San Francisco last month joined other political entities critical of firms seeking design-build work on the Trump administration’s U.S.-Mexico border wall, with a March 21 bill to ban wall-bidders from city contracts during the bid period.
Already awarded contracts are exempt, but the ban may also include subcontractors, say media reports. Nearby Berkeley and Oakland are weighing similar measures, while California and New York are pushing statewide contract bans or pension-fund divestments against bidders. “Imposing any ban not based on contractor qualifications is preferential treatment,” said AGC of California CEO Tom Holsman on March 24.