Description
Landscape Analysis Project Overview
The National Geographic Society is seeking a researcher to conduct a landscape analysis to inform the Blue Boundaries education and community engagement approach for our Mississippi River freshwater wetlands initiatives.
The analysis should 1) outline the existing conservation education landscape across primary, secondary, post-secondary and informal education, 2) identify key actors including individuals, organizations, institutions and their activities, 3) assess critical gaps in the field, and 4) pinpoint unique opportunities for the Society to catalyze meaningful impact with our audiences which include formal and informal educators, youth ages 13-25, and community members. The objectives for this landscape analysis include, but are not limited to, the following:
Learning Ecosystem Mapping:
General: A thorough examination of the existing conservation education landscape within the Mississippi River watershed, identifying local, regional, and global actors, existing educational activities and offerings for our relevant audiences, and key trends.
Supporting Freshwater Wetlands Conservation: A detailed assessment of the current conservation education landscape in the Mississippi River watershed, with a particular focus on biodiversity, carbon dynamics, socioecological health, and resistance and resilience of freshwater wetlands in educational activities and offerings for our relevant audiences, local, regional and global actors, and key trends.
Gap Analysis & Recommendations:
Deliver a gap analysis highlighting areas of saturation and unmet community needs in the freshwater wetlands conservation education space for our defined audiences.
Provide actionable recommendations on how the National Geographic Society’s Education and Community Engagement division can engage for impact.
Scope of Work
The National Geographic Society is seeking proposals from individuals or organizations with demonstrated expertise in conducting education landscape analysis with a focus on conservation education topics in the Mississippi River watershed.
The scope of this project includes:
Working closely and collaboratively with our Education and Community Engagement Division to ensure research design meets our objectives and provide actionable insights.
Develop an analysis strategy to meet our goals and aims.
Develop a draft report and final report including comprehensive written findings and potential opportunities for NGS Education and Community Engagement Division. Also provide a presentation deck that synthesizes findings comprehensively.
Present findings and recommendations and answer questions to various groups of National Geographic staff and key stakeholders, up to three presentations.
We also welcome proposals that include creative ideas and thoughts around the best approach for this endeavor that may not be mentioned in this scope of work.
Target Deliverable Schedule
Work should conclude by December 2026 (approximately 8-10 weeks post the date of award). Please include a detailed timeline of work and deliverables that would allow you to meet this completion date. If this date needs to be adjusted, please include your readjusted proposed date, as well as your reasoning for shifting the timeline. All proposed date changes will be considered.
Background on the National Geographic Society
The National Geographic Society is a mission-driven, non-profit organization that uses the power of science, exploration, education and storytelling to illuminate and protect the wonder of our world. For more than 130 years, we have funded the best and brightest individuals dedicated to scientific discovery who also teach us about the world and inspire us to take action to protect it. Our diverse, global community of National Geographic Explorers are leading a new age of exploration in support of our mission. Background on the Education & Community Engagement Division at the National Geographic Society In partnership with researchers, educators, community leaders and learners of all ages, the National Geographic Society’s Education and Community Engagement team works at the nexus of science and storytelling to push the boundaries of research and practice to improve scientific outcomes, drive new knowledge and spark the attitude and behavior shifts necessary for sustainable and resilient long-term conservation efforts. At the heart of our mission is the cultivation of an Explorer Mindset —the attitudes, skills and knowledge that enable National Geographic Explorers to find innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges. We work to build an Explorer Mindset in learners of all ages by designing learning resources and experiences that connect people with the work that Explorers do around the world and creating the enabling conditions for them to make change in their own communities.
Background on Blue Boundaries
The National Geographic Society and Chubb Charitable Foundation partner to protect our “Blue Boundaries, ” the critical places where land and water meet. The Blue Boundaries program focuses on safeguarding three of Earth’s most vital ecosystems — freshwater wetlands, coastal systems and reefs — by uniting on-the ground conservation science and research with powerful storytelling to build a resilient future for both people and nature. Led by a cohort of National Geographic Explorers, the Blue Boundaries program encompasses scientific research, conservation work, education initiatives and impact storytelling to address the planet’s most pressing challenges. By engaging local communities, these Explorers will help co-create innovative and scalable solutions that are informed by science and grounded in local knowledge. Blue Boundaries is being implemented in a phased approach, with strategic overlap throughout the partnership, starting with freshwater wetlands and then moving to coastal systems, culminating in reef environments. This approach mirrors the downstream flow of water that connects life and ecological processes, underscoring the interdependence of these environments.
Background on Geographic Region
The first phase of the Blue Boundaries program focuses on freshwater wetlands and will champion scientific research and spark scalable conservation efforts across three regions worldwide.
The focus for this RFP covers the following locations:
Wetlands of Southern Mexico, Belize & Guatemala: As the gateway to the tropics for the Americas, this region’s biodiverse wetlands serve as a critical stronghold for iconic wildlife — including manatees, species living deep in the groundwater that sustain local foodwebs, jaguars, and greater flamingos— while simultaneously supporting a robust tourism-based economy and storing vast amounts of irrecoverable carbon through rich wetland and peatland soils that are essential to achieving global climate stability.
Wetlands of the Lower Mekong Basin: Spanning four nations, including Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, the Lower Mekong Basin is a critical transnational lifeline that sustains tens of millions of livelihoods and hosts one of the world’s largest and most productive inland fisheries, producing 2.3 million tons of fish harvested every year. Wetlands of this region can record changes through time, and the area remains a global biodiversity hotspot, providing shelter for birds and aquatic life, including rare megafish, and freshwater stingrays.
Wetlands of the Mississippi River: A cornerstone of North American ecological resilience, this region provides essential drinking water, economic stability through agriculture, trade and hydropower, and carbon storage. This watershed acts as an unparalleled biodiversity artery, including microbes that sustain the health of the river, North American migratory birds, and iconic vegetation, providing critical habitat for species such as beavers, river otters and American alligators.
Requirements
Evaluation Criteria
The National Geographic Society will evaluate bidders and proposals based on the following:
Relevant organizational experience and expertise
Key personnel qualifications and quality of past work
Samples and/or case studies from previous projects of a similar scope and scale
Projected costs within a $20,000 USD budget
Experience and technical capabilities designing research studies for large, trusted
brands
Demonstrated experience developing, designing and implementing landscape research studies in the specific geographic region identified
Demonstrated commitment to inclusive practices
Demonstrated commitment to conservation and environmental sustainability
Submission Requirements
Bidders must adhere to the following guidelines to be considered:
Only bidders who meet all criteria in the evaluation section should submit a proposal
Proposals must be sent in by September 20, 2026 to Bryan Andriano c/o Travis Price attrprice@ngs.org.
Include in your proposal:
Your proposed approach
Organizational capacity and relevant experience
The proposed team composition and brief biographical summaries of each team
member’s professional experience
Proposed timeline
A project budget
Samples of your prior work
Contact information for prior partners who can speak to the quality of your work
RFP Principles
Bidder Responsibility—RFP participating suppliers are expected to be thoroughly familiar with all specifications and requirements for this RFP. Failure or omission to examine any relevant form, article, site or document will not relieve suppliers from any obligation regarding this Request for Proposal unless supplier has raised a written objection. Objections NGS considers excessive or affecting vital terms may reduce or eliminate your prospects for award. If at any time NGS discovers deviations in the response that are not identified as instructed, the suppliers will be subject to disqualification from consideration or cancellation of contract. “No Surprises”—the suppliers will implement no changes in prices, or interpretations of contract terms, without the express, advance concurrence, and consent of NGS. Suppliers’ Representations to NGS, whether verbal or written, will be relied upon by NGS in its evaluation of the suppliers as a potential supplier. By submitting a proposal in response to this RFP, the supplier represents that their organization is fully experienced and properly qualified to perform such services as described in the RFP, and that it is properly licensed, equipped, organized, and financed to perform such services, and the supplier will be relied upon by NGS as material factors that will be considered in the decision making process. Response Content—In order to enable direct comparison of responses, all must be submitted in strict conformity to the items listed herein. Failure to adhere to all requirements may result in the supplier information being disqualified as non-responsive. Contract Award will be made following the issuance of the RFP and following the evaluation of proposed responses. Award will be made to the responsive, responsible bidder, whose offer conforms to the RFP and is most advantageous to NGS, evaluating quality, services, price and other factors. This RFP is not a Contract or an offer to enter into a contract, and NGS does not intend to be legally bound to any recipient of this RFP with respect to the potential transactions herein. Unless and until a written purchase order or other definitive written agreement is delivered and signed by both parties, NGS does not intend to be legally bound. NGS may discontinue discussion regarding the potential transactions described in this RFP at any time, without notice and for its convenience without liability or obligation to any recipient of this RFP. NGS Reserves the Right to negotiate or refuse to negotiate with any supplier responding to this RFP. In addition, NGS may enter negotiations with more than one prospective supplier simultaneously, and may contact with any prospective supplier without notification to any other suppliers. NGS is Not Responsible for Costs incurred by bidder in responding to this RFP, including but not limited to, preparation of the written RFP response, interviews, travel or other related costs. Confidentiality—The bidder agrees that all information contained in this RFP as well as all non-public information about NGS and National Geographic Partners that it obtains in the course of the performance of its services should it be awarded a contract shall be kept strictly confidential. This RFP must not be copied, circulated, or forwarded to any third party for evaluation without the written consent from National Geographic Society. NGS will not consider any bids submitted by suppliers who violate this confidentiality statement. All proposals, including pricing and sample contracts submitted by the supplier will be kept strictly confidential by NGS. Unauthorized Contact—Except as provided herein, should bidder contact or solicit any trustee, officer or employee of NGS or NGP with regard to this RFP, it may be barred from further consideration in NGS’s sole discretion. Insurance Requirements Supplier will carry and maintain comprehensive insurance policies as follows: 1. Commercial General Liability Insurance. Requirements: occurrence rather than claims-made coverage with minimum limits as follows: a. $1,000,000 each occurrence, combined single limit. b. $2,000,000 general aggregate (including a per location or per project endorsement) c. $2,000,000 aggregate; products, completed operations d. $1,000,000 personal and advertising injury, each occurrence e. $10,000 medical payments 2. Workers' Compensation Insurance. Requirements: workers’ compensation coverage meeting statutory limits and coverages as required by state or states of operation; employers’ liability coverage for bodily injury in the amount of $500,000 each accident, $500,000 disease (each employee) $500,000 disease policy limit. 3. Umbrella/Excess Liability Insurance. Requirements: follows form (i.e., coverages and exclusions reflect those of the primary insurance policies); minimum coverage $5,000,000 for each occurrence and $5,000,000 annual aggregate. 4. Automobile Liability Insurance. Requirements: owned, non-owned, and hired-car coverage; with minimum limit of liability $1,000,000 each accident; bodily injury and property damage. These insurance policies must be maintained with insurance carriers rated by A.M. Best as A- or better. Supplier will maintain coverage throughout the Term and will endeavor to give NGS Legal Notice thirty (30) days before a material change in policy coverage. The General Liability, Auto Liability, and Excess/Umbrella Liability must include NGS, its subsidiaries, licensees, partners, directors, and officers, agents and employees as additional insureds. Coverage must apply on a primary and noncontributory basis for ongoing and completed operations. The General Liability, Workers Compensation Policies, and Auto Liability, coverages must include a waiver of subrogation in favor of NGS, its trustees, directors, officers, employees, servants, agents, and the Supplier. Certificates of insurance will be provided within thirty (30) days of execution of the agreement, completed by its insurance broker/representative. The Certificate Holder will be National Geographic Society, 1145 17th Street, NW, Washington DC 20036. An acceptable certificate must be received before services and/or products can be accepted. As an independent contractor, Supplier is required to pay at its own expense for the insurance that it is required to maintain under this Agreement. Supplier waives rights against NGS, its subsidiaries, affiliates, licensees, partners, trustees, directors, officers, employees, agents, representatives, and assigns (collectively, “NGS Indemnitees”) for recovery of damages to the extent these damages are covered by insurance that the Supplier is required to maintain under the terms in this section.
