Tuma complete ethnographic overview

The National Park Service Arizona Major Acquisition Buying Office has issued a Special Notice announcing its intent to award a sole source contract to Anthropological Research LLC for research and writing services of an ethnographer for Tumacacori National Historical Park (TUMA). This procurement falls under NAICS code 541720 (Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities) with a size standard of $28 million and will be conducted using Simplified Acquisition Procedures. The contracting office has determined that only one source is reasonably available due to the specialized nature of the requirement and that no other sources can satisfy the agency's requirements. The notice was posted on July 17, 2025, and is not a request for competitive quotes. However, responsible sources may submit capability statements by August 1, 2025, for consideration by the agency.

The primary objective of this procurement is to produce an Ethnographic Overview and Assessment (EOA) report that meets Secretary of Interior Professional Qualifications Standards and adheres to National Historic Preservation Act regulations. The research will focus on collecting collaborative research that documents cultural meanings associated with traditional landscapes and natural resources at TUMA, following NPS-28 Cultural Resource Management Guidelines. Anthropological Research LLC was selected as the sole source due to their established relationships with affiliated tribes, specialized ethnographic expertise, and proximity to the park (located 3 miles away), which will result in lower travel costs and contract efficiency. Any contractors wishing to challenge this sole source determination must provide clear and convincing evidence that competition would be advantageous to the government. The government will only consider conducting a competitive procurement based on responses received from this notice, and such determination remains solely within the government's discretion.