The Puerto Rico Public-Private Partnerships Authority (the “Authority”) along with the Juvenile Institutions Administration (the “JIA”) is getting under way a partnership, known as the ‘Nuevo Comienzo’ partnership (New Beginnings in english).  This partnership consists of the development of a new social treatment complex for 600 youngsters (the “Partnership”).  This Partnership will be distinguished by its social benefits but also by its procurement method which will be by a Public-Private Partnership.

The Partnership contemplates a procurement in which the private consortium will deliver an institution thru a design, build, finance and maintenance (“DBFM”) contract. The proposed Partnership could provide estimated savings of approximately $4.1 million annually.

The Partnership arises from the following needs of JIA:

• Need to enhance infrastructure conditions and establish a contract systematic maintenance with performance-based-metrics that provides enhanced infrastructure;
• Need to continue making progress towards full compliance with civil cases applicable to juvenile correctional system;
• Need best-practice and high-standard detention and treatment accommodations that comply with the American Correctional Association guidelines (“ACA”);
• Need to continue strengthening the rehabilitation and social treatment programs for the juvenile population in Puerto Rico; and
• Need to address facility fragmentation in the correctional system and achieve savings.

The general goals for the Partnership can be summarized as follows:

• Develop a new social treatment complex with a robust long-term maintenance program with performance metrics;
• Provide best-practices and high standard custodial accommodations that will strengthen rehabilitation services;
• Fully meet stipulations of any federal civil case related to the construction of new juvenile correctional facilities; and
• Address the fragmentation of facilities in the juvenile system and achieve average annual savings estimated at $4.1 million during the life of the concession.

Advisory Team

The Government Advisory Team for this procurement is:

• Technical Advisor: CPM (Caribbean Project Management)
• Financial Advisor: Advantage Business Consulting
• Local Design Advisor: Marques + Marques
• US-based Advisor: SMRT
• Local Legal Counsel: Pietrantoni, Mendez & Alvarez
• Specialized Legal Counsel (Canada): Aird & Berlis
• Local Legal Counsel Construction and Correctional Systems: Cancio, Nadal, Rivera & Diaz