Twenty-two San Diego County companies are interested in vying for the chance to build some part of the proposed border wall.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said it plans to start awarding contracts by mid-April for a wall, one of President Donald Trump’s campaign promises.

Ahead of funds even being authorized, the federal agency began asking for bids on the project this week and more than 600 companies from across the country had indicated their interest as of Friday afternoon.

Most companies conclude they will only be responsible for a small portion of the massive construction along the 2,000-mile border.


Ricardo Diaz, of Halbert Construction in El Cajon, said his 40-year-old company with 38 employees is much like many across the United States with differing opinions on the policies of the Trump administration and the wall. That won’t stop them from bidding on the project.

“Somebody’s got to build it,” said Diaz, a corporate safety officer with Halbert. “At the end of the day, we’re all trying to feed our families. Political affiliations aside, work is work.”

Halbert mostly works as a general contractor on federal projects, including the pedestrian bridge at San Ysidro and repairs to the border fence.

The companies have a very quick turnaround with proposals. Formal solicitations must be posted online by Monday and concept papers at the end of the week. Cost estimates will likely need to be in by the end of the month.


The quick response may be a bit too fast for J.T. Wimsatt Contracting Co. said its business development manager, Christina Pack. The concrete company has signed up as an interested business but is not sure yet if it will apply despite a desire to do the work .

“We’ve just been made aware of the project,” Pack said. “It’s a very quick turnaround. It’s going to be hard to get all the work done in time.”

The 25-year-old company has roughly 400 employees and has worked on several projects in downtown San Diego, including the Vantage Pointe Apartments.

R.E. Staite Engineering in Barrio Logan, in operation for 78 years, is one of the more enthusiastic companies bidding on the project.


It has done big projects in the past, including cleanup of the ocean after the Exxon Valdez oil spill. It has about 50 employees, but can expand if needed, said Ralph Hicks, vice president of governmental affairs.

“Depending on the job, we can either gear up or gear down,” he said.

Hicks said his company isn’t worried about political blow back for working on the wall.

“Those are policy decisions made 3,000 miles away from us and we are focused on the work,” he said.


Staite’s plans involve advanced electronics for tunnel detection, cement with low greenhouse gas emissions and a wall that is aesthetically pleasing with natural surroundings.

The other companies from San Diego County that signed up on a government website to make a possible bid were AC Lopez Construction (San Diego), Single Eagle (Poway), Greenfield Fence (Oceanside), Transtar Pipeline (San Diego), Byrom-Davey (San Diego), Coffman Specialties (San Diego), Construction Testing & Engineering (Escondido), I.E. Pacific (Escondido), James Fletcher Construction (Chula Vista), Hadrian Construction (Carlsbad), Tridpanel (Carlsbad), Herman Construction Group (Escondido), Vscenario (San Diego), 3rdWall Consulting (San Diego), SCST (San Diego), LB Civil Construction (Escondido), Ponciano Construction (Santee), Ebert Composites (Chula Vista) and RQ Construction (Carslbad).


At the end of the day, we’re all trying to feed our families. Ricardo Diaz, of Halbert Construction in El Cajon


Business

phillip.molnar@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1891 Twitter: @phillipmolnar

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