Customs and Border Protection posted two requests for proposal (RFPs) at the end of last week to award multiple contracts and initial task orders for the design and construction of wall prototypes.
The RFPs are in conjunction with President Trump’s executive order directing the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to take steps to secure the southern border, including the construction of a wall, one of President Trump’s campaign pledges.
The first RFP is for a “solid concrete border wall”; the second RFP is titled “other border wall.” Both contain information on how to prepare and submit bid proposals and have a March 22 deadline for entries.
According to a press release from CBP, the intent is to get multiple proposals and build multiple prototypes of the wall. “Through the construction of prototypes, CBP will partner with industry to identify the best means and methods to construct [a] border wall before making a more substantial investment in construction,” according to the press release.
CBP said that design standards for the wall are likely to continue to evolve to meet the agency’s requirements, and the goal of any of the prototypes is to deter illegal entry into the United States.
The agency added, “Through the prototyping process, CBP may identify new designs or influences for new designs that will expand the current border barrier toolkit that CBP will use to construct a border wall system.”
