For local jails housing federal detainees, securing an Intergovernmental Agreement with the U.S. Marshals Service is one of the most significant steps a facility can take toward sustainable, federally funded operations. Yet for many sheriffs and jail administrators, the application process remains opaque, complex, and difficult to navigate.
The reality is that securing a USMS IGA doesn’t have to be a guessing game. With the right preparation, the right documentation, and the right tools, local facilities can approach the process with confidence and position themselves for success.
What Is a USMS IGA?
An Intergovernmental Agreement is a formal arrangement between a state, county, parish, or city jail and the U.S. Marshals Service that outlines the terms for housing federal detainees. At its center is the per diem reimbursement rate, the daily payment a facility receives for each federal inmate housed.
These agreements are not federal procurement contracts, nor are they grants. They exist in perpetuity but offer local governments an opportunity to renegotiate the per diem rate and transportation services every 36 to 48 months. Either party can terminate the agreement with 30 days’ written notice.
The Five Steps to Securing an IGA
While every facility’s journey is unique, the path to a USMS IGA typically follows five key stages.
Step 1: Initial Qualification and Readiness Assessment
Before reaching out to the local District Marshals office, a facility must first ensure it meets baseline detention standards. This means compliance with state regulations governing inmate housing, medical treatment, and safety, as well as the Prison Rape Elimination Act. Reviewing the USMS’s own detention guidelines is also essential.
The advantage of preparation cannot be overstated. Facilities that understand their compliance posture before engaging federal officials present themselves as serious, capable partners from the very first conversation.
Step 2: Local Outreach and USMS Inspection
Before submitting a formal application to the USMS Prisoner Operations Division, facilities should meet with local U.S. Marshals officials to discuss federal housing needs within the district and arrange for an on-site audit. Once the local district office signals interest, the facility can proceed to the formal application stage.
This local relationship is often the foundation of a successful partnership. District Marshals who know a facility and trust its leadership become advocates in the broader approval process.
Step 3: Preparing and Submitting the IGA Application
To submit an IGA application, a facility must first register with the FBI’s Law Enforcement Enterprise Portal and request the Capture icon. Within Capture lies the official USMS IGA application.
This is frequently the most difficult part of the process for local officials unfamiliar with U.S. Office of Management and Budget regulations governing IGAs. Including non-allowable costs or incorrectly allocating expenses can result in those costs being removed entirely. While an Agreements Specialist may return an application for revision, they are not obligated to assist in correcting mistakes.
Step 4: Negotiation and Rate Justification
Once submitted, the USMS typically takes 90 to 120 days to review an IGA application. During this period, the Agreements Specialist may ask questions regarding cost allowability and allocation methods. Facilities must be prepared to justify every component of their proposed rate, from personnel and healthcare to food and utilities.
Step 5: Finalization and Execution
Once a rate is agreed upon, the final IGA is drafted and executed. New IGAs and rate adjustments are currently awarded only in February, May, August, and November. From initial local outreach to final execution, the entire process can take anywhere from 6 to 18 months, depending on facility readiness, USMS workload, and negotiation complexity.
How JailGeek Simplifies the Process
Throughout each of these steps, JailGeek’s FairRate™ software and Core+™ analysis tools provide facilities with a decisive advantage.
FairRate™ ensures IGA applications are fully compliant with federal regulations, including OMB Circular 200 and Department of Justice requirements. It performs comprehensive analysis of actual costs, capturing often-overlooked expenses like indirect services and capital improvements, and transforms complex budget data into mathematically precise, legally defensible rate proposals.
Core+™ takes the process a step further by replicating the USMS’s own presumptive rate methodology. It allows facilities to see exactly how federal specialists will evaluate their cost data before they ever submit an application, identifying potential gaps or discrepancies early. During negotiations, Core+™ provides differential analysis that pinpoints precisely where federal presumptive calculations may fall short of documented costs, giving facilities specific, data-backed adjustment opportunities to present.
The result is a 98% success rate in negotiating improved IGAs—a testament to the power of data-driven preparation.
The Bottom Line
Securing a USMS IGA is one of the most consequential steps a local jail can take. But the process doesn’t have to be a mystery. With the right preparation and the right tools, facilities can navigate the application process with confidence and secure the fair, sustainable reimbursement they deserve.
To learn more about how JailGeek can support your IGA application, visit our new USMS IGA Resource Page.