President Trump's administration has made its first tangible step to build the U.S.-Mexico border wall on Friday. Building the wall is one of Trump's chief campaign promises since he took over the presidency.
Bloomberg reported that a preliminary request for proposals were submitted to contractors to start building the U.S.-Mexico border wall. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection even revealed plans to start awarding contracts by the mid of April.
The agency revealed that it will request bids on or around March 6 and that companies would have to submit "concept papers" to design and build prototypes by March 10. The field of candidates will be narrowed by March 20, and finalists must submit offers with their proposed costs by March 24.
Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly has sought employees' opinions concerning the structure of the U.S.-Mexico border wall during border tours of Arizona, California, and Texas. The agency dropped no specific details on where the wall would be built initially, and how many miles would be covered at that initial phase of construction.
The Congress has yet to provide budget and details on funding. The Government Accountability Office, however, has estimated the U.S.-Mexico border wall at about $6.5 million a mile for a fence to that would prohibit people who try to enter the U.S. on foot, and $1.8 million a mile to build barriers for vehicles.
Republican leaders in Congress have said the wall would cost between $12 billion and $15 billion. Trump has suggested $12 billion.
Additionally, an internal report from the Homeland Security Department has estimated the U.S.-Mexico border wall at about $21 billion. As for bidders, Granite Construction Inc., Vulcan Materials Co. and Martin Marrieta Materials Inc. among others are seen potential for the construction, according to Fox News.
Despite the ranging estimated price, the price tag of the U.S.-Mexico border wall will largely be determined by the height, materials and other specifications that are yet to be identified. Despite the technical uncertainties, Trump has promised that the construction will start real soon and that, it is way ahead of schedule.
