By Maribel Velazquez
The Service of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) It is advancing a new contracting model that would allow it to design, build, renovate and even demolish facilities across the country more quickly and with less traditional oversight. The initiative, revealed through a request for information published on the federal SAM.gov portal, poses a significant change in the way the agency manages its infrastructure.
According to official documents, ICE seeks to establish a national contract network highly flexible construction under the scheme known as SACC (Single Award Constructing Contracts). This model would allow contracts to be awarded to a small group of previously selected companies, avoiding open bidding processes for each project.
The objective is clear: accelerate the execution of works in detention centersoffices and other key facilities. Services covered include architectural design, environmental planning, maintenance, renovations, engineering analysis and demolition of existing structures.
Although this type of contract is not new at the federal level, the scope proposed by ICE has caught the attention of public policy experts. According to the described approach, Selected companies could manage multiple work orders simultaneously for a period of up to five years, which would reduce times, but would also limit competition.
The plan falls under the NAICS 236220 classification, used for large institutional construction projects, suggesting that the agency envisions large-scale work, not just minor maintenance. Furthermore, the call mentions that these contracts could be used in “emergency responses to natural disasters”, a function that traditionally falls to FEMA, which has raised questions about the program’s current scope.
Currently, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has used mechanisms such as WEXMAC TITUS—a Pentagon logistics program—to adapt facilities in the United States. However, The new scheme would allow ICE to operate more autonomously, without depending on military structures or the same level of scrutiny.
Another relevant point is the profile of the companies that could participate. ICE requires contractors to have sufficient financial backing to cover projects of up to $300 million, which, in practice, leaves out small and medium-sized companies and concentrates opportunities in large corporations in the construction sector.
Until now, The agency is in the market study phase. Interested companies have time to respond before a formal request for proposals is published, which could occur in the coming months.
Although ICE has not issued additional comments.the project already opens a debate on transparency, supervision and the future of immigration infrastructure.
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