2026 Request for Quote
Education Contractor (National High School Design Competition)
This Request for Quote is issued by Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, Smithsonian Institution (SI), for technical professional, non-personal services of one educational administrative contractor to provide temporary educational support for the National High School Design Competition in accordance with the Statement of Work (SOW). The award will be for nine months.
Submitting Your Quote
Price quotes may be submitted by electronic mail (email). Quotes are due by 5:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, September 10, 2026 at:
Email Subject: Request for Quote – NHSDC
Attn: Louisa Hartigan, Manager of School and Family Programs
Email to: designcompetition@si.edu
STATEMENT OF WORK
Description of Services
The Smithsonian Institution, Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum (Smithsonian) requires temporary educational administrative support for the 2027 National High School Design Competition and related programs organized by the Learning and Audience Engagement Department at Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, requiring approximately 15 hours per week.
The Contractor shall provide general administrative support including with:
- Preparing miscellaneous collateral materials and creating visual slide decks for various program sessions
- Monitoring the general competition email inbox and responding to inquiries in a timely, accurate manner
- Reviewing approximately 1,000 competition entries for eligibility against official guidelines
- Maintaining active statistics for the competition and related programs
- Updating content on the Cooper Hewitt website and submission platform
- Making arrangements for and assisting with activities and events related to the competition, including, but not limited to, the first round of judging, Mentor Weekend tentatively scheduled to be held in person in May 2027, and Judging Weekend tentatively scheduled to be held in person in June 2027 (actual dates/locations to be determined)
- Assisting with organizing travel and procurement as needed
- Ordering and preparing supplies for activities and related programs, including professional development workshops and virtual student prep sessions
- Providing assistance at various programs at Cooper Hewitt including Mentor Weekend (early May 2027), 2–3 virtual education programs (fall/winter 2027), and a professional development workshop (spring 2027)
- General administrative work as needed including mailings (electronic and paper), basic correspondence, data entry, supply management, etc.
Please see the attached Statement of Work (SOW) for Schedule of Deliverables.
Period of Performance
Approximately November 16, 2026–July 16, 2027.
Work hours will vary based on competition timeline and activities, but should average approximately 15 hours a week, not to exceed 525 total hours over the period of performance. Additional hours per week may be added, as needed, by mutual agreement.
Location
Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
2 East 91st Street
New York, NY 10128
Invoicing & Payment
An itemized invoice must be submitted by the Contractor in order to remit payment. Invoices must have proper letterhead information, reference the purchase order, are dated, has a unique invoice number, and gives a brief description of work performed. Invoices should be submitted on a bi-weekly basis via email.
Amendments must be by mutual agreement in writing by the parties.
To apply for this contract:
Submit resume, letter of intent noting at least two relevant past performances, and quote including an hourly rate as well as total estimated hours of service on letterhead with contact information to designcompetition@si.edu
RFQ_Design Competition_82626
SOW_for_Design_Competition_Contractor_82626
SI-147A
SI-147B
SI_Rights_In_Data_Clause
OCon_120
OCon 140
OCon 520
