Eddy County Commission Approves RFP for Construction of New Detention Center

During Tuesday’s Commission Meeting on November 18, the Eddy County Board of County Commissioners approved the Request for Proposals (RFP) to solicit competitive bids from qualified firms for the construction of a new Eddy County Detention Center. The project will be located at 1501 Corrales Drive in Carlsbad, New Mexico.

The current detention center was constructed in 1993, then reconstructed in 2002 and again in 2012 to extend the life of the building. Despite these updates, the facility continues to face significant structural and operational challenges. A 2019 Facility Condition Assessment identified several critical deficiencies, including outdated systems, capacity concerns, and design constraints, that no longer meet modern safety or operational standards. Furthermore, because of the building’s age, replacement parts for essential systems have become increasingly difficult or impossible to obtain.

The new detention center, designed by Studio Southwest, will address these longstanding challenges. The planned facility includes 142,306 square feet for core detention operations, including a modern Administrative Segregation Unit (ASU) and a dedicated DWI Program, as well as updated medical and monitoring systems designed to meet today’s standards of care. An additional 50,951 square feet is reserved for two future phases of inmate housing, bringing the total planned build-out to 193,257 square feet.

Carlsbad Mayor Rick Lopez shares, “I think the new Eddy County Detention Center is an important investment by the county that will benefit the community. It provides the space needed for growth, with a more efficient layout and modern operations. By relocating it south of town, downtown gains the opportunity to serve its purpose more effectively, whether that’s offices, retail, or parking.

Whether that’s offices, retail, or parking. A well-planned, flowing downtown is important to the community’s vitality, and this move has real potential to strengthen both the county’s operations and our city center.”

Commissioner Bo Bowen addressed the purpose of the investment directly, stating, “People say, why do we spend 167 million dollars on prisoners? We are not; we are spending it on everyone outside of the facility. We are spending it for everybody here.”

With the RFP now approved, Eddy County will begin accepting proposals from qualified construction firms. The project is estimated at $168 million, with the final cost dependent on the competitive bidding process. Construction is anticipated to begin on March 1, 2026, pending contract award and approval.