Museum of the Plains Indian –FY 2026 Museum Assistant Statement of Work

Museum

REQUIREMENTS:

The Indian Arts and Crafts Board (IACB)/Museum of the Plains Indian (MPI) is located in Browning, Montana on the Blackfeet Reservation. The IACB/MPI employs two full-time staff who are responsible for handling museum visitors, collections care, changing promotional Indian arts exhibitions, grounds upkeep, and the general maintenance and repair of the facility.

The IACB/MPI has a requirement for a contractor to provide non-personal services. The contractor must be able to provide at least one qualified Museum Assistant to perform the duties at the MPI from 8:00AM through 5:00 PM – 5 (five) days a week, an 8-hour workday. The workday can be split into two four-hour shifts if two assistants are provided. The work shall begin on April 1, 2026, and the work will end on September 30, 2026.

SPECIFIC TASKS

Museum Assistant

The Contractor shall provide a Museum Assistant(s) who reports and works in the MPI located at 19 Museum Loop Rd, Browning MT, 59417.

The Museum Assistant may be tasked with various duties, including:

Maintenance:

1. Mowing of the museum lawn, minor trimming of bushes and trees, edging of sidewalks and curbs, and other landscaping duties as assigned.

2. Collect garbage and refuse from museum grounds and parking lot and dispose trash in appropriate receptacle.

3. Assist the Maintenance Worker with basic carpentry and painting tasks.

4. Assist with the removal of snow during the winter months.

5. Assist with special maintenance projects as assigned by the maintenance worker.

Custodial:

1. Clean museum restrooms and refill toilet paper and paper towels as needed.

2. Clean glass and plexiglass exhibit cases.

3. Sweep and mop museum galleries.

4. Vacuum entry rugs and shampoo when needed.

5. Dispose of trash from museum building.

6. Other janitorial duties as assigned.

General Museum tasks:

1. Assist the museum curator with other museum activities, i.e.:

a. Assist with the setup and clean up for public events including arranging chairs and tables, and performing tasks related to ensure the venue is prepared.

b. Assist with moving equipment such as exhibit stand and cases

c. Assist in monitoring and inventory of brochures/rack cards.

d. Assist with hanging labels and display panels

e. Secondary duties include assisting with monitoring museum grounds and public areas of the museum, answering incoming calls and directing calls to staff, and providing coverage at the front desk as needed.

f. The Museum Assistant is responsible for reporting any issues or concerns identified to the on-site museum staff and take any appropriate direction concerning these issues as directed by the staff.

Days and Hours of work

April 1, 2026, through May 30, 2026, the days of work will be Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm.

June 1, 2026, through September 30, 2026, the days of work will be Tuesday through Saturday from 8am to 5pm.

The MPI is open Monday through Friday, October to May and Tuesday through Saturday, June through September. There is no work on Federal holidays, which include:

May 25, 2026

June 19, 2026

July 3, 2026

September 7, 2026

If the Museum Assistant is unable to perform their duties on a given day, they must notify the Contractor. The Contractor is then responsible for informing the relevant federal employees and the on-site contact. This notification should occur via email no later than 9 AM local time. If email is unavailable, a phone call should be made, and a voice message must be left with the onsite contact and the appropriate federal employees by the same deadline.

If the museum has an unscheduled closure on a workday the Museum Curator will contact the Contractor and Museum Assistant to inform them as soon as they become aware of the closure (closure could be due to lack of museum staff, no power or other issues affecting the operation of the museum).

Minimum Qualifications

The museum assistant must support a variety of tasks. Responsibilities include assisting staff with general maintenance work like mowing, watering, fertilizer, raking, weeding the lawn, trash removal, sanitizing restrooms, sweeping, mopping, vacuuming floors, wiping down high traffic area, cleaning glass surfaces, replacing light bulbs, fixing blown fuses, installed outlets, and testing circuits. Plumbing can include fixing leaks and installing fixtures, unclogging drains, performing routine maintenance checks.

Additionally, the role involves answering phones, providing customer service, and assisting the curator with other minor museum activities. The candidate proposed by the contractor should be able to demonstrate competency in these areas. While prior experience in all tasks is not necessary, the individual must be capable of following instructions from the museum staff effectively.

Candidates should have some background in maintenance or facilities management. While not required certifications that the candidate holds, especially in areas like plumbing, electrical work, HVAC, or carpentry is a plus.

Employee Timesheets

Monthly Timesheet for Contractor Employees

Daily Timesheets of the contractor’s Museum Assistant working hours for each month shall be submitted with the month end invoice. Timesheets are required to be signed by the Museum Assistant and Contractor supervisor. Timesheet can be in contractor format.

The timesheets shall be emailed to the COR at the end of the month.

Contractor Requirements

Contractor shall perform a standard background check on any employee working at the Museum prior to their working at the facility. The Contractor shall provide the IACB with notification the employee successfully passed the background check prior to that employee working in the facility.

Key Personnel

The Contractor shall provide resumes for the key personnel who meet the following minimum requirements:

General Maintenance Experience – demonstrates the ability to perform routine maintenance tasks, including minor repairs.

Basic Groundskeeping and Lawn Care – demonstrates the ability to maintain outdoor area including mowing, trimming, and general landscaping duties.

Basic Janitorial Services – knowledge of cleaning practices to ensure safe, sanitary, and presentable environment including sweeping, mopping, and waste removal.

Basic Electrical knowledge – familiarity with simple tasks such as changing light blubs, replacing light switches, and install/replacing electrical outlets.

If the personnel proposed in the key position is replaced, the resume of their successor shall be submitted to the CO and COR for evaluation. The Government retains the sole right to reject a proposed a key person based upon its assessment of the key person’s capabilities and whether they align with the minimum requirements of the position. In the event of a rejection the contractor shall provide the Government with a resume for a different candidate for evaluation. No position shall remain vacated for more than two continuous (2) weeks. The responsibility to identify qualified candidates who can fill the position lies solely with the contractor.

Tribal Permits

The Contractor shall obtain all necessary permits needed to conduct business on the Blackfeet Reservation within five (5) days upon award of contract. The Contractor may contact the Blackfeet Tribal Employment Rights Office (TERO) at (406) 338-7887, https://btero.com/, to obtain permits. The Blackfeet TERO is located at 65 Hospital Road, Browning, MT 59417.

Contractor Start Up Review (Kick-Off Meeting)

Within 5 business days of award of contract and prior to performance, a kick-off meeting shall be held. At that time, the contractor and museum assistant shall meet with the COR and MPI Curator, to provide an introduction, identify the scope, plan, roles, and collaboration of the Government and Contractor. Any outstanding questions, and next steps shall also be discussed.

The kickoff meeting will be the responsibility of the contractor to organize.

Place of Performance

Museum of the Plains Indian 19 Museum Loop Browning, Montana 59417

Period of Performance

The contract will begin April 1, 2026, through September 30, 2026.

Government Furnished Equipment

Government will furnish the necessary tools and equipment for all the tasks.