Sam Houston Trail Hardening MUT, Lake Loop Section

The USDA Forest Service, Region 3, is issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP Number 127EAV26R0009) for trail hardening and associated drainage and structure improvements on the Lake Loop Section of the Multi-Use Trail at Sam Houston National Forest in Texas. This firm-fixed-price Design-Build construction contract will be procured under FAR Part 36 using competitive negotiation procedures, requiring the successful contractor to provide all labor, materials, equipment, supplies, supervision, and construction necessary to complete the project according to the Statement of Work. Key contract requirements include surface blading and shaping for drainage, aggregate base and rock placement, installation and maintenance of drainage structures including culverts and dips, trail mowing and clearing, seeding and fertilization, and maintenance and repair of trail structures including concrete planked crossings and FRP bridge decking. The Government will make award on a Best Value Tradeoff basis, evaluating proposals based on Technical Approach, Technical Qualifications, Past Performance, and Price. The RFP is expected to be posted to SAM.gov in the third or fourth week of February 2026, with a pre-solicitation question deadline of February 23, 2026.

This procurement is set aside 100 percent for Small Business concerns under NAICS code 237990 (Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction), and all interested firms must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) to be eligible for award. No incumbent contractor or current award value has been identified in the pre-solicitation notice. Davis-Bacon wage rates will apply to this project, and performance and payment bonds may be required at contract award. All work must comply with the Statement of Work, applicable Forest Service specifications, and FP-14 requirements, with the contractor responsible for verifying material quantities and site conditions prior to proposal submission. Solicitation documents will be available exclusively on SAM.gov, and offerors are responsible for monitoring the site daily for updates and amendments. The point of contact for inquiries is David Watson at David.l.watson@usda.gov or (602) 225-5350.