ICE plans to open four detention facilities across the U.S. with enough capacity for 5,500 detainees

The U.S. Immigration and Enforcement agency sent out a request for information seeking contractors who could operate detention facilities near Denver, Miami and Seattle, and central Pennsylvania. 

According to the procurement documents, which were posted to the federal contracting site SAM.gov, ICE plans to award four regional contracts under a flexible structure that will allow the agency to order detention services as needed, "Project Salt Box" reported. 

The request calls for 1,500 beds near Denver, 1,500 near Seattle, 700 near Miami, and 1,800 in Pennsylvania. Each facility is required to be reserved exclusively for ICE detainees. The agency will accept sites built for low- and medium-level security capabilities, but it will grant preference to those that can handle the highest level. 

The request requires that the facilities be capable of accepting detainees within 30 days of an award.