estimated at $600 million, will be due on Dec. 10.

“It will be a two-step best-value process,” said Michael Meredith, CDCR project manager. Some 10 to 12 teams submitting will be narrowed to five, which will be interviewed; three finalists will be asked to submit request for proposals.

A separate abatement and demolition package is scheduled to go to bid in early spring 2011. Construction is expected to be completed within three years.

The Stockton health-care facility is CDCR’s third construction project launched this year as part of a $7.7- billion effort to reduce overcrowding. In June, CDCR broke ground on a 64-bed intermediate-care mental health facility in Vacaville and a 45-bed acute and intermediate-care mental health facility for female inmates at the California Institution for Women in Corona.