TX FW LGA 10(5) Steve Thompson Wildlife Drive
TRANSPORTATION, DEPARTMENT OF.FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION.6982AF CENTRAL FEDERAL LANDS DIVISI · Response deadline: Tue, 03 Nov 2026
What the government is buying
The Federal Highway Administration's Central Federal Lands Division is soliciting bids for the Steve Thompson Wildlife Drive project in Los Fresnos, Texas. This is a highway, street, and bridge construction opportunity designated under NAICS 237310, which covers the design-build or construction of highways, roads, streets, bridges, and airport runways.
Projects under this NAICS typically involve grading, paving, bridge construction, drainage systems, and related infrastructure work on federal lands. For wildlife drives specifically, construction may include low-traffic scenic or access roads designed to minimize environmental impact while providing public access to wildlife refuges or conservation areas. Given the project's location near Los Fresnos in the Rio Grande Valley, the work likely supports access to coastal wetland or wildlife refuge areas in southern Texas.
Specific quantities, scope segments, and technical requirements are not indicated in the available metadata—see the solicitation.
Key facts
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Agency | Federal Highway Administration, Central Federal Lands Division |
| Notice type | Solicitation |
| Solicitation number | 6982AF27B000006 |
| NAICS | 237310 (Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction) |
| Set-aside | Small Business Set Aside - Total |
| Response deadline | November 3, 2026 at 2:00 PM Mountain Time |
| Place of performance | Los Fresnos, TX |
Who can bid
This opportunity is set aside exclusively for small businesses under the Total Small Business Set-Aside program. Only firms that qualify as small under the SBA size standard for NAICS 237310 are eligible. The general size standard for this NAICS is $47.5 million in average annual receipts over the past three years.
Certification in SAM.gov is mandatory. Firms do not need a specific socioeconomic certification (8(a), HUBZone, WOSB, or SDVOSB) to compete—standard small business status is sufficient. Joint ventures are permitted under SBA rules if they meet small business requirements and comply with affiliation rules. Non-small businesses, including large prime contractors, cannot bid directly but may seek subcontracting relationships with eligible small businesses.
How to put together a competitive bid
Verify size status early. Run your three-year average receipts calculation against the $47.5 million threshold before investing proposal resources. Revenue timing methods matter—use fiscal or tax year data consistently.
Understand federal lands construction requirements. Central Federal Lands projects typically incorporate environmental compliance, National Environmental Policy Act coordination, and cultural resource protections beyond standard state DOT work. Familiarity with FHWA's Flap (Federal Lands Access Program) or Federal Lands Transportation Program procedures strengthens your technical approach.
Emphasize local knowledge. The Los Fresnos area presents specific challenges: coastal plain soils, potential wetland encounters, hurricane season considerations, and proximity to the U.S.-Mexico border. Demonstrate experience with South Texas conditions, Corps of Engineers permitting, or similar federal land projects.
Bonding and financial capacity. Highway construction solicitations typically require bid bonds, performance bonds, and payment bonds. Confirm your surety relationship can support the anticipated contract value—see the solicitation for specific percentages.
Subcontracting plan. If applicable, develop a plan that reflects meaningful small business participation, potentially including veteran-owned, woman-owned, or HUBZone firms in the Rio Grande Valley region.
Past performance references. Prepare documentation from comparable road or bridge projects, ideally federal or state agency contracts with similar complexity and environmental sensitivity.
Next steps
Read the full solicitation on SAM.gov using solicitation number 6982AF27B000006. The complete notice will contain the statement of work, technical specifications, proposal evaluation criteria, contract clauses, and all forms required for submission. Note that responses are due November 3, 2026 at 2:00 PM Mountain Time—allow adequate time for SAM.gov registration verification, surety arrangements, and proposal assembly given the specialized nature of federal lands highway construction.
View the official notice on SAM.gov →