A Pennsylvania-based prison health care company is suing the state claiming Tennessee officials refused to award it a contract without explanation, a move that risks “destroying” the state’s competitive bidding process.
Wexford Health Sources filed the lawsuit in Davidson County Chancery Court in May, saying the state declined to give it a contract valued at roughly $100 million for health care and behavioral health services in Tennessee prisons even though it scored higher than two other companies in the bidding process.
The lawsuit targets the Department of Correction, Commissioner Frank Strada, the state’s Central Procurement Office and its director, Mike Perry.
Wexford said in the filing the state was prepared to award it the contract for inmate health care and behavioral services until Centurion, which holds the contract, challenged the decision in February. The state then notified Wexford it would send out new requests for proposals without offering a reason, as required by law, the filing says.