The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service Southwestern Region awarded an indefinite delivery indefinite quantity multiple award contract to Harris Environmental Group Inc. to conduct archaeological surveys and cultural resource management services across National Forest System lands in New Mexico. Task orders issued against the contract between 2021 and 2024 provide for heritage surveys totaling over 30,000 acres across several national forests, with values ranging from $55,000 to $320,000 and focusing on inventorying sites to support land management activities including prescribed burns, trails programs, and restoration efforts. Surveys involve identifying archaeological resources within specified land areas to comply with the National Historic Preservation Act and inform forest management projects. The original solicitation sought these survey and inventory services for national forests across New Mexico to meet the agency's ongoing cultural resource assessment needs.
The contract was awarded in August 2020 with a potential value of $12.5 million. Task orders issued to date have Harris Environmental Group conducting surveys through June 2024 in locations including Santa Fe, Espanola, Pecos and El Rito, New Mexico. No set-aside provisions were applied. The contract and task orders support the Forest Service's mandate to inventory and protect cultural resources on lands under its purview.