Wall prototype RFPs attract over 400 vendors
“Unlikely” to cover full border
Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly said last week that President Trump’s border wall construction is “unlikely” to cover the full border with Mexico.
Even so, the project is popular with contractors. The solicitations for construction of Wall prototypes attracted more than 400 vendors.
US Customs and Border Protection asked for a concrete version and also for a wall with a “see-through” component.
Both prototypes are for a wall that is ideally 30 feet high and sunk at least six feet into the ground. It must be able to withstand at least an hour of attempts to cut through it by sledgehammer, pickaxe, blowtorch or other handheld tools. Bids were due on April 10.
The solicitations ask vendors to specify how their subcontracting goals compare to CBP’s subcontracting goals, which are 38% for small businesses, 5% for small disadvantaged, 5% for women-owned, 3% for HUBZone and 3% for disabled veterans.
Trump has asked for $1.4 billion for initial development. Total costs for the wall are not yet known; some estimates have put it at $25 billion to $38 billion.
More Information:
CBP announcement: http://goo.gl/t5Hm3k