Smithsonian Institution posts RFP: National Museum of African American History and Culture Digital Experience Initiative

Updated April 10, 2025

Notice ID: 33330225RF0010026

Statement of Work

Contractors shall provide all professional, technical, non-personal services for the design, development, operations, and management of the Deliverables under this Scope of Work. Contractors shall use their own methods and subject matter expertise to provide the services under this Scope of Work and as described in the Project Deliverables specified below.

All deliverables for the Experience shall follow Smithsonian and Museum established guidelines and requirements for Information Technology security, accessibility, performance, compatibility, data integrity, and resiliency and be consistent with established Museum digital product development lifecycle practices.. To meet the Museum’s Objectives and the Scope of Work for this SOO, Contractors shall provide a cross-functional team of software engineers, user researchers, user experience designers, content and product strategists to drive an iterative, repeatable process that aligns with the Museum’s objectives and strategic goals.

Core Team Rolls

1. Tech-Lead: Leads the overall technical effort of the team.
2. Full stack Developers: Develops back-end architecture and front-end components and testing.
3. Content Strategist: Uses research and content to shape narratives for digital experience. Develops content management workflow.
4. Product Designer: Responsible for the overall user experience and user interface for user-centered design tasks and usability planning as needed.
5. Quality Assurance / Test Engineer: Develops manual and automated tests for entire side and individual components.
6. Content / Copy Editor: Focuses on copy editing and unifying voice of written content/narratives

Google Analytics

1. GA4 Event tracking:  Implement customized GA4 Event tracking and reporting to measure audience reach and engagement for the Museum’s key audience segments including….

Audience Research

1. Provide research and analyses of key audience segments including educators, students, and lifelong learners and those seeking information about the African American experience and African American history and culture.
2. Define key audience segments within the Museum’s digital ecosystem using audience surveys, research, GA4 data
3. Making suggestions for improvements based on results on a continuous basis.

Content Strategy and Content Management

1. Uses research and content to shape narratives for digital experience. Develops content management workflow.
2. Manages content and image asset imports for site
3. Works with NMAAHC team to develop project schedules for individual exhibitions
4. Reviews exhibition scripts for reading level, consistency, and narrative
5. Guides Museum teams in best practices for content development including SEO, search, key word research, CMS best practices and content strategy …

Read more here.

Posted March 20, 2025

Notice ID: 33330225RT0010022

The RFP will be available on or about 4/1/25.  Please note: The Smithsonian anticipates the need to include a Minimum Qualifications Requirement.  Interested Offerors will need to respond to and provide documentation satisfying these minimum qualifications in order to be considered for award. Any and all materials must be submitted by the deadlines set forth in the RFP in order to be considered.

The Searchable Museum is committed to bringing all the Museum’s permanent exhibitions online while creating new, original, interpretive, digital experiences that reimagine the Museum’s exhibitions, collection, archives, and scholarly works in a digital space that engages online visitors with visually compelling, immersive, multimedia storytelling that is informative and educational. As an online platform, the Searchable Museum is built on a flexible, scalable, and secure cloud-based computing environment and content management system, using modern standards for web browser-based applications that meet current requirements for online accessibility, and align with the Museum’s established brand identity and online style guide.

In 2025, the Museum is prioritizing improving the accessibility and discoverability of its original digital content through qualitative and quantitative audience research and analysis, iterative design enhancements to the user experience, and a strategic approach to content development and publishing that aligns with the Museum’s audience outreach and engagement goals. The Museum is also prioritizing growing its online audience reach and engagement through the design and development of new, interactive, immersive features for the Searchable Museum that add value to the user experience and provide new opportunities for engaging learners of all levels who visit the platform online. Key outcomes will include the release of the online exhibition experience for A Changing America, 1868 – Today, the final permanent exhibition from the Museum’s History Galleries, an enhanced Home Page and Search experience, and improved audience analytics tracking.

Among the Museum’s key objectives as part of the Smithsonian’s Strategic Plan are to provide online visitors to the Searchable Museum with experiences that grow and diversify the Museum’s audience reach, enhances engagement, and increase the Museum’s impact among key online audience segments. To meet these objectives, the Museum seeks to enhance the usability, accessibility, flexibility, functionality, and performance of the Searchable Museum online platform and develop new digital content experiences drawn from the Museum’s exhibitions, collection, archives, and educational resources.

Together these enhancements shall provide the Museum’s online audiences with a digital experience that meets the Smithsonian’s strategic goals of serving as a trusted online source for all Americans and ensuring every home and classroom has access the Museum’s digital resources.

The Smithsonian is looking to award one time-and-materials contract with possible multiple option periods to one successful Offeror.

Read more here.

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