Border Wall Bids Open in March

In line with President Donald Trump’s proposed border wall with Mexico, U.S. Customs and Border Protection will plan to start awarding contracts mid-April, 2017. The agency indicated it would begin requesting bids on or around March 6, with companies required to submit concept papers to design and build prototypes by March 10. The field will be narrowed by March 20, with finalists required to submit offers, with proposed costs, by March 24.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) estimates it will cost, on average, $6.5 million a mile for a fence to keep out people wanting to enter on foot. Vehicle barriers are estimated to cost $1.8 million a mile. Estimates for the wall have been from $12 billion-$15 billion, with an internal Homeland Security Department report estimating the cost to be at $21 billion. The actual cost will depend on factors such as height, materials and other specifications that have not yet been defined.

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