Trump takes first step to building the wall by requesting bids from contractors - and it's 'way, way, way ahead of schedule'

  • Trump Administration has requested proposals from contractors and will begin to accept them next month
  • US Customs and Border Protection said the best designs will be selected by March 20th and they will award contracts by April 
  • Republican leaders have estimated the project will cost $12-$15billion 
  • But US Department of Homeland Security internal report estimates it'll cost $21bn

By Karen Ruiz For Dailymail.com and Reuters

Published: 13:42 EST, 25 February 2017 | Updated: 12:53 EST, 26 February 2017

The Trump administration has taken its first step to building the wall on the Mexican-American border as it has requested proposals from contractors and plans to have a prototype built by mid-March.

The US Customs and Border Protection issued the preliminary requests on Friday and said it will accept proposals next month for the design of the wall. 

The agency also said the it would release requests on or about March 6 asking companies for prototype ideas. 

The Trump administration has taken its first step to building the wall on the Mexican-American border by requesting proposals from companies and will accept them next month 

The Trump administration has taken its first step to building the wall on the Mexican-American border by requesting proposals from companies and will accept them next month 

A spokesman for US Customs and Border Protection, said the solicitation published on Friday had 'everything to do' with the wall that Trump has proposed

A spokesman for US Customs and Border Protection, said the solicitation published on Friday had 'everything to do' with the wall that Trump has proposed

The best designs for the wall will be evaluated and selected by March 20. The details listed on the federal government's website for business opportunities also said vendors will be asked to provide proposals and the price of the costs for Trump's long-promised wall.

While President Trump has previously mentioned the development will cost $12billion, Republican Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell estimate the project will cost $15 billion.

The wall has been estimated to cost $6.5million per mile for a fence to keep out crossers on foot, while vehicle barriers will cost $1.8million, according to the Government Accountability Office. 

Border fences currently stand at 354 miles of pedestrian fencing and 300 miles of barriers for vehicles, Fox News reported.

President Donald Trump pictured at the Conservative Political Action Conference stage, said the wall 'is going to start soon' and is  'way ahead of schedule, way ahead of schedule'

President Donald Trump pictured at the Conservative Political Action Conference stage, said the wall 'is going to start soon' and is  'way ahead of schedule, way ahead of schedule'

Contracts are expected to be awarded by mid-April. 

'It's going to start soon. Way ahead of schedule, way ahead of schedule', Trump said during the Conservative Political Action Conference on Friday. 

A spokesman for US Customs and Border Protection, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the solicitation published on Friday had 'everything to do' with the wall that Trump has proposed.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly met with officials in Mexico this week to ask if they would host deportees

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly met with officials in Mexico this week to ask if they would host deportees

A US Department of Homeland Security internal report seen by Reuters this month indicated the border wall would be a series of fences and walls that would cost as much as $21.6 billion to build and take more than three years to complete.

The plan laid out what it would take to seal the border in three phases of construction of fences and walls covering just over 1,250 miles (2,000 km) by the end of 2020. With 654 miles (1,046 km) of the border already fortified, the new construction would extend almost the length of the entire border. 

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly met with officials in Mexico this week to ask if they would host deportees.  

Republican leaders have estimated the project will cost $12-$15bn, but US Department of Homeland Security internal report estimates it'll cost $21bn

Republican leaders have estimated the project will cost $12-$15bn, but US Department of Homeland Security internal report estimates it'll cost $21bn

Comments 1185

Share what you think

  View all

The comments below have not been moderated.

  View all

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

Add your comment

By posting your comment you agree to our house rules.