REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS Black High Schools 1870-1970

September 6, 2024

The National Park Service (NPS) is seeking the services of a historian consultant through a cooperative agreement with the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) to support the National Historic Landmarks (NHL) Program in the identification and documentation of nationally significant properties associated with the history of segregated Black secondary schools (high schools) in the United States between approximately 1870 and 1970.

The historian consultant will organize and moderate a scholars’ roundtable and community forum at the 2025 ASALH Conference in Atlanta, GA (September 24-27, 2025) on the above topic and prepare a summary findings and recommendations report.

The project is to be completed within the period of performance, ending August 2026. Consultant must also have the availability to attend the 2025 ASALH Conference in person.

Interested consultants should submit a proposal and cost estimate in response to this RFP to ASALH no later than October 25, 2024 at 5pm EST. Electronic copies of proposals must be submitted to [email protected].

PROJECT BACKGROUND
National Historic Landmarks (NHLs) are nationally significant historic places of high integrity designated by the Secretary of the Interior because they possess exceptional value or quality in illustrating or interpreting the heritage of the United States (Historic Sites Act of 1935, 54 U.S.C. § 320101-320106, 36 CFR Part 65). Currently, more than 2,600 historic places bear this national distinction.

The NHL Program has been approached by stakeholders in multiple regions about the designation of historic Black public secondary schools that provided excellent educational experiences despite Jim Crow segregation in education. Working with scholars of the history of Black secondary education and community advocates for extant schools will allow the NHL program to develop a strategy for evaluating eligibility for NHL designation. This project would expand and update the focus on the legal struggles to achieve desegregation in the Civil Rights in America education theme study RACIAL DESEGREGATION IN PUBLIC EDUCATION IN THE UNITED STATES THEME STUDY AUGUST 2000 (nps.gov) (2000) and supplement Landmarks that Transformed Education Racial Desegregation in Public Education in the United States, A National Historic Landmark Theme Study Update, May 17, 2004 (nps.gov) (2004) to understand the important role of public high schools built by and for Black communities prior to Brown v. Board (1954). 

REQUIRED CONTRACTOR QUALIFICATIONS
Ideal candidates will possess the following desired qualifications:

1. A scholarly research focus in African American history and experience that meets the Secretary of the Interior Professional Qualification Standards, and with a Ph.D. in one of the following or a related field: African American Studies; U.S. History; American Studies; Public History.
2. Demonstrated experiencing organizing, convening, and moderating/facilitating scholarly panels and community outreach events.
3. Prior experience researching, writing, and producing reports and publications for the NPS. Demonstrated experience with National Historic Landmark criteria and regulations preferred.
4. Prior experience collaborating with multiple scholars/authors.
5. Contractors debarred, suspended, or proposed for debarment are excluded from receiving contracts.

The individual designated as the historian consultant may not change during the project without prior written approval of ASALH and NPS.

SCOPE OF WORK
The project involves working collaboratively with the ASALH and the NPS to organize a scholars’ roundtable and community forum on the history of and significant sites associated with segregated Black high schools in the United States from approximately 1870 to 1965. The consultant will gather the information collected at these convenings and undertake critical analysis of the history and significant sites to produce a summary report with recommendations to the NHL Program.

Task/Deliverables shall also include:

1. Participate in planning meetings with NPS and ASALH. These meetings are expected to take place online.
2. Community Forum and Scholar’s Roundtable
   1. In consultation and coordination with ASALH and the NPS, identify and engage the services of 3-4 scholars/panelists to participate in a roundtable discussion at the 2025 ASALH Conference and contribute written statements. Selected participants are expected to possess knowledge and experience relevant to the history of Black high schools, 1870-1965.
   2. In consultation and coordination with ASALH and the NPS, prepare general descriptions of the community forum and scholars roundtable including objectives and brief participant bios.
   3. In consultation and coordination with ASALH and the NPS, prepare lists of questions to guide the discussions.
   4. In consultation and coordination with ASALH and the NPS, moderate the community forum and scholar’s roundtable.
3. Summary Report
   1. The consultant should both serve as editor for the report and contribute research and writing.
   2. Outline recommendations for NHL Program evaluation of extant Black high schools and potential national significance under the NHL Criteria.
   3. Coordinate the submission of roundtable scholars’ written statements (with annotated bibliography). The specific focus, length, and deadline of the written statements will be determined by the refined scope of work and the needs revealed during the roundtable.
   4. Assemble meeting proceedings and written statements into a print-quality PDF multi-authored and multi-chaptered report that follows NHL guidelines including use of the current edition of Chicago Manual of Style for all citations and selection of images in the public domain or with copyright permission to reprint secured. It will contain the following sections:
      1. Front Matter
      2. Title Page 
      3. Executive Summary – written in non-technical language (not to exceed two pages) that summarizes the important findings, issues and conclusions of the report
      4. Table of Contents – list the titles of all major divisions and the first-level (principal) subdivisions in the study and provide page numbers for all major divisions 
      5. List of Illustrations- include captions and page numbers for photographs, figures/illustrations, maps, and other forms of graphics subject matter. If warranted, separate lists for specific types of illustrations may be used.
      6. Acknowledgments- include any obligatory or appropriate personal or organizational acknowledgments.
      7. Preface- include background information about the scope of the research preparation of the study. It will discuss research methods and summarize major findings. 
      8. List of Abbreviations and/or Acronyms (if applicable): list must include nonstandard abbreviations and acronyms used in the report. The spelled-out version of a term should be given the first time the term appears within the study.
      9. Text or Main Body of the Report
         1. Introduction – explanation of why the study was undertaken, who was involved, and special issues that were addressed
         2. Roundtable Scholars’ written statements (3-4) with citations based on most recent Chicago Manual guidance.
         3. Epilogue/Conclusion – summary of findings
         4. Recommendations 
      10. Back Matter
          1. Bibliography – will conform to the most recent Chicago Manual guidance.
          2. Appendices- as appropriate.
   5. Research and identify illustrations and photographs for use in the special history study. Coordinate with ASALH to collect illustrations and photographs for use in the report. (Note: ASALH will coordinate obtaining the necessary copyright permissions.)
   6. All written deliverables will be provided in electronic format as Word, PDF, and/or PowerPoint files and should be copyedited and compliant with the United States Workforce Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (508 compliance). (Note: ASALH will coordinate the copyediting and compliance.) 

PROPOSAL SUBMISSIONS
For evaluation purposes, proposals should provide sufficient information as to assist ASALH and the NPS in determining the most qualified contractor for the project. Contractors interested in bidding should submit a written proposal that includes the following elements:

1. Description of the specific, relevant education, experience, and qualifications of the Consultant demonstrating experience in relevant history, organization of academic and community outreach events, and written skills. Include specific dates and types of service provided, and highlight success in meeting work schedules, project budgets, and product deadlines.
2. Project proposal that summarizes strategy, approach, special capabilities, timelines, roles and responsibilities of consultant, specific tasks to be conducted, and deliverables. Please be as specific as possible and include the following:
   1. A list of references (at least three, but not more than five) that may be contacted.
   2. A short narrative that responds to the scope of work as described in this RFP, which demonstrates the consultant’s proposed approach to the project and capability to accomplish the desired goals.
   3. A proposed budget that includes hourly labor rates of project personnel, the number of hours required to complete each task or product, and any necessary and appropriate project travel costs.
   4. A proposed project schedule.

Please Note: It is expected that the consultant will provide these services for a fee of no more than $25,000. This amount does not include conference travel, invited roundtable scholars’ travel and stipend, and the summary report editing and 508 compliance (all of which will be managed by ASALH). 

All proposals must be received no later than October 25, 2024 at 5:00 pm EST. They should be prepared simply and economically, providing a straightforward, concise description of the consultant’s qualifications and capabilities to satisfy the requirements of this RFP. Proposals must be submitted via email in electronic format (MS Word or PDF format) to [email protected]. All submitted proposals, should use the following naming convention in the subject line of the email: NPS-Black High Schools_[CONSULTANT NAME].

ASALH will confirm receipt of submissions. However, if there are any issues (e.g., with attachments working correctly), the consultant is responsible for resolving these issues with an alternative submission method acceptable to ASALH and the NPS. Successful and unsuccessful proposals should expect to receive notification on or about November 1, 2024. 

Submittals will be evaluated and ranked based on the following factors, presented in no particular order: 

TERMS and CONDITIONS

1. ASALH reserves the right to reject any and all proposals, and to waive minor irregularities in any proposal.
2. ASALH reserves the right to request clarification of information submitted, and to request additional information from any contractor.
3. ASALH and NPS shall not be responsible for any costs incurred by contractors in preparing, submitting or presenting its response to this RFP.
4. Any and all rights to work produced through this project will be vested in the Department of the Interior, National Park Service, including any copyrights.
5. The selected contractor must also adhere to the Department of Interior Standard Terms and Conditions located at: https://www.doi.gov/grants/doi-standard-terms-and-conditions.(Please use version 3, starting June 1, 2023)
6. Upon selection, contractor must submit a detailed performance schedule that includes calendar dates for deliverables taking into account required reviews and reporting deadlines.

QUESTIONS
Respondents are invited to submit written questions requesting clarifications or explanations of the information contained in this RFP. Please direct all proposal or contract-related questions to ASALH at [email protected]. Questions pertaining to the Black High Schools 1870-1970 Project may be directed to Déanda Johnson, NPS, National Historic Landmark Program at
[email protected].