Combined Synopsis/Solicitation
Martime NWR Interpretive Exhibit Services
Department of the Interior · Departmental Offices · Sol. 140FF027Q0002
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Due in 31 daysSmall business
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Some details weren't available to this summary, so it may miss requirements. Check the attachments on SAM.gov.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge) wants a small business to design, film, build and install an upgraded Seabird Theater exhibit and a 3 to 5 minute seabird film at its visitor center in Homer, Alaska. Work runs in phases from late 2026 into 2028, and installation must be complete by March 31, 2028. It is a total small business set-aside RFQ with a firm-fixed-price base item and an option for extra media.
Watch out for
- Broad scope that mixes design, film production and fabrication. One small business has to cover exhibit design, illustration, filming on remote islands, AV, fabrication, shipping and installation, so most bidders will need a team of subcontractors.
This project covers the planning, design, labor, fabrication, transport, travel, and installation of a new exhibit at
- Fixed budget that is not disclosed. You must fit all work into a fixed project budget and timeline, but no dollar amount is stated, so pricing is a guess.
completing all tasks within the fixed project budget and timeline
- Remote Alaska location and travel burden. Homer is far from Anchorage with limited flights and rental cars, winter driving is risky, and travel and shipping through a Washington State freight forwarder are on you.
The visitor center is in Homer, Alaska, roughly 4+ hours' drive south of Anchorage.
- Site visit expected and address looks wrong. Offerors are told to inspect the site (in person or virtually) and register 72 hours ahead, and the listed in-person address (a Hillhurst Rd and Carty Unit in Washington) does not match the Homer, Alaska visitor center.
Offerors shall inspect the site where services are to be performed and to satisfy themselves regarding all general
- Government owns the creative work and you buy third-party rights. All original photos, video, illustrations and layouts become Service property, and you must budget for licensing about 40 percent of images from third parties (reimbursed under a not-to-exceed line with receipts).
All original illustrations, photos, images (including video), and graphic layouts produced under this
- Conflicting caption requirements. The statement of work says the film must have closed captioning, but the attached NPS electronic program specifications require captions shown on screen at all times (open captions) and bar closed captions in NPS venues.
All audiovisual programs shown within NPS venues must
- Pay stops if an uncontrollable event hits. If a pandemic, disaster, furlough or similar event affects the work, you can bill only for what was received and remaining funds are released, even on a fixed-price contract.
the contractor shall only bill
- Dates, contacts and evaluation wording are inconsistent. Performance dates differ across the form (an option range starts 09/01/2026, before the posting date), the contracting officer email appears as ios.doi.gov in one place and fws.gov in another, and the evaluation factors are described differently in Sections L and M; ask the Contracting Officer to clarify.
Joni_Dutcher@ios.doi.gov
- Long warranty and documentation load. A one-year full replacement warranty, a requested 10-year guarantee on interpretive signage, and detailed maintenance and AV manuals add cost after installation.
A 10-year minimum product guarantee requested for interpretive signage
Read from the notice and 4 attachments. 1 not read in full.
- Sol_140FF027Q0002.pdf
- B08_Attachment_4_National_Park_Service_Standard_Specifications_for_Planning_Design_Production_and_Ins.pdf
- B08_Attachment_1_Seabird_Theater_Images.pdf
- B08_Attachment_2_Seabird_Theater_Upgrade_Project_Interpretive_prescription_Final_2019.pdf
- B08_Attachment_3_Exhibit_Conservation_Guidelines.pdf: too large
Full brief
What they want
- Design a new Seabird Theater exhibit within the existing oval footprint, with design packages at 30%, 60%, 90% and 100%
- Outline, film, edit and deliver a 3 to 5 minute HD seabird film with closed captioning (remote island filming with Government ship time in summer 2027)
- Fabricate and install the exhibit, accessible seating, AV equipment and lighting; remove the old exhibit and AV while saving wildlife models where possible
- Build in accessibility: tactile elements, audio description, captions, hearing assist, per National Park Service accessibility guidelines
- Deliver a media kit of 4K clips and at least 75 high-resolution stills, plus final drawings, as-builts, and maintenance and AV manuals
- Hold an in-person design workshop in Homer, one building-prep site visit, shop inspections, a walk-through and staff training
- Give a one-year replacement warranty on products and workmanship
- Optional line: second film, presenter mode, interactive video, surround sound
- Contract type
- Firm-fixed-price (per FAR 52.216-1) combined synopsis/solicitation (request for quotation), with a base line (00010 Seabird Theater Exhibit), an option line (00020 Additional Media), and a not-to-exceed line for third-party image/IP costs reimbursed at actual documented cost
- Period of performance
- Form lists 12/01/2026 to 06/30/2028 for the base item (other ranges, 09/01/2026 to 06/01/2028 and 12/01/2026 to 06/01/2028, also appear next to the option). The statement of work says production and installation must be complete by March 31, 2028. Option line lists an anticipated exercise date of 365.
- Place of performance
- Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, 95 Sterling Hwy, Homer, AK 99603; design, fabrication and filming can happen elsewhere but filming uses the refuge research vessel and installation is in Homer
- How they'll choose
- Best value tradeoff: technical and past performance combined are more important than price; price is checked for fairness and reasonableness but not rated. Options are added to the base price, and unbalanced option prices can make an offer unacceptable.
- Offers due
- 11/09/2026 0800 ET (notice: 2026-11-09T08:00:00-05:00)
- How to submit
- Email to the Contracting Officer, Joni Dutcher (Section L lists Joni_Dutcher@fws.gov); no hard copies. Questions must be emailed at least 7 business days before closing.
What they'll judge offers on
- Technical approach/acceptability (preliminary concept design, statement of capability to meet the timeline, a recent similar project from the past 3 years, concept drawings)
- Past performance (quality of work, meeting specifications; related projects; FAPIIS check, neutral rating if none)
- Price (fair and reasonable, not rated)
What to include when you submit
- Submit two parts: a non-price section organized by evaluation factor, and a price section
- Non-price: compliance summary of your approach to the statement of work, with relevant examples and samples of past projects of comparable size
- Also show a preliminary concept design, a statement of capability to meet the timeline, pictures and description of a similar project from the past 3 years, and concept drawings (alternatives allowed)
- Price: completed price schedule, all acknowledged amendments, and completed representations and certifications (kept current in SAM)
- Written price response: hours and fees per task, itemized cost for each interpretive element (design, artwork, illustrations, fabrication, installation listed separately), total not-to-exceed fee, detailed schedule by task, list of subcontractors with credentials of the installers, and list of assumptions
- Name the team members who hold accessibility expertise at proposal or kickoff
- If you cannot invoice through the Treasury IPP system, send a written waiver request with the quote
- Write everything in English
- Pre-bid site visits: in person Wednesday, October 28, 2026 at 2:00 PM Alaska time, or virtual Thursday, October 29 at 10:00 AM Alaska time; contact Lora Hollar at least 72 hours ahead to be listed
You must have
- Small business (total small business set-aside under NAICS 541850)
- Active SAM registration, with representations and certifications updated at least annually
submitted to the System for Award Management (www.sam.gov) and updated at least annually to ensure
- Certify capability to perform all work, including personnel, licenses, certifications and qualifications
The offeror must certify capability to perform all work required under this requirement and that the service
- Design team with working knowledge of accessibility standards (a separate accessibility firm is not required if shown in-house)
The Contractor's design team must have working knowledge of ADA and
- Lead designers must attend the design workshop in person in Homer, Alaska
Contractor's lead designer(s) must attend in person in Homer, AK (hybrid attendance for others is acceptable).
- Past performance record: related projects, checked in FAPIIS and CPARS
The Past Performance evaluation will include quality of past workmanship and services, demonstrated ability to
Not in the notice text
- Budget, estimated value or price range (not stated; only a size standard figure appears on the form)
- Sections H, I, J and the early part of Section K (clauses and any wage or other attachments) were left out of the text provided, so required clauses, insurance, bonding and licensing terms are unknown
- Attachment 3 (Exhibit Conservation Guidelines) was too large to read, and the NPS electronic program specification attachment (labeled Attachment 6 inside) is only partly included
- The statement of work refers to Attachment 1 as Exhibit Planning, Design and Fabrication Specifications with concept drawings, but the attachment provided is only photos of the current theater
- Whether attending the site visit is required to bid (text says offerors shall inspect the site but also says failure to inspect is not grounds for a claim)
- Page limits for the quote
- Exact option terms and pricing structure for line 00020 and its four optional items
- Which contracting officer email address to use for submission and questions
- Names of prior contractors or an incumbent (none stated; a 2019 plan by West Office Exhibition Design was provided as background only)
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Key facts
- Response due
- Nov 9, 2026, 1:00 PM UTC
- Posted
- Oct 7, 2026
- Notice type
- Combined Synopsis/Solicitation
- Solicitation
- 140FF027Q0002
- Agency
- Department of the Interior · Departmental Offices
- Office
- FWS Contracting Activity
- Set-aside
- Small Business Set Aside - Total
- NAICS
- 541850
- Product/service code
- C219
- Business type
- Consulting & professional services
- Contracting contact
- Dutcher, Jonijoni_dutcher@fws.gov571-447-8387
Full notice text from SAM.gov
Design, Illustration, Fabrication, and installation of Interior Exhibits at the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge
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