Historic research on 130 veterans at vicksburg NAT

The National Park Service Southeast Region is procuring comprehensive historical research services to document the lives of 130 United States Colored Troops (USCT) veterans buried at Vicksburg National Cemetery. The project requires a SOI-qualified historian with a Ph.D. degree who will collaborate with a professional genealogist to research detailed biographical information including names, occupations, birth/death dates, military records, and pension records of these veterans, with the goal of identifying and contacting living descendants. This research is essential for fulfilling legal requirements under a 2023 Memorandum of Agreement with the State Historic Preservation Office to mitigate adverse effects from landslides in 2020-2021 that necessitated the disinterment of 102 veteran graves. The government will evaluate proposals based on technical capability, past performance, and price, with all research conforming to professional standards and Chicago Manual of Style guidelines. The solicitation deadline has been extended to August 15, 2025, with a Q&A document providing additional guidance on research expectations and methodology.

This opportunity is designated as a total small business set-aside under NAICS code 712120 (Historical Sites) with a $13 million size standard, though no specific contract value or incumbent information is provided in the documentation. The contractor must deliver five hard copies of a final printed and bound historic research report, along with digital files on USB drive and interpretive materials including 12 social media posts and two wayside exhibits. The period of performance spans approximately two years, from August 18, 2025, to August 20, 2027, allowing for comprehensive archival research and document production. Work will be performed primarily through research at various repositories and archives, with the final deliverables submitted to Vicksburg National Military Park in Mississippi. The contract structure allows for partial payments up to 80% of the total contract amount based on accepted deliverables throughout the performance period.