Federal probation office seeks polygraph vendor for Anchorage cases

The U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Office for the District of Alaska is seeking a polygraph examiner to test federal defendants and offenders under court-ordered supervision in Anchorage, Eagle River, Girdwood and Glen Alps. Proposals are due electronically by 3 pm Nov. 5.

The office plans to award a blanket purchase agreement, a standing contract that lets it order exams as needed without committing to a set volume, to the lowest-priced qualifying vendor. Contracts form only when the office refers a case. It estimates roughly three exams of each type each month but guarantees no minimum.

Clinical exams probe an offender's lifetime sexual history or unreported conduct tied to the current offense. Maintenance exams check whether someone is complying honestly with supervision or treatment requirements.

Examiners must hold accredited polygraph schooling from the American Polygraph Association, have two years of criminal polygraph experience and complete 40 hours of sex-offender testing training. Federal judiciary guidance bars revoking a person's supervision based solely on a polygraph result, and vendors face limits on questioning defendants who have not yet been convicted.

Exams would run one day a month through Sept. 30, 2027, with an option to extend the contract up to four more years.