Request for Proposal

Project Name and Description

NATIVE Act Study and Report to identify where technical assistance is needed to empower Indian Tribes, Tribal Organizations and Native Hawaiian organizations to participate fully in the tourism industry and to provide recommendations on coordination and delivery of technical assistance

Company Name

American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association, Inc. (AIANTA)

Address

2401 12th St NW
Albuquerque, NM 87104

Contact Person

Hannah Peterson, Program Development Director
505.724.3592
hpeterson@aianta.org

Project Goals and Scope of Services

The American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association (AIANTA), in collaboration with the Department of the Interior (DOI) and the Department of Commerce (DOC), seeks the services of an accredited academic institution or consultant to identify where technical assistance is needed to empower Indian Tribes, Tribal Organizations and Native Hawaiian organizations to participate fully in the tourism industry and to provide recommendations on coordination and delivery of technical assistance. The selected accredited academic institution or consultant will be responsible for the development of a comprehensive and cost-effective report on the American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Tourism sector to include the areas in which technical assistance, training and resources are needed to support cultural tourism development.

Background

AIANTA is the only organization specifically dedicated to advancing American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian tourism across the United States. AIANTA’s mission is to define, introduce, grow and sustain American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian tourism that honors traditions and values.

For over 20 years, AIANTA has been identifying and providing tailored, responsive trainings and resources for tribes and Native Hawaiians to develop, grow and enhance their cultural tourism programming and product. In 2016, the U.S. Congress passed the Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience Act (NATIVE Act) of 2016. The Department of the Interior and the Department of Commerce entered into a memorandum of understanding with AIANTA to formalize its role under 25 USC 4353 Section 4 (d) of the NATIVE Act as a facilitator between the DOI and DOC and the American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Tourism sector to identify areas where technical assistance is needed to participate fully in the tourism industry and to provide options for the delivery  and coordination of technical assistance in collaboration with the DOI, DOC, and other entities with distinct experience as appropriate.  This project is an integral first step in implementation of Sec. 4(d) of the NATIVE Act.

For more information about our mission and programs, please visit our websites at AIANTA.org and NativeAmerica.travel.

Scope of Proposal/ Project Milestones

1. Develop a structured plan in collaboration with AIANTA resulting in effective data collection to be reported to the Department of the Interior, the Department of Commerce and to the U.S. Congress. The outreach plan will include study participant groups (Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations and Native Hawaiian organizations), study protocols, surveys and survey instruments, outreach forums, timeline, process, outreach, data development and data collection with respect to participant group’s data sovereignty and participant group’s research approval processes. (Up to 1 month.)
2. Identify a framework to conduct outreach sessions with a minimum of six (6) of AIANTA’s 15 regions of the United States represented in the study participant groups, as identified in item #1. These sessions may include individual outreach, group forums, national forum(s) and informal partner outreach sessions via phone and/or virtual formats to include data collection, feedback and reporting (up to 1 month).
3. Implement plan and framework to: a) identify where technical assistance is needed to empower the American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Tourism sector to participate fully in the tourism industry; and b) provide recommendations on coordination and delivery of technical assistance. This item includes gathering, analyzing, and interpreting all data (up to 2 months).
4. Prepare an in-depth study identifying findings and recommendations. This study will be used to inform AIANTA’s technical assistance and training programs. This process will include the delivery of an initial draft report in the first month, a virtual meeting with AIANTA to present findings, answer questions, and obtain feedback in the second month; and additional technical work as needed to incorporate feedback into the final report. (Up to 2 months to complete report.)

A strong proposal will demonstrate:

• Experience working with Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations and Native Hawaiian
• A strong demonstrable history of large-scale research design and
• A strong demonstrable history of conducting outreach, focus groups, with Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations and Native Hawaiian organizations to collect data for research purposes.
• Publication of large-scale studies based on scientific methods.
• An in-depth knowledge and understanding of the Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience (NATIVE).
• Understanding of AIANTA’s mission to define, introduce, grow and sustain American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian tourism that honors traditions and values.

Note: If you are collaborating with and additional organization/institution/firm, proposals must include demonstration of partnership from the partner organization (in the form of letters of commitment) along with an outline of the roles and responsibilities envisioned for the partnership.

The project will be conducted and not to exceed six (6) months with monthly progress/status reports required.

 Anticipated Selection Schedule

Elements of Proposal 

A submission must at a minimum include the following elements:

• Project Manager with list of key staff and credentials of each.
• Description of the submitting academic institution or consultant including a general overview, names and credentials of the project team to include any supporting partners/partnerships.
• A one-page narrative outlining the strengths, experiences and distinguishing skills or capabilities as they might relate to this project and to the mission of AIANTA.
• A representative selection of past, similar research projects and/or reports demonstrating work with American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Tourism sector.
• Up to a 5-page narrative describing approach, research elements, tools, key personnel assigned, and timelines to complete the project/report as outlined.

Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated using the criteria listed below, with a maximum achievable total of 100 points.

Final award selection will be approved by AIANTA’s Board of Directors. Applicants not selected for award will be notified in writing.

Evaluation Criteria

1. Executive Summary: 10 points. Proposals will be evaluated based on the clarity of the proposal to include the required elements.
2. Project Objective, Technical Description, and Scope of Work: 35 points. This criterion will be evaluated based on the project objective, technical description and scope of work. The clarity of the described work and the appropriateness of the project in terms of meeting the intent and goals of the tourism study will be evaluated.
3. Deliverable Products: 30 points. AIANTA will rate the extent to which the expected outcome of the project meets the applicant’s stated goals, and budget based on the deliverables described.
4. Key Personnel: 25 points. The Committee understands that applicants will also conduct the study if the grant is awarded. However, the Committee will view favorably proposals that demonstrate key personnel have experience working with Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations and/or Native Hawaiian organizations. AIANTA will also evaluate the extent to which key personnel have the expertise to perform the functions under the scope of work and produce quality deliverables.

Evaluation Considerations

AIANTA will review proposals based on the following considerations.

• The successful respondent will be an accredited university, college or consulting firm with knowledge of outreach, facilitation, research and reporting on projects and topics inclusive of and/or regarding Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations.
• Possess demonstrated skills, experience and proven success in developing and implementing research projects, studies, listening session/outreach plans, data collection, data analytics and reporting inclusive of and/or regarding Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations and Native Hawaiian organizations.
• Possess the education, experience, knowledge, skills and qualifications to develop and implement this project to successful.
• Has a demonstrated history of experience working with Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations. This will be demonstrated through your defined work experience.  AIANTA will ask for references once a candidate has been selected. Selection will be contingent on references.
• Demonstrate a clear understanding of project scope and potential challenges addressing possible.
• Present a feasible proposal to develop the research plan, design the outreach framework, carry-out the research and create the in-depth study.

Reporting Requirements for Award Recipients. The applicant must deliver all products and data required (as stated in the Scope of Proposal/Project Milestones section above) for the proposed study project to AIANTA quarterly and 30 days after completion of the project’s period of performance.

AIANTA requires that deliverable products be provided in both digital format and printed hard copies. Reports can be provided in either Microsoft Word or Adobe Acrobat PDF format. Spreadsheet data can be provided in Microsoft Excel, or Adobe PDF formats. All vector figures should be converted to PDF format. Raster images can be provided in PDF, JPEG, TIFF, or any of the Windows’s metafile formats.

Please provide a complete project proposal to be completed in a  timeframe not to exceed 6 months beginning on the date the contract is finalized.

Timeline

The project/final report must be completed no later than 6 months beginning on the date the contract is finalized.

Time and Place of Submission of Proposals

The RFP will be posted on our website, AIANTA.org on November 10, 2021.

Respondents to this RFP are asked to submit their proposal via email to hpeterson@aianta.org. Responses must be received no later than December 27, 2021, 5 pm (MDT). Responses should be clearly marked with  the submitting party’s name in the re: line and emailed to the contact person as listed above.