Puerto Rico prison attracts 11 firms
The teams competing for the design, construction, financing and maintenance of the new facility are: Alianza Renacer Consortium; Balfour Beatty Capital; CORE Consortium; CGL Servicios a Jóvenes; Ferrovial; J.C. Juvenile Corporation of America; PD/IBT Development Team; PH Puerto Rico; Plenary Properties Puerto Rico; NBC-Yauco; and OHL.
The scheme, which will be named "Nuevo Comienzo," or a "New Beginning," will hold 600 juvenile offenders. Corrections Secretary Jesús González said the project would save the government some US$4m annually, while allowing for a strengthening of education and rehabilitation programmes for young offenders.
"Of the 11 consortiums that submitted qualification all have at least one Puerto Rican company. There are 36 Puerto Rican companies in consortiums with US and international entities to push this project forward," said David Alvarez, executive director of Puerto Rico's PPP Authority. "Maximising the participation of local talent is part of the objectives of PPPs.
"This level of interest has exceeded our expectations. This result shows that Puerto Rico has developed the credibility to attract new investment through PPPs," Alvarez added.
