BGS outlines priorities: Newport courthouse, youth facility RFP and women's prison planning

During the Feb. 12 hearing, Buildings and General Services identified several capital priorities that would come to the department following program decisions and land acquisition.

Wanda Manoli, Commissioner of Buildings and General Services, said replacement of the Newport Courthouse is a priority but that the state has not secured land. We don't have land yet, and we're exploring options, she said, noting the project has been on the judiciary's priority list for more than a decade.

Manoli also said BGS has reissued an RFP for a replacement youth facility, has a signed letter of intent with a developer and has located a site; she said BGS planned a meeting that afternoon with the developer to introduce the project and outline next steps. The department did not provide a firm construction start date during the presentation.

On the women's correctional facility, BGS said the Agency of Human Services prefers building a new facility. The department said it would release an RFP for land (targeting issuance in February) and is making the solicitation explicit that it is for a correctional facility to avoid unsuitable proposals. Manoli warned remediation needs at the existing facility are significant: she said mold and minimal prior investment require attention and that, even with land and funding, a full replacement could take three to five years.

Committee members asked about transparency and site testing; BGS described past site evaluation in Essex as an example where initial preferred sites did not meet infrastructure needs and required shifting to alternative parcels. BGS said it is performing more explicit site criteria up front to reduce unsuitable proposals and to avoid later delays.