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Barillas Peak & Encino Vista Lookout Tower Restoration, Santa Fe NF

AGRICULTURE, DEPARTMENT OF.FOREST SERVICE.USDA-FS, CSA SOUTHWEST 7 · Response deadline: Fri, 06 Nov 2026

What the government is buying

The U.S. Forest Service is seeking a contractor to restore Barillas Peak and Encino Vista Lookout Towers on the Santa Fe National Forest in New Mexico. Lookout towers are historic structures, typically dating from the early-to-mid 20th century, used for wildfire detection and monitoring. Restoration work on these facilities generally involves preserving or repairing structural elements, replacing deteriorated materials, improving safety systems, and ensuring compliance with modern building codes while maintaining historic character. The scope may include carpentry, roofing, window and door repair or replacement, structural reinforcement, painting, and site work at remote, elevated locations. The Forest Service manages many such towers, some listed on the National Register of Historic Places, requiring work that balances operational needs with preservation standards.

Key facts

Who can bid

This contract is set aside exclusively for small businesses under NAICS 236220 (Commercial and Institutional Building Construction). To qualify, your business must meet the Small Business Administration's size standard for this code—currently $47.5 million in average annual receipts over three years—and you must be registered in SAM.gov with this NAICS code and small business status verified.

Given the specialized nature, relevant experience might include: historic preservation contracting, remote site construction, tower or elevated structure work, Forest Service or federal land management agency projects, or similar restoration on National Register-eligible structures. If you lack direct tower experience, teaming with a firm that has completed comparable historic or remote-site work could strengthen your proposal. Ensure your SAM.gov registration is active and your Dynamic Small Business Search profile is current.

How to put together a competitive bid

Understand the access challenges. Lookout towers sit atop remote peaks with limited road access. Your bid should address logistics: material hoisting, crew transportation, staging areas, and potential helicopter or pack-in requirements. See the solicitation for site-specific access details.

Demonstrate historic preservation capability. Forest Service tower restorations typically follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. Highlight relevant experience with Section 106 compliance, cultural resource coordination, or work on National Register structures.

Address seasonal and weather constraints. Northern New Mexico elevations see severe winter conditions; the contracting schedule likely assumes a spring-through-fall work window. Your proposed timeline and weather contingencies will matter.

Price strategically. Combined Synopsis/Solicitation notices often proceed quickly to award. Review any disclosed independent government estimate if available, and ensure your pricing covers mobilization to a remote site, which can be substantial.

Include required certifications. As a total small business set-aside, you must represent your size status; no subcontracting plans are typically required unless the contract value triggers other thresholds.

Next steps

1. Read the full solicitation on SAM.gov using solicitation number 127EAX26Q0069. Combined Synopsis/Solicitation notices contain the definitive scope, clauses, and evaluation criteria.

2. Note the deadline: All proposals must be submitted by November 6, 2026, 2:00 PM Pacific Time—late submissions are ineligible.

3. Verify SAM.gov registration is active and includes current representations and certifications.

4. Consider a site visit if the solicitation offers one; remote tower locations merit firsthand assessment before finalizing logistics and pricing.

View the official notice on SAM.gov →