Source: United States General Services Administration
August 18, 2022
CALEXICO, Calif. – The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announces the award of a $1.3 million construction contract for the renovation of the historic Old Customs Building located at the Calexico West Land Port of Entry (LPOE). The design-build contract was recently awarded to Hernandez Builders, a disadvantaged, minority owned small business based in Alpine, California. By awarding the project’s entire scope work at once, instead of bidding each separately, GSA is saving taxpayers approximately $600,000.
“The customs house is a local Calexico landmark,” said GSA’s Pacific Rim Region Public Buildings Service Commissioner Dan Brown. “Over the past 10 years, the building has been vacant and fallen into disrepair. “We’re excited about renovating and preserving this historic building that will support future port operations. Awarding the contract to an 8a business saves taxpayer funds and meets a contracting goal of diversifying our construction partnerships.”
Built in 1933, the Old Customs Building was transferred to a local community council for redevelopment in 2008 by GSA under its Public Benefit Authority. The Customs Building, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was damaged in 2010 during a 7.2 magnitude earthquake and was, subsequently, transferred back to GSA in 2015. Due to its current condition, the structure has remained unoccupied.
The renovation project will restore the operability of the Customs Building by:
- Replacing the existing sanitation waste system
- Replacing the existing potable water system
- Replacing the existing electrical system
- Replacing and upgrading the existing fire alarm system
- Providing a fire sprinkler system for the entire facility
Construction is scheduled to begin on December 1, 2022. When the work is complete in August 2023, the building will be used as administrative space for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection during Phase 2B construction at the Calexico West LPOE, a modernization and expansion project that is funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
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About GSA: GSA provides centralized procurement and shared services for the federal government, managing a nationwide real estate portfolio of nearly 370 million rentable square feet, overseeing approximately $75 billion in annual contracts, and delivering technology services that serve millions of people across dozens of federal agencies. GSA’s mission is to deliver the best customer experience and value in real estate, acquisition, and technology services to the government and the American people. For more information, visit GSA.gov and follow us at @USGSA.