My Section 106 contract on the 1931 Art Deco theater in Worcester wraps mid-December, and I’m trying to line up the next gig — ideally HABS-level documentation or historic survey work that values research time. If you’re hiring along the Boston–Providence corridor (I drive and bring my own photography kit), what rates are people seeing this season for measured drawings and archival deep dives?
When my last Section 106 wrapped in mid-December, I picked up a ‘HABS-level’ set in Providence at $80–95/hr for measured drawings and $450/day for field photos with my own kit; push for research at the same rate or they’ll try to cut it. If you’re in the Boston–Providence corridor, watch COMMBUYS for MassDOT/MHC winter survey RFPs: https://www.commbuys.com.
I’m seeing $95–110/hr for measured drawings around Boston and $475–525/day for field photos with my own kit; like @layla8344, I break out research as its own line and add a winter weather-hold because you end up racing the sun. I also drop this in scopes so clients grasp the effort: https://www.nps.gov/hdp/standards/habs-haer-hals-standards.htm — are you on MHC’s consultant list yet?
Quick tip: I’ve landed winter HABS work by pitching research as a fixed block and drawings time-and-materials, with a weather hold clause below 25°F — PMs usually accept a small cold-weather premium if you spell out fewer daylight hours and slower setups. If you haven’t already, peek at MHC’s on-call postings: https://www.sec.state.ma.us/mhc/; @layla8344’s take on separating research is right, but a capped study block keeps procurement calm and your fingers unfrozen.