Jamis Dragon 27.5 jumps to mind
It is steel with a 120mm fork and a 68 degree head angle making it a bit more trail than xc race bike though, I'd like that. Problem is they offer it in a $1200 version that probably isn't highend enough for you and a $2800 version that is too highnend for you. No middle ground but maybe you could find a deal. There are a few steel hardtail 27.5 bikes out there but most of them are more aimed at the trail/AM/enduro side, lots of travel and slack head angles. Transistion AM for instance.