Think BIG When Tackling Proposals in Alaska

By Sue Gillespie, CF APMP

The Last Frontier. Land of the Midnight Sun. Gateway to the Arctic.

As a member of APMP’s Pacific Northwest Chapter, Alaska brings some unique challenges and rewards to the proposal process. The state is BIG: at 665,384 square miles it equals almost 20% of the combined size of the Lower 48. That size, combined with a few other distinguishing attributes, adds complexity to proposal management.

THE HARD COPY HURDLE
Most Alaska firms work in communities throughout the state. Excluding major hubs such as Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, and other larger cities, access to these towns and villages is often limited to water (boat or barge) or air (small planes usually carrying 10 or fewer passengers). While many agencies and organizations use online procurement portals, a challenge can arise when hard copy submission is required. This is not uncommon! When a hard copy is requested, identifying delivery options is a top priority and the proposal timeline will be adjusted accordingly – which means fewer days to complete.

WHEN DRIVING TO DELIVER ISN’T IN THE CARDS
One recent case required hard copy delivery to Bethel. Driving to Bethel is impossible, since it’s 400 miles from Anchorage and roads between the two do not exist. The town is in western Alaska and does have commercial air service, so a team member flew in with the proposal on the single available daily flight. A separate occasion involving air shipment to Petersburg in southeast Alaska led to frantic calls trying to track down the local cab to drive the package to the client. The taxi driver was finally located by contacting the front desk at the town’s hotel.

RESPECTING AND HONORING LOCAL TRADITIONS
Another unique aspect that impacts development of winning proposals in Alaska stems from the diversity of Alaska Native cultures. Five major indigenous groups (Aleut, Inupiat, Yuit, Athabascan, Tlingit/Haida) encompass more than 175 federally recognized tribes with peoples living in villages across the state, many of which are remote. Designing and building in these communities is driven by a deep knowledge and respect for local cultures. Proposals must reflect that knowledge with design solutions, public involvement, and communication methods that demonstrate a clear understanding of the community’s heritage. Building trusted relationships with community leaders and Alaska Native elders is essential to fostering an ongoing familiarity with local traditions.

FROM FROZEN TO FLOWERING
Climate zones add yet another layer of complexity. There are five climate zones in Alaska and, just as with cultural knowledge, successful proposals will provide solutions to address diverse needs for communities ranging from Utqiaġvik (northernmost point in the U.S., formerly known as Barrow) to Ketchikan in the state’s southeastern rain forest area. Subarctic and tundra conditions are specific to Alaska and proposals often present northern design expertise not commonly found outside of the state.

PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS
There are also a few pragmatic issues to consider. For instance, Alaska Standard Time runs as much as four hours behind the rest of the contiguous U.S. and coordinating with proposal partners to gather information or discuss strategies can be tricky. In addition, the combination of weather and remote locations can impact communications systems.

REWARDS THAT MAKE IT ALL WORTHWHILE
Every city or state has its own idiosyncrasies when it comes to preparing winning proposals, compounded by ever-changing market conditions and expectations. But the rewards can be very gratifying! In Alaska these include understanding diverse perspectives, learning about others’ values and aspirations, creating solutions that address disparate needs, and collaboratively solving problems to empower and strengthen local communities.