Kyle Bernal
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Southwest Valley Constructors, a subsidiary of Kiewit Corporation since 2017, is one of the largest engineering and construction companies in the United States. The Trump administration awarded approximately $2.7 billion in contracts to the company between 2019 and 2021 for its contributions to building the physical barrier along the America-Mexico border wall in California, Texas, and Arizona.
Southwest Valley Constructors won most of the border wall contracts because of its affiliation with Kiewit, which has a proven track record of working with the U.S. government. It was formed several months after the inauguration of President Trump in 2017, who promised to build a border wall. Know the top Southwest Valley Constructors contract awards here!
Table of Contents
1. U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Task Order to Construct 38 Miles of Border Fence in Tucson, $789 Million
Photo by Rebekah Zemansky from Shutterstock.com
- Year: 2020
- Contracting activity: U.S. Customs and Border Protection
In February 2020, it was announced that the U.S. Customs and Border Protection awarded Southwest Valley Constructors an estimated $789 million contract award. Under the contract, the construction company was to construct 38 miles of border fence in the location.
The Trump border wall is an expansive barrier stretching from the Pacific Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico, which touches the border states of Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas. It was a part of Trump’s presidential campaign in 2016. Such barriers prevent illegal immigration to the U.S. from Mexico, potential terrorists, and smuggling.
2. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Tucson 1, 2, and 3 Projects, $646 Million
Photo by Rebekah Zemansky from Shutterstock.com
- Year: 2019
- Contracting activity: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- Contract type: Firm-fixed-price, sole-source
- Contract duration: 8 months
In May 2019, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) awarded Southwest Valley Constructors a $646 million ceiling contract to provide design-build services on the Tucson sector barrier wall replacement project in Arizona. The work had an estimated completion date of January 2020.
USACE stated that Southwest Valley Constructors was the most highly qualified contractor for the Phase II negotiations for Tucson 1 through 3 projects, based on the Source Selection Evaluation Board (SSEB) ratings.
3. USACE’s Contract Modification for Continued Design-Build Services for the Border Wall, $524 Million
Photo by Rebekah Zemansky from Shutterstock.com
- Year: 2020
- Contracting activity: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- Contract type: Modification contract
- Duration: 1 year
In March 2020, Southwest Valley Constructors received a $524 million contract modification from the USACE. The Albuquerque-based construction firm continued providing design-build services for Tucson, Arizona’s barrier wall replacement project. This agreement modified the previously awarded $646 million contract in May 2019 to restore the Tucson sector’s fencing structure spanning 422 kilometers of border area covering Yumo county and New Mexico state lines. The Defense Department reported that the estimated completion date was September 2020.
4. Southwest Valley Constructor’s Construction of 13 New Miles for the Border Wall, $201 Million
Photo by Rebekah Zemansky from Shutterstock.com
In September 2020, Southwest Valley Constructors secured a construction contract worth an estimated $201 million to build 13 new miles of the Laredo wall system in Texas. With the pending availability of real estate and landowners’ efforts to fight for their land, the wall construction was set to start in September 2021.
5. U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s 15 Miles of New Border Wall System Contract, $180 Million
Photo by Rebekah Zemansky from Shutterstock.com
In March 2020, Southwest Valley Constructors secured an estimated $180 million ceiling contract award to build a 30-ft. tall steel bollard wall along the Rio Grande Valley. This includes the construction of a 15-mile barrier in Starr County to separate the state of Texas Rio Grande Valley from Mexico. The construction firm was selected because it’s a subsidiary of Kiewit with a track record of experience working with government agencies such as the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Under the contract, Southwest Valley Constructors built four non-contiguous border wall segments to link to other segments within Escobares, Rio Grande City, La Grulla, Salineño, and Roma. This includes equipping technology on the wall with lighting and cameras.
6. Texas Facilities Commission’s Award to Build 6.7 Miles of Border Wall in Del Rio, $167 Million
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In September 2022, the Texas Facilities Commission (TFC) approved the $167 million contract for Southwest Valley Constructors to build a 6.7-mile border wall near Del Rio. For this Del Rio project. The TFC also considered negotiating land-use agreements with private owners and acquiring 2.5 miles of the land.
7. U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s 11-Mile Stretch in Hidalgo County, Texas, $81 Million
Photo by Ronald Fontenot from Shutterstock.com
- Year: 2019
- Contracting activity: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- Contract duration: 2 years
In August 2019, Southwest Valley Constructors was awarded an estimated $81 million contract by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Southwest Valley Constructor built approximately 11 miles of a new levee wall system in three non-contiguous segments within U.S. Border Patrol’s Rio Grande Valley Sector in Hidalgo County.
The horizontal construction is in support of the Homeland Security Department. The work was performed in McAllen, Texas, with an expected completion date of April 2021.
About Southwest Valley Constructors
Southwest Valley Constructors has been responsible for the federal government’s large-scale construction. As one of the major contractors for the border wall construction, the company has earned a vast and solid track record of experience to continue securing the most lucrative government contracts. Aside from government projects, the company’s business lines are building industrial buildings and warehouses.
