(PHOTO by Tomas Castelazo)
On early Saturday morning (12:45am ET, to be exact), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) alerted its media list that is was making a new announcement:
That email led to the following release:
WASHINGTON– U.S. Customs and Border Protection released two Requests for Proposal to award multiple contracts and initial task orders for the design and construction of wall prototypes.
The RFPs are posted on the Federal Business Opportunities website. To view them, click here and here.
The Presidential Executive Order: Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Improvements, states that “the Secretary shall take steps to immediately plan, design and construct a physical wall along the southern border, using appropriate materials and technology to most effectively achieve complete operational control of the southern border.”
CBP issued two RFPs to acquire multiple conceptual wall designs with the intent to construct multiple prototypes. Prototyping is an industry-tested approaches to identify the best solution when considering a new product or methodology. Through the construction of prototypes, CBP will partner with industry to identify the best means and methods to construct border wall before making a more substantial investment in construction.
The prototypes will inform future design standard(s) which will likely continue to evolve to meet USBP’s requirements. Any and all prototypes will be designed to deter illegal entry into the United States. 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. The border barrier toolkit is based on USBP’s requirements.
CBP posted individual RFPs for the project. Here is just a sampling of its plans: “The performance period of each IDIQ contract shall be five (5) years from date of award with the sum total value of all awarded contracts having a maximum order limit of $300,000,000. The Government will make the award of each IDIQ contract and the first task order (TO) simultaneously. The first TO award will be for the design and build of the Solid Concrete Wall Prototype and Mock-ups (collectively, Prototype) in accordance with the Statement of Work. Award of the Prototype will satisfy the minimum guarantee of the IDIQ contract.”
Here are three of the RFPs released by CBP:
CBP RFP 1 for Solid Concrete Wall
CBP RFP 2 for Solid Concrete Wall
CBP RFP for Other Border Wall
