A Texas congressman is accusing the U.S. Coast Guard of not conducting a transparent bidding process, claiming that the service's choosing of a new site was made before formal requests were ever acquired or reviewed.
On Wednesday, the USCG announced that it newest training center is opening at Birmingham-Southern College in Birmingham, Alabama, which the service said "best satisfied Coast Guard training mission requirements, offering turn-key ready facilities critical to supporting immediate commencement of training missions, while meeting all the service’s eligibility criteria with nominal investment compared to new construction."
The service issued a Request for Information (RFI) on Nov. 10, 2025, seeking potential locations for the new facility to accommodate lodging for 1,200 recruits, a medical facility to support 1,000 personnel, a land area of 150-250 acres, and 14 classrooms sized to accommodate 30-60 students, among other criteria.
But in the days preceding the announcement, one lawmaker expressed concerns about the RFI process and whether it was fairly executed by the USCG.
Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX) wrote a letter on March 2 to the USCG, accusing the service of placing an option on land in Alabama to construct a facility for up to 15,000 personnel. The lawmaker referenced “some alarming reports” that the RFI issued last November was just a “formality.” That letter was shared with Military.com.
“South Texas is home to a robust Coast Guard presence, and our military infrastructure and capabilities deserve fair and serious consideration for a new training facility,” Gonzalez told Military.com. "If reports are accurate, it is not just disappointing for the missed opportunity to further cement South Texas’s role in supporting our military."
But it also raises serious concerns about the Coast Guard’s selection process. More than anything, we need proper oversight to ensure a fair and merit-based system.
On Nov. 10, 2025, of last year, the service announced intentions to expand and find a new location due to outpacing the capacity of its existing training and workforce support facility. They said RFI responses would be accepted until Dec. 8, 2025.
Training Center Cape May, in New jersey, is the fifth-largest base in the Coast Guard and the sole accession point for the entire enlisted workforce.
“We must invest in our most valuable treasure—our people—to meet the increasingly complex maritime security challenges facing the Nation,” Adm. Kevin E. Lunday, commandant of the Coast Guard, said in a statement. “The acquisition of the historic Birmingham-Southern College as our new training center is a critical step in our Force Design 2028 strategy, providing the right facilities necessary to grow our service and ensure the Coast Guard stands always ready.”
But prior to the announcement, Gonzalez said that RFI process was full of bluster and fiction.
“To date, it is my understanding that no formal Request for Proposals has been issued,” reads the letter that was shared with Military.com. “The Coast Guard must follow a clear, established process to ensure fairness and accountability. If a preferred location has already been identified that determination should be communicated immediately.”
Military.com asked the USCG before their official announcement about Gonzalez’s claims and the progress of the RFI, as well as whether a location including Alabama or otherwise has been selected as claimed.
“The Coast Guard, in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security, issued a Request for Information (RFI) via SAM.gov on Nov. 10, 2025, to support market research identifying potential locations for an additional Coast Guard training center,” a USCG spokesperson told Military.com. “The Coast Guard is reviewing responses to the RFI to inform the Service’s strategy to address its training facility needs.
“In accordance with Coast Guard policy, the service cannot comment on specific submissions received. The Coast Guard does not have a timeline for the release of a solicitation or an offer to purchase.”
Training missions at Birmingham-Southern are expected to begin later in 2026.
Lawmaker's Quest for 'Transparency'
The decision to write the letter was due to new information Gonzalez and his staff received.
That is according to Alexis Torres, communications director for the congressman, who told Military.com that the information in question was relayed to Rep. Gonzalez and their office after a congressional briefing was held with the U.S. Coast Guard.
It is our understanding that an option was made on land in Alabama, which is why [the] letter requests further transparency on the decision as well as a status update and exact timeline of the site selection process. - Alexis Torres
Asked how the congressman is aware no RFIs were received, Torres said they are generally made public for transparency reasons. In this case, none have been unveiled after nearly three months.
“If accurate that a preferred location was already identified, it is critical the Coast Guard immediately communicate this with interested localities in South Texas and across the country,” she added.
Texas Shut Out
Gonzalez expressed concerns about the RFI process due in part because he, his district, and his state would benefit from having such a training facility in their backyard.
In his letter, the congressman said that regions like South Texas are prepared to complete “a full, fair and merit-based process.”
He touted how the Corpus Christi area was recently designated a “Coast Guard City” and home to U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Corpus Christi, United States Coast Guard Station South Padre Island, and United States Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Brownsville—all which he said have supported Coast Guard operations and border security for decades.
“Anchored by a strong military presence, including Naval Air Station Corpus Christi and Naval Air Station Kingsville, and backed by respected academic institutions, a skilled workforce, and a military-friendly community, our region understands how to deliver mission readiness while supporting service members and their families,” he wrote.
Deadline For Transparency
Gonzalez’s letter concluded with a list of questions he wanted the USCG to answer by a March 13, 2026, deadline.
They were as follows:
What is the status of the Coast Guard’s current competition to select a location for a new training center? Provide a detailed timeline of the site selection process.
Has the Coast Guard placed an option on land in Alabama that they intend to use for a new training center? If not, has the Coast Guard placed an option on land elsewhere? If so, where?
When will the Coast Guard publish their Request for Proposals?
What is the Coast Guard’s standard process for awarding contracts or selecting sites for major shore infrastructure projects of this scale? Please cite the statutory, regulatory, and/or internal policy authorities that govern this process. Has this process been followed in full for the proposed training center?
What were the evaluation criteria used in the initial Request for Information (RFI)? Were these criteria weighted and will those same criteria be used in the forthcoming Request for Proposals (RFP)?
How many communities submitted complete responses to the RFI, and which states were represented?
Has the Coast Guard conducted site visits, feasibility studies, or preliminary environmental reviews for any specific location?
Was the decision to place an option on land in Alabama (or elsewhere) made before, during, or after the RFI period? Who authorized the decision? What justification supports taking that action prior to issuing an RFP?
Will the Coast Guard commit to conducting a full and open competition consistent with federal acquisition regulations before making a final site selection?
“South Texas offers the infrastructure, strategic location, and community commitment necessary to succeed—and deserves serious consideration in a transparent and competitive process,” Gonzalez said.
During their Nov. 10, 2025, announcement, the USCG and Department of Homeland Security in tandem announced the following minimum requirements a training center must have:
- Lodging for 1,200 recruits.
- A dining facility capable of seating 400 personnel.
- A medical facility to support 1,000 personnel (a minimum of 200 medical encounters and 200 dental encounters per day).
- 14 classrooms sized to accommodate 30-60 students.
- An auditorium with a capacity of 500-plus students.
- A pool with six lanes, 25 yards in length, and a minimum depth of 4 feet.
- A multipurpose gymnasium/athletic/sports facility suitable for sitting 1,200 personnel.
- Office space for 400 staff members.
- A land area of 150-250 acres.
- Proximity to a small commercial service or larger airport within 30 miles.
Gonzalez won his Democratic primary on Tuesday in his U.S. House District 34 race, advancing to November. He will square off against Donald Trump-endorsed Republican Eric Flores, a former federal prosecutor likely to receive big donor dollars in a district overhauled by new congressional maps.
