When Donald Trump told an audience at the Conservative Political Action Conference Friday that construction on a border wall was moving quickly, he wasn’t kidding. Just minutes after Trump left the stage in National Harbor, Maryland, the Department of Homeland Security posted a call for bids to “build the wall.”
According to documents obtained by TMZ, DHS is now accepting applications and proposals from anyone who is interested in leading the project.
The first round of submissions should be for “several prototypes of wall structures” in the “vicinity of the United States border with Mexico.” These prototypes will, likely, go on to provide real-life feedback of how a border wall would work, or whether it would function at all—as well as provide a blueprint for the final border wall Trump promised during his campaign.
If you’re interested in taking part, you should design and submit your drawing (complete with information on cost, materials and labor) to DHS by March 10. If your proposal is selected, you’ll move on to a second round of bidding, and will have to submit a “full RFP” for the work by March 24.
That’s exactly one month from the date of request for submissions. DHS plans to pay out around $21 billion for the project (though its not clear yet where that money will come from).
The request for submissions is not unexpected. Newly minted Department of Homeland Security chief John Kelly released a memo and fact sheet on Monday, detailing major changes in immigration and customs enforcement, including the possibility of a border wall.
DHS says it will focus initial construction efforts on several areas where a border fence exists, but “where the fence or old brittle landing-mat fencing are no longer effective.” Target cities include El Paso, Texas; Tucson, Ariz.; and El Centro, Calif.
Bidders will likely have to create their “wall prototypes” in those cities. They’ll also have to use American steel and raw materials, according to the memo, and first phase of construction will begin in September.