Navigability historian contract

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Alaska Regional Office is seeking a small business contractor to conduct historical research on the navigability of specific waterbodies in Alaska. The contract will focus on investigating water transportation and usage prior to Alaska's statehood in 1959, with the goal of determining state ownership of submerged lands. Contractors must research and document historical water body usage, including types of watercraft, transportation routes, cargo details, and related activities such as mining and fur trapping. The solicitation requires detailed reports for each hydrologic region, monthly written updates, bi-weekly meetings, and comprehensive documentation using primary and secondary sources. Quotes are due by February 12, 2025, at 5:00 PM Alaska time, with the government planning to make a single firm-fixed-price award based on the most advantageous offer considering price and other factors.

The contract is exclusively set aside for small businesses under NAICS code 541720 (Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities) with a size standard of $28 million. The period of performance runs from February 28, 2025, to February 27, 2026, covering 22 specific waterbodies in Alaska's HUC regions. Contractors will be required to research waterbodies in areas such as Miluet Creek, Mishuk Creek, Nazuruk Channel, and the North Fork Unalakleet River, with precise geographical coordinates provided. The work will be performed in Anchorage, Alaska, with the contractor responsible for conducting research through libraries, databases, historical societies, and potentially local community interviews. While no specific contract value is mentioned, the wage determination indicates compliance with Service Contract Act standards, including health benefits, vacation provisions, and holiday pay.