The Toolkit for Writing an RFP to Contract for Healthcare Services in a Correctional or Detention Institution (Correctional Healthcare RFP Toolkit) is designed to help correctional and detention facilities—along with local governments—create effective, outcome-focused requests for proposals (RFPs) for healthcare services.

The Toolkit guides you through every step of the process, including the following:

  • Preparing to draft an RFP
  • Drafting the RFP using the provided template
  • Issuing the RFP
  • Evaluating vendor responses
  • Negotiating a contract based on the RFP

This Toolkit promotes collaboration between agency heads, procurement officials, and vested partners involved in the vendor contracting process.

How to use this Correctional Healthcare RFP Toolkit

Agencies can use this Correctional Healthcare Toolkit and RFP template as a comprehensive guide, following each step closely, or as a reference to improve their existing processes by comparing them against the Toolkit’s suggestions.

Which agencies will benefit from the Toolkit

While focused on state prison and local jail contracts, the Toolkit may also benefit other institutions.

*Note: for juvenile settings, the Toolkit may not fully address youth-specific healthcare issues.

Suggested citation

Policy Research Associates, Inc. (2025). Toolkit for writing an RFP to contract for healthcare services in a correctional or detention institution. prainc.com/resource-library/correctional-healthcare-rfp-toolkit

To send us any questions, suggested revisions, or to request assistance with the Toolkit, please contact Ashley Krider, Policy Research Associates, Inc., akrider@prainc.com.