Question Contracting Opportunity - Entomology Coleoptera Preparation

=12.0ptThe National Museum of Natural History Department of Entomology is seeking a contractor to complete the 2nd year of a two-year project to curate and inventory our Bruchinae collection, with an estimated duration of 6 months.  =12.0ptCurrently the Bruchinae collection is housed in 12 cabinets, with 28 drawers per cabinet, and we estimate that the total number of specimens is around 150,000 in 1400 species. About 10% of specimens in the collection do not have data labels and are kept in paper pill boxes without lids (including paratypes). This contract seeks to mount and label all of that material and then reorganize the collection to incorporate this material bringing it up to modern curatorial standards.  This project will also add additional header labels to those that could not be addressed during a previous contract.=12.0ptThe contractor selected to undertake this project will prepare all unmounted and unlabeled material using best entomological specimen preparation practices and then reorganize the collection to allow incorporation of this material (see attached RFQ and SOW for more details). This recuration project will include the following tasks: 1) mounting and labeling about 15,000 specimens; 2) updating the existing species inventory; 3) printing and insertion of new header labels, if needed; and 4) physically rearranging the entire collection to incorporate this newly prepared material.=12.0ptDesirable skills:

• =12.0ptExperience preparing and labeling dry unmounted material, preferably beetles
• =12.0ptFamiliarity with biological nomenclature and taxonomy
• =12.0ptExperience with Excel and FileMaker Pro spreadsheets and templates
• =12.0ptExperience conducting species- and/or specimen-level inventories in a natural history museum collection
• =12.0ptStrong organizational and communication skills

=12.0ptProposals will be accepted until 5:00 PM EDT, Wednesday, February 15, 2023. Proposals will be reviewed on the basis of best value for the money. Submit bids or questions about this bid solicitation to Floyd Shockley via e-mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.=12.0pt. Follow the format set forth in section 4 of the attached Requests for Quote (RFQ) below “Information to be submitted with quotes.”  Make sure that you address each item fully in your bid submission.=12.0ptThere are no benefits, tax or social security withholding associated with this contract.=12.0ptThe contractor must pass a background investigation before work can begin.=12.0ptThank you,Floyd 

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Floyd W. Shockley, Ph.D., F.R.E.S.
Collections Manager, Entomology
Tel: 202-633-0982
Cell: 703-789-4924
Email:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  Mailing Address (USPS):Department of EntomologyNational Museum of Natural History
Smithsonian InstitutionP.O. Box 37012, MRC 165
Washington, DC 20013-7012 Shipping Address (UPS, FedEx, DHL and other couriers):Department of EntomologyNational Museum of Natural History
Smithsonian Institution1000 Constitution Ave., NWWashington, DC 20560-0165
 The National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) complies with all U.S. export and sanctions laws, as well as fish, wildlife and other regulations applicable to the importation and exportation of specimens and research materials. Please consider the country of origin and nature of any specimen, sample, object or material shipped to NMNH, and if applicable, ensure that it is properly licensed and otherwise compliant with U.S. law prior to shipment.
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY