Federal Contract Alert: Laughlin AFB - Bldg 308 Carpet Replacement — DEPT OF DEFENSE.DEPT OF THE AIR FORCE.AIR EDUCATION AND TRAINING COMMAND.FA3099 47 CONF CC
Laughlin AFB Building 308 Carpet Replacement: What Small Contractors Need to Know
The Air Force is seeking a contractor to replace carpet in Building 308 at Laughlin Air Force Base in Del Rio, Texas. This is a straightforward facilities maintenance job, not a complex systems integration. The work involves removing existing flooring and installing new carpet across the building—standard commercial flooring work. If your crew has done similar jobs at military installations or other federal facilities, you have the core competency to bid this. The real question is whether the opportunity justifies your effort given the timeline and scope.
Who Can Bid: Set-Aside Status and NAICS Code
This contract is set aside exclusively for small businesses under FAR 19.5 (Total Small Business Set-Aside). If you're certified as a small business by the SBA, you're eligible. The NAICS code is 238330 (Flooring Contractors and Tile and Terrazzo Contractors). Make sure your SBA registration and CAGE record match this classification—if the SBA classified you under a different code, update it before you bid or your application will likely be rejected on a technicality.
You do not need to be a woman-owned, minority-owned, or veteran-owned business to bid, since there's no additional set-aside layer. This means competition will include every certified small business flooring contractor within geographic reach of the base.
Key Deadline and Where to Find Details
The deadline is July 22, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. Central Time. That's a hard stop. The full solicitation is posted on SAM.gov—pull the Statement of Work, specifications, and contract terms immediately. Use GovWin IQ to search the agency name and CAGE code for this contracting office's historical contract awards; you'll see what they've paid for similar work and who won before. This tells you if the incumbent is re-competing or if you're walking into an open field.
Check Bloomberg Government for any prior announcements or amendments to this notice. If this job has been re-solicited multiple times, that's a red flag—it usually means budget issues, scope creep disputes, or a difficult customer.
How to Respond: Competitive Reality Check
Before you bid, answer these questions: Do you have bonding capacity for this contract value? Do you have a crew or subcontractors who can mobilize to Laughlin on the required schedule? Have you worked on military bases before, or do you understand the access requirements and inspection processes? If you answered no to any, stop here—the administrative burden will outweigh profit.
Your response will include a cost proposal, schedule, and proof of insurance. The Air Force will score primarily on price for a job this simple. If you're not the low bidder, you won't win. Submit your bid through SAM.gov at least two hours before deadline to avoid system crashes.
Three Actionable Tips
Tip 1: Call the contracting officer or technical point of contact listed in the solicitation and ask about the exact square footage, floor condition, and any asbestos surveys already completed. This conversation is allowed and expected—it clarifies scope and saves you from a blown estimate.
Tip 2: Request a site visit if possible. Flooring jobs often have hidden costs—subfloor repair, disposal fees, or unexpected obstacles. Seeing the space cuts your risk of underpricing.
Tip 3: Verify your bonding and insurance are current and cover military work. Many surety companies require higher premiums for federal projects. Budget this cost into your proposal now, not after you win.
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