Travis County Commissioners Court
August 28, 2007
Item A4
A-4 is approve contract award for inmate telephone services, public pay telephones and other services, r.f.p. Number p 0701 pc to the highest ranked proposer, seruous technologies.
>> thank you, judge and thank you for taking this tuck. I didn't realize that we had the contractor here all day, but she said she learned a lot from sitting here.
>> I thought she was with a new newspaper.
>> [ laughter ]
>> I was just learning. I was just checking it out.
>> you'll learn to get some attention in here when you're in a rush. Thank you for your patience.
>> as the judge said, this is for our inmate phone services at our pay phone. We received two proposals. Secureius was the best proponent t allows us an income stream of 60 on .3% of all revenues resulting from inmate pay phone services with a guaranteed minimum of 1.6 million per year. That's more than what we had had. Previously we were getting 1.5 acknowledged we were able to get it up to 1.6 a year. Plus we get 27% of all gross revenue result the from the public pay phone services. And secureius will also pay us 28,005 #- hundred dollars a year to help fund salary and benefits for a 20 hour per week liaison. Secureius is a parent company of evercome, who is our present contractor. I don't know if there's new equipment or not. Probably some because of the value added services. And those include the job finder who helps inmates apply for jobs electronically and registers them with available jobs before they even get out of jail, so we're really excited about that. And then there are some e-mail and voice mail services now that can help inmates keep touch with their loved ones easier. And bz so that sort of summarizes what we're asking for. Walter and be heather can answer any questions.
>> one of the questions that was asked when we came before the commission was basically what we'll be charging our citizens is $4.65 for a 20 minute call from a loved one. The question was asked what the standard rate? I asked heather white what is the standard rate for her, and she has about 38 counties that she's responsible for. Of the 38, 34 charge $4.65. The other four are around $4.10. Bexar county I believe charges $4 for 15 minutes. We charge 4.65 for a 20 minute call. Harris county is somewhat complicated. They basically charge 3.69 for the first minute and then charge 39 cents a minute for each minute after that. So they're quite expensive. Tarrant county I believe is $4.10 for a 15 minute phone call. So overall five years ago we started charging $4.65 and we've been charging that and there's no reason why not to say that we're going to stay at $4.65. And if secureius wants to increase the rates, thoaf they have to ask the court's permission.
>> is there like a signal after 20 minutes?
>> it will tell them when their call is wrapping up that they have one minute left.
>> but they know at the beginning of the phone call that they have 20 minutes for 4.65?
>> it's been like that. Just so you'll know, the cap in the state of Texas is actually 5.65. That question was asked the last time we were here.
>> whash the types of phone services they can dial into? Can they dial into cell phones, cable phone?
>> actually, there are several services because it benefits us to provide several calls. Cell phone can receive the calls. You have to set up your cell phone because your cell phone provider will not allow me to bill it without you calling us and letting us set up that agreement. But then we also say, what if I don't want with to set my phone up like that? We provide the inmates with a prepaid calling card option so they can also -- provided I haven't put a block on them -- they can connect that way as well.
>> that's greatly appreciated. With the huge change in the market regarding cable phones, cell phones, whatnot, there are so many people that can't reach their loved one. I really appreciate it.
>> not that I want to brag on their company --
>> my face is going to turn red again.
>> one of my loved ones in california, because he's restricted from making phone calls to like cable phones.
>> there are a lot of vendors getting out of this business that they're in because I guess they can't figure out what secureius has figured out because of the cellular phones, because of the digital phones that we have. And they're just getting out of the business because it can't be be profitable for them. So I don't know what these guys have done, but they have figured out a way to allow folks to contact those who have cell phones rather than the old land line.
>> it's hugely appreciated.
>> the key is to understand the customer. And even though the inmate is incarcerated, they are a customer in that if they're not happy, sheriff's department staff are pulled on. The friends and family are paying for the bill. They have to be county and the county as a customer. And in order to tactile the right now, you have to see all three as customers.
>> that's why I move approval.
>> second.
>> discussion? All in favor? That passes by unanimous vote. Thank you very much.
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Last Modified:
Wednesday, August 29, 2007, 18:30 AM