Navigability historian contract

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Alaska State Office is seeking a small business contractor to conduct a comprehensive historical research project on the navigability of major water bodies in Alaska prior to statehood in 1959. The contract aims to document historical use of waterways, including types of watercraft, cargo transportation, commercial activities, and travel patterns across various hydrologic regions. Contractors must conduct extensive research using primary and secondary sources, including libraries, historical societies, newspapers, and potentially community interviews. The evaluation will focus on technical capability and price, with the most advantageous offer to the government being selected. Proposals are due by March 31, 2025, with the contract period of performance set from April 11, 2025, to April 10, 2026.

The solicitation is designated as a 100% small business set-aside with a NAICS code of 541720 for Research and Development in Social Sciences and Humanities. The contract will be awarded as a firm-fixed price with a Product Service Code of B521 for Special Studies/Analysis-Historical. Contractors will be required to provide monthly updates, participate in bi-weekly meetings, and submit draft and final reports for BLM review. The project will cover 24 specific waterbodies across Alaska, with detailed reporting requirements including watercraft characteristics, transportation methods, and historical commercial activities. The place of performance is the BLM Alaska State Office in Anchorage, with deliverables focused on documenting historical navigation and use of Alaskan waterways prior to January 3, 1959.