GTL Challenges Award of CDCR Contract to Securus Technologies

On April 1, 2025, Global Tel*Link (GTL), CDCR's incumbent inmate tablet vendor, filed a Petition for Writ of Mandate and Motion for Preliminary Injunction asking Sacramento Superior Court Judge Jennifer Rockwell to enjoin the enforcement of CDCR's new tablet contract with Securus Technologies.

GTL alleges that Securus is not a "responsible bidder", as required by statute, because they are financially distressed and facing bankruptcy; Securus' EVOTAB tablet is an experimental pilot project rather than a "proven technology product", as required by the RFP's Productive Use Requirement; the State engaged in favoritism by waiving certain requirements pertaining to Securus' letter of bondability; and the State's scoring of the bids was arbitrary and capricious and without substantial evidentiary support because the State failed to award many points for many requirements without explanation.

The State denies the allegations and claims that GTL's copy of the scoring documents is incomplete and that the State did,in fact, explain all of their scoring decisions. The state further alleges that, to the extent any bondability requirements were waived for Securus, they were also waived for GTL.

Securus, appearing as the Real Party in Interest, denies the allegations and claims that they are not financially distressed and that their EVOTAB tablet meets the Productive Use Requirement.

A hearing on the matter is scheduled for May 18, 2025.