How to bid on general construction services for the Department of the Interior

What the agency is buying and why it matters

The National Park Service is conducting market research for a prime contractor to replace the atrium at the Chickamauga Visitor Center in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. This project involves significant demolition and new construction, including structural, architectural, roofing, and building-envelope work. It also includes extensive site improvements like parking and plaza changes, as well as upgrades to fire-protection, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, communications, and life-safety systems.

This is an important opportunity for construction firms because it is a multidisciplinary project requiring a prime contractor to manage various interdependent construction disciplines. The facility will remain occupied and open to visitors during construction, which means the successful contractor will need strong coordination skills to protect the public and minimize disruption.

The agency is seeking capability statements from firms of all sizes, including various small-business categories, to help determine the acquisition strategy for a future contract solicitation.

Key dates and what happens at the deadline

This is a Request for Information (RFI) for market research purposes, not a solicitation for a contract. The deadline for submitting your capability statement is October 9, 2026, at 1:00 PM ET. At this deadline, the agency will stop accepting submissions.

Your response will help the National Park Service evaluate the availability of capable firms and determine the most appropriate acquisition strategy for this project, including potential small business set-asides. This RFI does not obligate the government to issue a solicitation or award a contract.

Who this opportunity suits

This opportunity is ideal for construction firms with experience as a prime contractor managing complex, multidisciplinary projects. The NAICS code for this project is 236220, Commercial and Institutional Building Construction, with a size standard of $45,000,000.00.

The government is particularly interested in firms, especially qualified small businesses, that possess the experience, personnel, subcontractor resources, bonding capacity, and management systems necessary to serve as the prime contractor and integrator for a complete multidisciplinary requirement. This includes firms categorized as Small Business, Small Disadvantaged Business, 8(a), HUBZone, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB), Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB), Indian Small Business Economic Enterprise (ISBEE), and other eligible socioeconomic categories, as well as large businesses.

How to respond

To access the opportunity, click “View original source” on the portal. If the first click takes you to the portal’s homepage, click it again to go directly to the bid. You may need a free account to view documents, though this is not always required.

Interested firms should submit a capability statement that includes their business information: Name of Firm, Address, Phone Number, Email Address, UEI Number, and Cage Code. The full description of the requirement outlines specific areas of work and capabilities the agency is interested in, which you should address in your statement.

Practical tips for preparing a competitive response

When preparing your capability statement, clearly demonstrate your firm's experience as a prime contractor on projects of similar scope and complexity. Highlight your ability to manage multiple interdependent construction disciplines, such as structural, architectural, mechanical, and electrical work.

Emphasize your firm's experience with projects in occupied facilities or public access areas, detailing how you managed coordination, protected personnel and the public, maintained access, and minimized disruption. Provide specific examples of past projects that showcase your firm's bonding capacity, personnel qualifications, subcontractor management, and quality control systems. Ensure your statement directly addresses the specific elements of work mentioned in the RFI, such as selective demolition, new atrium construction, site improvements, and various system upgrades.