Site work and new construction of a detention facility in Odessa, Texas. Completed plans call for the construction of a 62,436-square-foot, one-story above grade detention facility; and for site work for a detention facility.

https://www.star-telegram.com/news/state/texas/article312595401.html Ector County's juvenile detention center is set to receive its first significant upgrade in nearly 30 years. Kevin Mann, chief juvenile probation officer with the Ector County Juvenile Probation Department, said the new facility will be located directly east of the current site along Yukon Road. He added the facility will feature an array of essential services, including probation offices, a courtroom, visitation areas, food service, multi-purpose space for staff, space for mental health services, medical unit, a library and physical education program. The facility will also feature vocational training areas, as well as secure parking for staff and the department's vehicle fleet. The new facility is currently out for bid and the price is unknown at this time, Mann said. He added proposals were due back to the county on Oct. 16. Construction is estimated at 18-24 months. The cost of the facility will not be known until proposals are reviewed. Mann said the most significant upgrade from the current facility is the upgrade to six, eight-bed housing pods that are designed to enhance safety, security and supervision. He added the new facility will have a secure sally-port to streamline the intake and transport of juvenile offenders. "Unlike the current linear layout with large, shared spaces, this updated design organizes the facility into self-contained pods," Mann said. "Each pod will accommodate a smaller group of residents and include living quarters, a dayroom and access to essential services, all within a secure and controlled setting." He said this smaller group size will enhance supervision, reduce the likelihood of negative behaviors and lower the risk of disturbances involving multiple residents. "The pod-based model fosters a more controlled environment, supports individualized programming and allows staff to tailor services based on specific resident needs," he said. Mann said the pod-based model can be customized by population type such as mental head needs, gender or age, and will improve specialized care. "Overall, the pod system is expected to significantly improve safety and security, support a more rehabilitative atmosphere, enhance staff engagement and increase operational flexibility," he said. Mann said the current sally-port is unsecured and offers limited confidentiality. Additionally, the release process occurs in a shared area where supervised juveniles report to their probation officers, leading to "overlap and confusion." "The new design will feature a dedicated and secure intake and release area, completely separate from spaces used by other youth. This will streamline operations, enhance safety, and protect the privacy of the juveniles being processed," Mann said. An emphasis on mental health is included in the new facility, as it will feature dedicated spaces for behavioral health services. Ector County's current juvenile detention center has been in operation since 1974. Mann said the most significant renovation took place in the 1990s with the addition of 28 beds. In 2009, a multi-purpose gym was built and the facility's camera system was upgraded in 2018. Mann said the current juvenile population is 26, which fluctuates daily. While the facility has 48 pre-adjudication secure sleeping quarters, safety concerns and limitations of the current facility design restrict use to just 32 of those beds. "This will improve significantly with the construction of the new facility, which will incorporate a modern pod-based housing system," he said. "The new design will allow us to safely increase bed utilization, enhance resident supervision within their housing units, and better support programming goals while ensuring continued compliance with state and federal detention standards." ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Ector County will receive sealed proposals for General Construction work including a 1 story building of approximately 62,436 square feet with space for 48 single-occupancy detention cells, 2 special holding cells, 2 negative pressure holding cells, 1 central control, 1 warming kitchen, 1 laundry, a medical area and a gymnasium building. You are invited to submit a guaranteed maximum price proposal on the attached forms for furnishing of all labor, materials, services and equipment necessary for and incidental to the Project as called for on the Drawings and in the Project Manual. Question Deadline 10/03/2025 at 5:00 PM CT Question Response Deadline: Oct 6, 2025, 5:00pm Proposers may submit a proposal, one (1) marked original, for the Project either individually or combined as indicated on the Proposal Form. Following the prior issuance of Certificates of Obligation for this project, the resulting contract of this solicitation is being funded by utilizing those resources and funds. Proposals shall be made on a guaranteed maximum price basis on the attached forms for furnishing of all labor, materials, services and equipment necessary for and incidental to the Project as called for on the Drawings and in the Project Manual. Proposal security in the sum of 5% of the total proposal amount and in the form of a cashier's check, certified check or Surety Proposal Bond, shall accompany all proposals as stipulated in the Instruction to Proposers. The Owner reserves the right to waive irregularities and to reject all proposals. In accordance with the Instruction to Proposers, all Proposers shall comply with State Labor Laws concerning wage rates and Texas Family Code concerning affidavit of eligibility to submit proposals non-discrimination in employment and employment of historically underutilized businesses. Proposers and Sub-proposers requiring clarification or interpretation of the Proposal Documents shall make a written request which shall reach the Architect