Request for Information - National Study of Teens’ Encounters, Knowledge, Understanding and Attitudes about the Holocaust

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM) issued this Request for Information (RFI) to solicit expert input on conducting a comprehensive nationwide study examining American teens' knowledge, understanding, and attitudes toward the Holocaust. The agency is seeking vendors and research professionals with demonstrated experience designing and executing similar large-scale research projects, particularly those with expertise engaging young people and collecting representative data across diverse demographics and educational settings. The study will target teens aged 13-17 and aim to answer three primary research questions: where and how American teens encounter and learn about the Holocaust in 2026, what they know and understand about this history, and how they perceive its contemporary relevance and value. USHMM seeks methodological guidance and marketplace capability assessments to inform a realistic and achievable research approach, with particular emphasis on collecting both quantitative and qualitative data across public schools, religious schools, private schools, and homeschool environments. The RFI response deadline is December 31, 2025, with USHMM reviewing submissions through January 31, 2026, followed by RFP drafting in February 2026 and publication on March 1, 2026.

This is a pre-solicitation notice with no set-aside designations applicable. No incumbent contractors or specific award values are identified in the opportunity documentation at this stage, as the RFI is designed to inform future procurement strategy rather than award a contract. The marketplace research phase will help USHMM establish realistic budget parameters, timeline expectations, and methodological approaches before issuing the formal Request for Proposal. The ultimate research objectives include developing actionable insights for museum programming, understanding the environments in which teens learn about the Holocaust, identifying potential misconceptions, and establishing baseline data for future comparative research. This opportunity is classified under NAICS code 541910 (Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling) and PSC category R422 (Support–Professional: Market Research/Public Opinion), indicating the specialized research expertise required from potential contractors.