AIS Infrastructure, a subsidiary of ASRC Industrial, announced in December a $2B package of contracts for border infrastructure work along the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas, Arizona and California.
AIS said its BCSS unit, which focuses on border and security-related infrastructure, had been awarded four major design-build contracts by the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
The $606M Arizona project crosses the Tucson and Yuma sectors. Components include improving existing barrier systems, building new vertical barriers, construction of patrol and access roads, drainage work and infrastructure for integrated security.
HDR Design will lead the engineering, and the construction will be executed by a joint venture between BCSS, Caddell Construction and Gibraltar.
The engineering portion is underway. Field construction is expected to start this month and last up to 36 months.
The work involves changes in how both DHS and the industry are approaching border wall projects. DHS has started looking for bundled delivery instead of stand-alone barrier components. The industry has shifted to joint venture structures and bundled design-build delivery to manage risk, with multi-year packages concentrating responsibilities in a small group of experienced providers.
AIS also reported another $3.7B in border infrastructure projects with indefinite deliveries and quantities are under review as part of a total allocation program of approximately $39B. (Source)
