Request for Proposals: Landscape Survey of Preservation Trades Programs

06.08.2021

 

1.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION 

The Campaign for Historic Trades is seeking proposals from consultants with demonstrated expertise in preservation trades education.  

1.1 Background

On October 19, 2020, the Advisory Council of Historic Preservation (ACHP) adopted its Policy Statement on Promotion and Value of Traditional Trades Training.  It asserts the need for training skilled craftspeople, an ever-prescient issue since the publication of the 1968 Whitehill Report on Professional and Public Education for Historic Preservation.  To this end, the Statement recommends: 

  • Training opportunities in the traditional trades should be widely available. 
  • Open-source training curriculum should be created to standardize educations. 
  • Apprenticeship programs should be established. 
  • Industry-recognized credentials and qualification standards should be set. 

The Campaign for Historic Trades is an initiative of Preservation Maryland, in partnership with the Historic Preservation Training Center of the National Park Service.  The Campaign is supporting and developing these ACHP recommendations.  In this pursuit, the Campaign will produce and publish a landscape survey of current and former hands-on preservation trades programs in the United States.  This survey will inform the creation of national standards in preservation trades training and identify career pathways for tradespeople. 

1.2 Description

This survey will identify all existent hands-on preservation trades programs in the United States.  It will include accredited and non-accredited programs, as well as programs that have closed.  The report will analyze programs’ successes and failures, and therefrom determine standards and templates for historic trades programs. The goal of this survey is to: 

  • identify, analyze, and distill the successes, areas for improvement, and failures of historic trades training programs in the United States; 
  • develop training and educational standards for historic trades training programs;
  • create career roadmaps for potential historic trades trainees; and
  • support the creation of open-source trades curriculum. 

The report will inform the establishment of national apprenticeship programs and modelling of career pathways.  These apprenticeships will integrate the identifiable programmatic successes and design around systematic failures.  It will establish national professional and educational standards for historic trades.  The report should be complete by September 30, 2021. 

 

2.0 SERVICES AND SCOPE OF WORK

The contractor shall provide the following services:

2.1 Consultant will work with all project partners, agency representatives, and funders to ensure that the work is conducted appropriately and meets all requirements of this RFP.  All deliverables will be prepared in consultation with Preservation Maryland and the Historic Preservation Training Center. 

2.2 Compile a comprehensive list and description of existing and closed accredited and non-accredited hands-on preservation trades programs throughout the United States. 

  • When possible, collect program contact information, enrollment numbers, demographics, funding sources, operating budget, and accreditation status. 
  • Obtain and compile available curriculum information and learning artifacts. 
  • With participants’ permission, record relevant interviews for future reference.
     

2.3 Compose an analysis report of survey findings that identifies problems in United States’ trades education, coupled with immediate, mid-term, and long-term solutions to each problem.  Record the repeatable successes of existing and sustained programs, and indicate how additional support or resources that would benefit the program.  Identify how programs fit into broader career pathways for prospective tradespeople to follow. 

2.4 The report will be publicly available and data used to support the creation and development of trades programs.  The final report must include: 

  • The data relied upon; 
  • The analysis relied upon; and 
  • The methodology, including models, used to gather and analyze data. 

3.0 PROPOSAL FORMAT 

All submitted proposals shall be complete and prepared in a straightforward and concise manner, including: 

  • A cover letter. 
  • Explanation of consultant capabilities in successfully preparing the work detailed in 2.0 SERVICES and SCOPE OF WORK. 
  • Work plan outline and proposed timeline. 
  • Resume of primary researcher(s) and their demonstrated expertise in preservation education. 
  • A list of similar projects and qualifying experiences. 
  • A proposed budget and detailed cost of services not to exceed $30,000. 

4.0 REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS SUBMISSION DATE 

4.1 Proposals submitted against this Request for Proposals must be received by 11:59PM EST, on June 30, 2021.  Proposals that arrive after this date and time will not be considered. Notification of final selection and award of the project will occur by email on or about July 14, 2021. 

4.2 Proposals for this RFP must be submitted as a PDF electronically to: info@historictrades.org. 

4.3 Any questions regarding this RFP are to be directed to: info@historictrades.org. No calls, please. 

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