I just saw a new aluminum bike that interested me, it has a carbon fork. 26 pounds, although it has low-end components that probably make that a lot heavier than it needs to be. I'm pretty sure I could get a similar steel frame significantly less than that, particularly with a carbon fork.

Production steel bikes are usually fairly heavy. Some companies will occasionally build one with high-end tubing, like 853. But if you are building a frame in a hurry with relatively unskilled workers, it's best to build them heavy.