It Begins – Trump Administration DHS Posts “Bid Contract” For Southern Border Security Wall….

General Services Administration via The Conservative Treehoue ^ | February 24, 2017 | General Services Administration via Sundance

[COUNTrecount]

The bidding process for a Southern Border Security Wall is officially announced. Bid duration ends March 20th 2017 for initial prototype, with pricing due March 24th – and anticipated award contracts Mid-April, 2017:

[DoughtyOne]

“:^)

[Oil Object Insp]

So the same back of napkin, says that if you pull forms each day, it’s 2 1/2 years. Run the project day and night. Pour during the day and strip forms 10-12 hours later, for precast non stressed sections it’s do- able, the possiblity of using slip forms,. Pour the sections SOG with slip forms horizontal and then transport them three days later, would require a prep’d Laydown yard, but you could use conex type yard cranes to move and load the panels. Saves having to set up and tear down forms and doing a monolithic unit like wall panels isn’t anything other than juggling schedule and other logistics. A condensed schedule, but completely doable.

[BestPresidentEver]

When the Israelis decided to build a wall across the entire border with Lebanon they set up a semi-private corporation to handle it. I have a feeling that’s the way to go. And we should probably just copy the Israeli design.

[Keyhopper]

We don’t need any protection. I will gladly give them a lesson in gravity using a brick

[Keyhopper]

We don’t need any protection. I will gladly give them a lesson in gravity using a brick

[Red Badger]

Sounds good to me!...................

[KC Burke]

Okay, this wall stuff is shaking out kind of like I predicted based upon time line issues I outlined for you about a month ago on this thread.

First of all, the RFPs (Requests for Proposals) had to be split into two series — one for the Concrete Wall sections of design and one for wall sections designed and built with other means, like exotic fencing methods due to location.

It became obvious to the Contracting Officer team that these had to be in two separate groups of award and would thus need two separate RPFs so they had to cancel the original RFP number and issue two separate RFPs to not get out of Award parameters and get a protest.

Some of the new RFPs are in the following links and from those links you can download details of the RFPs (139 pages) if you wish. Going to page 39 of one of those I see that they have spread out the Step One and Step Two time lines as I predicted would be necessary. They also state that they have a tremendous interest and lots of questions from first tier and subcontractor/vendor interested parties.

Right now I don’t have much time to research this as I have some other commitments for the next few days. Happy hunting for those that want to dig into it.

I will warn you, reading these documents are like reading Greek for the first time and only having every other page. Those of us that used to use these all the time take hours and hours to sort the detail and understand the complex legal requirements.

SEE:
https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=8d3da7a86af51e252d019f2e13b08378&tab=core&_cview=0

https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=f61a85538f383ec3ed9cac3c9e21d6f1&tab=core&_cview=1

https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=c0cce0b2ef8d297b22dc251ea14c60d1&tab=core&_cview=0

https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=cff7de3dac2790e71966a823b73ec024&tab=core&_cview=1

Like all government contracts, it will be a hard birth, but I thing its time to be in the labor room.

[KC Burke]

The RFPs have been issued, they’ve recieved comments and feed back, its been restructured and are re-issued.

See my post #147 for new information.

[KC Burke]

see above for update

[anathemized]

Thank you for the update. We are making progress on our 7 miles, no word on the 1.8 mile extension.

I have “speed” gone over some 500 page stuff to look for items that would be a problem for me. Once I actually found an item that was “boilerplated” in to an Arizona RFP that contradicted one of our statutes.

Thank you for your links.

[KC Burke]

You are welcome.

It is a real trick for small companies to find the right niche for this type of work but once they do, and find the right large primes that pay properly, it can be a real solid book of business.

[KC Burke]

I guess I forgot to add, there are liquidated damages on these contracts which are very high. Smaller firms sometimes bite off more than they can chew and when tied into the contracts get stuck with huge delay costs if over committed. Please be careful.

[anathemized]

Thanks again. I will approach though my prime.

But I read the first link with major out of the box wording, and might pursue as a consultant.

[gleeaikin]

I appreciate your detailed comments. I am currently engaged in a project to find more creative ways to develop municipally owned parkland that developers want to convert to suburban megasprawl in violation of a number of laws and covenants. Probably lots of palms greased on that. This gives me a better idea of what can be involved in such a potentially large project.

[eartick]

Thank you very much for the update. Interested in the "Other Border Wall Prototype". Just believe there is something out there that would enhance the single concrete wall and possibly be less expensive even something being led by the Government.

Striking that the Government is allowing a half a million just for the prototype. I think I need to head to Hobby Lobby and buy me up some ice cream bar sticks and start me some construction.

Went thru the "Buy American" clauses. Ehh, do not be fooled by that one when the Politicians, say "We are building it with American products". There is so much wiggle room for the contractor to buy foreign made goods, COTS or items that are in the FTAs or other agreements. Such a joke the way they lie to us.

BUILD IT!!!!!! Turn back the tide of these illegal grass crawling invaders that I have been going down to the southern border on my own dime for 12 years and rounding up. Spending nights upon nights in the South Texas sugar sand, with the rattlers, mesquite thorns, lions and drug smugglers. Wore out 2 four wheelers and lost tons of other equipment in the sand and brush chasing these stealing, trespassing, stinking wetbacks. Shut 'em down. O, and we do not want to leave out the many different African Nations, Chinese, Cubans, Guatemalans, Brazilians, Somalians, Iranians, Herzegovina(ians)(yeah, can you believe that!!!), many other South American nations......

[KC Burke]

The complexity of the various levels of the Buy American Act(s) can make for a 500 post thread all by themselves.

We all understand what is trying to be accomplished there but there are such mundane items like cast metal in-wall downspout scuppers, drywall screws, and the like that are just not made in the US at all and haven’t been for many years. The complexity of the wording surrounding terms like “commercially available” can lead to all sorts of compliance issues.

[Windflier]

KC, that post deserves its own thread. A lot more people will see this important info if you do that. Thanks.

[KC Burke]

That’s why I “pinged” 30 previous posters — to give them a chance to comment. I spent quite a bit of time four weeks back on comments to give some understanding to the documents.

Now, we have a whole set of new documents which I will try to wade through in the next week but not having a lot of time for the next four days.

[central_va]

The wall is a force multiplier and a good at that. They may get over it and into the white van for processing.

[KC Burke]

Basic Stuff from inside the documents:

Threshold Requirements
3

SOLID CONCRETE BORDER WALL DESIGN/BUILD IDIQ CONTRACT

1) The wall design shall be reinforced solid concrete.

2) The wall design shall be physically imposing in height. The Government’s nominal concept is for a 30-foot high wall. Offerors should consider this height, but designs with heights of at least 18 feet may be acceptable. Designs with heights of less than 18 feet are not acceptable.

3) It shall not be possible for a human to climb to the top of the wall or access the top of the wall from either side unassisted (e.g. via the use of a ladder, etc.)

4) The wall design shall include anti-climb topping features that prevent scaling using common and more sophisticated climbing aids (e.g. grappling hooks, handholds, etc.)

5) The wall shall prevent digging or tunneling below it for a minimum of 6 feet below the lowest adjacent grade.

6) The wall shall prevent/deter for a minimum of one (1) hour the creation a physical breach of the wall (e.g., punching through the wall) no larger than 12-inches in diameter or square using sledgehammer, car jack, pick axe, chisel, battery operated impact tools, battery operated cutting tools, Oxy/acetylene torch or other similar hand-held tools.

7) The north side of wall (i.e. U.S. facing side) shall be aesthetically pleasing in color, anti-climb texture, etc., to be consistent with general surrounding environment. The manufacturing/construction process should facilitate changes in color and texture pursuant to site specific requirements.

8) The wall design shall be able to accommodate surface drainage.

9) The wall design shall be able to accommodate Border Patrol approved design standards for pedestrian and automated mechanized vehicle sliding gates (25 feet and 50 feet).

10) The wall design shall be constructible to slopes up to 45 percent.

11) The wall fittings and fixtures shall be secured on the north side of the wall to shield from external attack.

12) The wall design should be cost effective to construct, maintain and repair.

Objective Requirements

1) It is operationally advantageous that the design of first 12 feet of wall height (as measured from the highest adjacent grade) be adaptable to prevent/deter for a period of time greater than one (1) hour up to 4+ hours the creation of a physical breach of the wall (e.g., punching through the wall) no larger than 12-inches in diameter or square using sledgehammer, car jack, pick axe, chisel, battery operated impact tools, battery operated cutting tools, Oxy/acetylene torch or other similar hand- held tools.

C.3.4.2 Mock-Up Construction

The Contractor shall design and construct a 10 ft. by 10 ft. mock-up of an exemplar section of its prototype at a location in San Diego, CA as determined by the Government. The mock-up shall replicate the structural design of the prototype’s first 10 ft. of above ground wall height (measured from the adjacent ground) and length to allow the Government to test and evaluate the anti-destruct characteristics of the bidder’s wall design. The mock-up shall meet all technical requirements except the anti-dig, anti-climb, and aesthetics. The anti-dig and anti-climb characteristics will not be tested with the mock-up. The modified above ground foundation shall not affect the criteria outlined in specifications below.

The mock-up shall include the following requirements from section C.3.1 of this Statement of Work:

1) The Contractor shall build the mock-up to reflect the maximum performance contained within the prototype design (i.e., between 1 hour and 4+ hours).

2) The wall fittings and fixtures shall be secured on the north side of the wall to shield from external attack.

4
SOLID CONCRETE BORDER WALL DESIGN/BUILD IDIQ CONTRACT

3) If the prototype wall design includes see-through component/capability
then it shall be installed in the mock-up to test its anti-destruct capabilities
The mock-up shall be constructed within two (2) weeks after notice to proceed (NTP) and shall be constructed concurrent to prototype construction. Within seven (7) calendar days of notification of completion of mock-up evaluation, the Contractor shall remove the structure and dispose of it properly. Disposal includes site clean-up after testing has concluded.