Alaska Science Center

The Department of the Interior's US Geological Survey Alaska Science Center is a civilian research and field operations sub-agency focused on conducting geological, biological, and environmental science activities across Alaska. The Center procures contract services to support field operations, research logistics, and scientific investigations in remote and challenging terrain.

The Alaska Science Center's contracting footprint is modest but active. Since 2004, the Center has awarded 1,451 federal contracts totaling $23 million in potential value, with $22.7 million obligated. Recent activity shows a declining trend: 70 awards in 2022, 54 in 2023, 46 in 2024, 36 in 2025, and 34 year-to-date in 2026. About 10 percent of recent awards carry no reported potential value, typical of Schedule task orders, BPA calls, modifications, or below-threshold purchase orders. The 396 distinct prime contractors in the portfolio indicate a fragmented competitive base, though the top five primes over the last five years account for 46 percent of awards by count. Maritime Helicopters, Inc. leads on value with $1.8 million across 21 awards, followed by Soloy Helicopters LLC at $1.2 million across 8 awards. Golden Eagle Outfitters, Inc., Alpine Air Alaska, LLC, and Coastal Helicopters, Inc. are also active, collectively holding the top-five position. By-value concentration is fragmented at 22 percent coverage among the top five, indicating a dispersed vendor base where transportation and logistics services dominate the procurement portfolio. Eighty-four percent of awards carry no set-aside designation; the remaining 16 percent are small-business set-asides, with three awards to service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses.

Grant activity at the Alaska Science Center is negligible. The Center has issued only two federal grants, both Cooperative Agreements totaling $544 thousand in federal dollars obligated. Both awards were issued in 2016, to a single recipient, and no grant awards have been recorded since then. No recent grant opportunities are present in the source.