Federal Contract Alert: Office Roof Replacement Deer Creek Lake — DEPT OF DEFENSE.DEPT OF THE ARMY.US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS.ENGINEER DIVISION GREAT LAKES AND
Army Corps of Engineers Roof Replacement at Deer Creek Lake – What You're Actually Looking At
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntington District, is soliciting for roof replacement work at Deer Creek Lake. This is a hard construction project with defined scope, fixed timeline, and relatively straightforward deliverables. The posting date was July 24, 2026, with bids due August 3, 2026 at noon ET – that's a compressed timeline, so if you're reading this after July 27, you're already running tight.
This opportunity is set aside exclusively for small businesses under FAR 19.5, meaning you cannot win this if you're above small business size standards for NAICS 238160 (roofing contractors). The Corps will verify your size status before award, so get your SBA size determination in order before you bid.
Who Can Bid: Size Standards and NAICS 238160
NAICS code 238160 (Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractors) carries a $7.5 million average annual receipts threshold for small business classification. If your company has exceeded that in your last two fiscal years, you do not qualify, period. The Corps will pull your ProNet profile and cross-check against past performance records and SBA databases. Misrepresentation will disqualify you and potentially trigger debarment proceedings.
The total small business set-aside means 100% of the contract value is reserved for eligible small firms. There is no partial set-aside here, no 8(a) or HUBZone complications to work around. If you're small in the right code, this is a level playing field among your peers.
Key Dates and Timeline Reality Check
Posted July 24, 2026. Bids due August 3, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time. That is 10 calendar days to pull the full solicitation from SAM.gov, analyze drawings and specs, conduct site visit (if possible), prepare your quote, and submit. Most roofing bids need at least a materials quote from your suppliers and labor estimates from your crew – neither of which move fast in summer. The real deadline for your supplier calls is likely July 29 or July 30.
Be realistic about whether you can execute that compressed timeline without cutting corners on estimation or quality control. If you cannot get eyes on the building and a materials takeoff confirmed by August 1, you're guessing.
How to Respond: The Actual Process
Step one: Download the entire solicitation package from SAM.gov using the notice ID e83ca327f1404ea391bd44555ac8c704. Print the drawings. Do not try to estimate from a screen.
Step two: Contact the Contracting Officer listed in the solicitation and ask whether a pre-bid site visit is scheduled or encouraged. Many military projects require or strongly prefer them. Visiting the site tells you about roof access, weather exposure, underlying structure condition, and logistics – things specs do not always flag clearly.
Step three: Request a preliminary materials list (roof type, area, pitch, existing conditions, removal requirements, disposal). Call three roofing material suppliers with that spec. Get written quotes valid through your bid date.
Step four: Build your labor estimate using historical crew productivity for this roof type and square footage. Add overhead, profit, and contingency. Army projects rarely accept change orders without protest, so pad your estimate conservatively.
Step five: Complete the Standard Form 1449, cost breakdown, and required certifications (small business status, drug-free workplace, compliance with FAR clauses). Submit via SAM.gov portal before the deadline. Do not rely on email – use the official submission system.
Competitive Intelligence: Should You Actually Bid?
Run this contract through GovWin IQ (https://iq.govwin.com) and Bloomberg Government (https://about.bgov.com) to see if the Huntington District has awarded similar roof work before. If the same contractor has won the last three roofing jobs at Corps facilities, the specs may be written to that contractor's standard materials and methods. That is a windable disadvantage but not a reason to walk away – just bid clean and let the scoring speak.
Check the FAR clause 52.219-1 (Small Business Program Representations). The Corps is strict about size verification. If your firm is on the borderline, get an SBA size determination letter before you bid.
Three Actionable Tips for Your Bid
One: Build a realistic schedule. Military projects expect contractors to show a detailed timeline. List your material procurement lead time, crew availability, and weather buffer separately. The Corps will use your schedule to hold you accountable – if you promise 45 days and take 75, that becomes a Contract Dispute.
Two: Nail the site visit. Do not bid this job without visiting Deer Creek Lake and walking the roof with a measuring tape and level. Bad assumptions about slope, square footage, or structural bearing capacity will kill your margin. The site visit is not optional.
Three: Document your quality and past performance. Include references from three previous commercial or institutional roofing projects of similar scope. The Corps evaluates past performance as a technical factor. Blank references or vague descriptions lose points.
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