The Department of Agriculture Forest Service awarded a purchase order to Ohio Valley Archaeology, Inc., a certified 8(a) program participant and economically disadvantaged women-owned small business, for $216,641.36 on October 1, 2026, under a total small business set-aside. The order is firm fixed price with an ultimate completion date of September 30, 2027.
The contractor will conduct Phase I heritage and cultural resources inventory surveys across approximately 1,000 acres on Wayne National Forest in southeastern Ohio, spanning five counties (Athens, Monroe, Washington, Gallia, Lawrence, and Scioto) and 34 discrete survey units within the Athens and Ironton Ranger Districts. Work includes locating and identifying all cultural resources over 50 years of age, preliminary National Register eligibility assessments, subsurface testing (estimated 30–40 percent of project area), and production of draft and final reports with Ohio Archaeological Inventory forms, ArcGIS shapefiles, and submissions to the Ohio Historic Preservation Office in compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act and Archaeological Resources Protection Act. The work is performed in Murray City, Ohio. Funding derives from combined IIJA and IRA appropriations. The originating solicitation closed September 1, 2026, under NAICS 541720.