The Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is planning to start awarding contracts next month for the proposed extension of the southern border wall with Mexico. In CBP’s presolicitation notice, the agency said it intends to issue a solicitation on or about March 6 for the “design and build of several prototype wall structures.” The procurement will be conducted in a two-step process.
In the first phase, companies will submit a “concept paper” of their prototype(s) by March 10. In the second phase, the field of candidates will be narrowed by March 20, and these finalists will then submit offers with proposed costs by March 24. The CBP’s presolicitation notice gives no details on where the border wall will first be built or how many miles will it initially cover.
Currently, there is no funding appropriated for the southern border wall. It is unclear how soon or how much funding Congress will provide. If funding is not soon appropriated, it is likely the CBP will ask contractors to hold their bids until funding is received for the project. An internal Homeland Security Department report put the cost of the wall close to $21 billion.
For more information, contact Jordan Howard at Jordan.Howard@agc.org or (703) 837-5368.