1.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The Campaign for Historic Trades is seeking proposals from consultants with demonstrated expertise in economic and/or labor studies and statistical analysis. Knowledge of and fluency in construction and historic trades is preferred.
1.1 Background
Construction accounts for significant portions of the US labor market and economy. In 2019, it accounted for 4% of the labor market with over 7 million jobs, with projected increases in the next decade. While ample data exists for the construction industry as a whole, specific and consistent labor market statistics do not exist for historic trades.
Historic trades are a subset of construction and maintenance. Historic tradespeople encompass a broad range of skills and specialties. The commonality is they maintain, preserve, restore, rehabilitate, and reconstruct historic structures. New construction techniques differ from historic construction. Therefore, training skilled craftspeople in modern construction does not necessarily train them for historic structures. The lack of labor market data makes the assessment of training needs nearly impossible to ascertain.
The Campaign for Historic Trades seeks to identify and resolve systemic barriers to historic trades training. This study will support this initiative by isolating labor data to use in advocacy work and support the creation of historic trades apprenticeships.
1.2 Description
This study isolates historic trades statistics from construction workforce labor data. The goals of this analysis are to:
- Extrapolate what portion of the construction sector impacts historic structures;
- Determine the existing workforce in historic trades;
- Create replicable models to track historic trades labor data; and
- Inform the establishment of apprenticeship and training programs in historic trades.
There are inherent limitations in this study. Many buildings are historic but not listed on the National Register for Historic Places (NRHP). Preservation and maintenance work happens regularly without documentation of the labor, money, and materials, often via a lack of understanding of historic structures; work done by handymen, Do-It-Yourselfers, and home flippers; and under the table work, among other reasons. Therefore, it is important to acknowledge and assert that this study only represents a portion of the historic trades sector.
The report should be complete by November 30, 2021. This date is negotiable based on the consultant’s proposed scope of work.
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 the Campaign for Historic Trades and the Historic Preservation Training Center.
2.2 Compile relevant data to form a comprehensive analysis that meets the goals of this study. The consultant will coordinate with the Campaign to determine appropriate metrics and data points to accomplish this. This should include but not be limited to:
- Baseline measures of construction and maintenance sector workforce data from 2020 or most currently available data;
- Number of historic structures in the United States from 2020 or most currently available data;
- Number of structures listed on the NHRP from 2020 or most currently available data;
- Number of projects that utilized the federal historic tax credits since 2015;
- Total dollar amount spent on projects utilizing historic tax credits since 2015;
- Workforce data about tax credit projects since 2015:
- Total number of laborers and skilled trades working on tax credit projects;
- List of the different skills/trades employed;
- Ranges of pay rates for tradespeople employed on tax credit projects;
- Number of projects that utilized select state historic tax credits since 2015:
- States to be determined by consultant and the Campaign;
- Total dollar amount spent on projects utilizing select state historic tax credits since 2015;
- Workforce data about tax credit projects since 2015:
- Total number of laborers and skilled trades working on tax credit projects;
- List of the different skills/trades employed;
- Ranges of pay rates for tradespeople employed on tax credit projects;
- Economic investment in preservation, maintenance, restoration, and rehabilitation outside of historic tax credit projects;
- Projected number historic structures in 2030;
- Projected number of structures listed on the NRHP in 2030;
- Projected number of projects that will utilize the federal and/or selected state historic tax credits in 2030;
- Federal and selected state initiatives that could impact these numbers;
- Salary comparison of private and public sector jobs related to historic trades; and
- Other data as needed to form a comprehensive analysis.
2.3 Extrapolate and analyze the data to find historic trades’ impact on construction and maintenance sector labor and economics. Compose an analysis report of findings. This report will be publicly published and utilized by different entities across the country.
2.4 Final reports must include:
- The scientific 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 statistics or labor studies.
- A list of similar projects and qualifying experiences.
- A proposed budget and detailed cost of services not to exceed $40,000.
4.0 REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS SUBMISSION DATE
4.1 Proposals submitted must be received by 11:59PM EST, on August 31, 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 September 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.