CP2600617-Carlsbad State Veterans Cemetery

The State of New Mexico General Services Department Facilities Management Division is requesting proposals for construction and site work on a new State Veterans Cemetery in Carlsbad, Doña Ana County, with proposals due September 11, 2026, at 3:00 PM MDT and a mandatory pre-proposal conference held August 24, 2026. Federal funding through the Veterans Cemetery Grant Program and Davis-Bacon prevailing-wage requirements apply; no New Mexico or Native American resident preferences are available due to federal funding inclusion.

The scope encompasses a new approximately 2,810 gross square foot administration and maintenance building, a committal shelter with ceiling fan and storage, precast columbarium units with cut limestone caps, site development on a 15-acre tract (less than 4.9 acres of disturbance), paved asphalt roads, concrete curbs, subsurface stormwater drainage cells, two setback frontage gates, ornamental metal fencing transitioning to chain-link boundaries, pre-placed in-ground crypts and cremains burial areas, drought-tolerant xeriscaping with targeted irrigation, and all mechanical, plumbing, fire suppression, electrical systems including Dark Sky-compliant site lighting. Alternate #1 adds interior improvements to the administration and maintenance building: public information center, director's office, honor guard areas, restrooms, and equipment service bays. The base bid includes 250 columbarium niches; Alternate #1 adds 250 additional niches. Crypts and columbarium niche covers are provided by the owner; the contractor furnishes mounting hardware and installation labor. Divisions 21 (fire suppression), 27 (communications), and 28 (electronic safety and security) are owner-provided. The contractor must comply with Build America, Buy America domestic-preference standards and SAM.gov registration.

Prospective general contractors must demonstrate experience with two or more completed public or private projects exceeding $6 million within the last ten years, and projects exceeding $15 million within the last ten years. Project Managers and Project Superintendents must each have experience on projects valued at $10 million or more. Key personnel qualifications include a Project Manager with at least ten years' construction experience, a Project Superintendent with equivalent experience, and a Safety Program Manager with five years' safety management experience and OSHA 30 certification. Subcontractors whose contract value equals or exceeds $50,000 or five percent of total project cost (whichever is greater—five percent totals $560,000) must submit a Statement of Qualifications. Subcontractors must be qualified in mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and concrete disciplines.

Bid security equal to at least five percent of bid amount is required. The estimated project completion period is 18 months (540 calendar days) with liquidated damages of $500 per day for delays. Proposal pricing must remain firm for 120 days after the proposal due date or 90 days after receipt of a Best and Final Offer, if applicable. Pricing excludes New Mexico Gross Receipts Tax. The Owner is responsible for utility hookups, testing and inspection services (earthwork, aggregate, concrete, reinforcing steel, masonry, structural steel, roofing, waterproofing), and third-party testing agency selection. The contractor is responsible for underground utility testing, electrical and mechanical systems testing, and commissioning. Questions were due September 1, 2026; responses posted September 8, 2026. Evaluation occurs September 14–17, 2026, with finalist selection September 18, 2026. Best and final offers are due October 5, 2026, and contract award is anticipated November 17, 2026. Amendments 01, 02, 03, and 04 and Addendum 1 have been issued. The procurement manager is Joseph Lovato at the FMD.