ESSEX COUNTY — It looks like the same politically connected group is the only bidder in a lucrative deal to house immigrant detainees in Essex County — again.

Education and Health Centers of America was the only bidder to submit a proposal by the 11 a.m. deadline today, county spokesman Anthony Puglisi confirmed.

This is Essex County's second search for a private facility to house some of the 1,250 detainees from Immigration and Customs Enforcement as detainees await hearings or deportation.

In August, county officials suddenly threw out the sole bid submitted by EHCA after critics claimed the contract was tailor-made for Delaney Hall, a Newark facility on Doremus Avenue run by the for-profit Community Education Centers, which contracts with EHCA.

Both EHCA and CEC are run by John Clancy, a former county youth services official who has made campaign contributions to state and county politicians.

The federal government pays Essex County $108 per detainee per day to house immigrant detainees. Essex officials have touted the deal — expected to rake in $250 million over the five-year contract — as a windfall in tight economic times. A sizable chunk of that will go to the selected vendor.

Officials from both the county and EHCA were not immediately available to comment.

The board of freeholders must vote to approve awarding the contract, according to Puglisi.