Preservation and interpretation services for federal and state historical sites. Find active federal and state historical sites contracts — AI-scored against your profile across SAM.gov and 200+ portals.
Annual federal spend for NAICS 712120 is estimated at $200-300 million, driven primarily by the National Park Service (NPS) for preservation and interpretation services at over 400 sites. Contracts are typically structured as firm-fixed-price task orders under indefinite-delivery indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contracts, with occasional standalone contracts for large-scale restorations. Demand peaks during spring and summer for seasonal interpretive staffing and maintenance. Competition is moderate, with a mix of specialized historical preservation firms and general construction companies. Set-asides for small businesses are common, especially 8(a) and HUBZone preferences. The Army Corps of Engineers and GSA also procure historical site services for federal properties.
These agencies are the largest buyers of historical sites services and products in the federal government. Each awards contracts under NAICS 712120 regularly — build relationships with their small business offices first.
To win Historical Sites contracts, focus on past performance with NPS or State Historic Preservation Offices. The most common set-asides are 8(a) and HUBZone for this code. The single highest-leverage move is to obtain a GSA Schedule 541 (Professional Services) or 899 (Environmental Services) with a historical preservation scope, as many NPS and GSA task orders are issued through these schedules. Build relationships with NPS contracting officers at regional offices, as they often issue sole-source or limited-competition awards under $250,000. Emphasize experience with Section 106 compliance and Secretary of the Interior standards.
Historical Sites work is primarily bought through GSA Schedule 541 (Professional Services) and 899 (Environmental Services), as well as agency-specific IDIQs like NPS’s Historic Preservation Services IDIQ. Best-value tradeoff is common, with technical approach and past performance weighted heavily. LPTA is used for smaller, well-defined interpretive services. Evaluation bases include adherence to Secretary of the Interior standards and staffing qualifications.
The Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualification Standards for archaeology, architecture, history, or historic architecture are commonly required. Contractors may need to certify that key personnel meet these standards. Additionally, a Historic Preservation Certification from the National Park Service is beneficial but not mandatory.
For contracts under $150,000, bonds are usually not required. Larger IDIQ task orders may require performance and payment bonds up to 100% of the task order value, typically ranging from $50,000 to $500,000. Standalone construction projects over $100,000 often require bonds.
8(a) set-asides are common for NPS and Army Corps projects under $4 million. Competition is moderate, usually 3-5 8(a) firms per award. The key is to have a strong technical proposal and past performance with similar sites.
Task orders under IDIQs average $250,000 to $1 million. Standalone contracts for major restoration can reach $5-10 million. The median award is around $500,000. Most contracts are firm-fixed-price.
Yes, but prime contractors must demonstrate management capability. Subcontracting is common for specialized tasks like archaeological surveys or interpretive exhibit design. Ensure your subcontractors meet the same professional qualifications.