New York City’s Dept. of Design and Construction has shortlisted three design-build firms to submit bids for a new downtown Manhattan jail that is part of the city’s larger initiative to close the Rikers Island facility and replace it with borough-based jails by 2027.

With the state enacting public sector design-build use in late 2019 through passage of the New York City Public Works Investment Act, the approach now is a bigger part of contracting strategy at DDC. The agency announced on Oct. 21 details of its new design-build program, which departs from the traditional low-bid method it was required to use historically.