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Jake Rocks Road Reconstruction

AGRICULTURE, DEPARTMENT OF.FOREST SERVICE.USDA-FS, CSA SOUTHWEST 7 · Response deadline: Mon, 26 Oct 2026

What the government is buying

The U.S. Forest Service is seeking a contractor for Jake Rocks Road Reconstruction, a highway, street, and bridge construction project in Warren, Pennsylvania. Road reconstruction work in national forest settings typically involves resurfacing, grading, drainage improvements, bridge repair or replacement, and related civil infrastructure work. The Forest Service manages thousands of miles of roads across national forests for timber access, recreation, fire suppression, and public travel—maintenance and reconstruction of these roads is a recurring operational need. See the solicitation for the specific scope, mileage, and technical requirements of this project.

Key facts

Who can bid

This is a total small business set-aside, meaning only certified small businesses under NAICS 237310 (Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction) may bid. The size standard for this NAICS is typically $47.5 million in average annual receipts; verify your status in your SAM.gov profile and in the Small Business Administration's Size Standards tool.

You must have an active SAM.gov registration with the correct NAICS code to receive award. If you are a woman-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned, HUBZone, or 8(a) small business, you may bid under this set-aside if you meet the standard small business criteria—no additional certification is required for a general small business set-aside, though socioeconomic statuses may be evaluated as part of the award determination. See the solicitation for any specific experience, bonding, or licensing requirements.

How to put together a competitive bid

Understand the site and conditions. Warren, Pennsylvania, sits in the Allegheny National Forest region. Forest Service road projects often involve remote locations, limited working seasons, environmental constraints (stream crossings, erosion control, threatened species), and coordination with Forest Service engineering and resource specialists. Visit or research the site if possible; factor in mobilization costs, weather delays, and access limitations.

Review bonding and insurance requirements carefully. Road reconstruction projects typically require performance and payment bonds. Verify your bonding capacity early—surety backing can be a barrier for small businesses on infrastructure work. The SBA's Office of Surety Guarantees may assist if you lack sufficient bonding capacity.

Price labor, equipment, and materials realistically. Heavy earthmoving equipment, aggregate, asphalt or concrete, and skilled operators represent major cost drivers. Forest Service projects sometimes allow or require value engineering alternatives; see the solicitation for specifications.

Demonstrate relevant experience. The Forest Service prioritizes contractors with successful completion of comparable road or bridge projects, particularly in federal land management contexts. Prepare project references with similar scope, value, and complexity.

Submit complete technical and past performance documentation. Combined synopsis/solicitation notices often mean the evaluation criteria and proposal instructions are embedded in the notice or attached documents. Follow them precisely; missing forms or signatures are common disqualifiers.

Next steps

1. Read the full solicitation on SAM.gov using solicitation number 127EAX27Q0003.
2. Download all attachments including specifications, drawings, and proposal instructions.
3. Confirm your SAM registration is active and includes NAICS 237310.
4. Note the deadline: responses are due October 26, 2026, at 1:00 PM Eastern Time—allow buffer time for technical submission issues.
5. Contact the contracting officer listed in the solicitation with questions; do not rely on assumptions about scope or requirements.

View the official notice on SAM.gov →