Norton Sends Request for Update on D.C. Halfway House Contract
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) sent a letter today to Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Acting Director Hugh Hurwitz requesting an update on the federal residential reentry center (RRC), or halfway house, contract in the District of Columbia. The Washington Post recently reported that plans for a new halfway house, which houses convicted D.C. residents as they reenter society, remain unsettled less than 90 days before the city's current facility is scheduled to close.
In the letter, Norton writes: "I understand that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) had recommended reopening the RRC bid competition because CORE DC failed to provide sufficient proof that it had an option to lease, as required in the solicitation…It is critical that this situation be resolved. District residents returning to society must be able to return to the District, yet our office has been left for months without any word on the disposition of this matter."
Text of the full letter is below.
Hugh J. Hurwitz
Acting Director
Federal Bureau of Prisons
320 First Street NW
Washington, DC 20534
Dear Acting Director Hurwitz:
I write to request an update on the urgent situation regarding the federal residential reentry center (RRC) contract issues in the District.
I understand that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) had recommended reopening the RRC bid competition because CORE DC failed to provide sufficient proof that it had an option to lease, as required in the solicitation. I request an immediate update on this situation and ask that you provide responses to the following questions:
- Has the BOP responded to the GAO request that it reopen the bid contract for an RRC in the District? Has the competition been reopened, and, if so, what is the status of that competition?
- Has Hope Village's contract been renewed, at least temporarily? If so, for how long?
It is critical that this situation be resolved. District residents returning to society must be able to return to the District, yet our office has been left for months without any word on the disposition of this matter.
I request that you respond to this letter, in writing, within 30 days.
Sincerely,
Eleanor Holmes Norton