Solicitation_package_-_Solicitation_-_Round_2_-_SOW_02-08-18.pdf

SOLICITATION

This solicitation is being issued for Cultural Resources Assessment Services and prepared in accordance with FAR Part 8.405-2. The solicitation number for this procurement is 122B4618Q0038 and is being issued as a Request for Quotation (RFQ) using the Simplified Acquisition Procedures found in FAR Part 13. This solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through the Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) – 2005-98/05-31-2018. This procurement is 100% set- aside for small businesses and falls under North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Classification 541720 – Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities

The Government intends to issue a Firm Fixed Priced Delivery Order for services provided to the NRCS State Office in Gainesville, Florida. Please quote a price for each property and the follow-on Phase II and Remediation work efforts supporting any findings during phase I – see items 011 – 020 below.

The government plans to award to the vendor with the lowest quote after meeting the following source selection criteria.

SOURCE SELECTION CRITERIA – NON PRICE FACTORS:

- Vendor must be a Small Business and be able to provide certification in the response or it be evident within their SAM account.

- Vendor must have required qualifications to perform phase I surveys and be able to provide certification in their response (i.e. The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Federal Agency Historic Preservation Programs Pursuant to the National Historic Preservation Act (63 FR 20495) published April 24, 1998)

- Vendor must have an active without exclusion SAM.GOV registration and provide concurrence that they are qualified to perform work IAW NAICS Code 541720 in their SAM Account within the representations and certifications area.

- Vendor must have geographical experience doing services outlined in the Performance Work Statement.

DUE DATE:

All quotations are due June 25, 2018, no later than 2 p.m. EST and must be addressed to Mr. Scott Crist (Contracting Officer – Indiana) via e-mail at scott.crist@wdc.usda.gov.

Any quote received after the exact time listed above is late and will not be considered.

Questions may be raised by sending an e-mail to scott.crist@wdc.usda.gov. However, please include the following in the subject line of the e-mail. Failure to send e-mails without the following subject line may be sent to junk mail and therefore, no response may be received.

Solicitation 122B4618Q0038 – Cultural Resources Assessment

The following addenda also apply. Quoter’s must read and follow these additional instructions to receive consideration:

a. RFQ should be submitted and shall contain the following information:

mailto:scott.crist@wdc.usda.gov mailto:scott.crist@wdc.usda.gov

SOLICITATION NUMBER; NAME; ADDRESS; TELEPHONE

NUMBER OF QUOTER; PRICE, ANY DISCOUNT TERMS AND

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF ALL SOLICITATION AMENDMENTS.

Quotes must indicate quantity, unit price and total amount for each property (Cultural Resources Assessment) – to arrive as twenty (20) separate line items on the quote.

b. Contract Line Item Numbers (CLINS). The quote must be received matching that below:

CLIN Property Total

001 BLACKBEARD'S RANCH LLC –

155.1 acres.

002 Navum Valley Farms 35 LLC –

636.28 acres.

003 Robert Lindsey – 171.7 acres 004 Banack Family Limited Prtn. –

Heron Grove – 37.60 acres

005 Bernard Eagan & Co – 245.0 acres

006 ESTES CITRUS INC – 145.7 acres

007 VERO PRODUCER INC. – 415.8

acres.

008 K BAR D CATTLE – 94.1 acres 009 Banack Family Limited Prtn –

Stork Grove – 224.30 acres.

010 Banack Family Limited Prtn –

227.28 acres.

011 Option Line item 001 – Phase II – Please price separately.

012 Option Line item 002 – Phase II

013 Option Line item 003 – Phase II

014 Option Line item 004 – Phase II

015 Option Line item 005 – Phase II

016 Option Line item 006 – Phase II

017 Option Line item 007 – Phase II

018 Option Line item 008 – Phase II

019 Option Line item 009 – Phase II

020 Option Line item 010 – Phase II

c. System for Award Management (SAM) Registration

All Contractors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) prior to award of a Federal Contract. However, due to the need to promptly award a contract after receipt of quotes, registration in SAM, to include completion of the Representations and Certifications, and having a status of “Active” is required BEFORE submitting a quote. For information regarding registration visit www.sam.gov.

d. Payment

Payments will be made by electronic funds transfer (EFT) using IPP (https://www.ipp.fms.treas.gov/). Awardee must submit all invoices through IPP. No manual payments by the CO will be made.

AGAR 452.224-70 Confidentiality of Information (FEB 1988)

(a) Confidential information, as used in this clause, means --

(1) Information or data of a personal nature, proprietary about an individual or

(2) information or data submitted by or pertaining to an organization.

(b) In addition to the types of confidential information described in (a)(1) and (2) above, information which might require special consideration with regard to the timing of its disclosure may derive from studies or research, during which public disclosure of primarily invalidated findings could create an erroneous conclusion which might threaten public health or safety if acted upon.

(c) The Contracting Officer and the Contractor may, by mutual consent, identify elsewhere in this contract specific information and/or categories of information which the Government will furnish to the Contractor or that the Contractor is expected to generate which is confidential. Similarly, the Contracting Officer and the Contractor may, by mutual consent, identify such confidential information from time to time during the performance of the contract. Failure to agree will be settled pursuant to the "Disputes" clause.

(d) If it is established that information to be utilized under this contract is subject to the Privacy Act, the Contractor will follow the rules and procedures of disclosure set forth in the Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. 552a, and implementing regulations and policies, with respect to systems of records determined to be subject to the Privacy Act.

(e) Confidential information, as defined in (a)(1) and (2) above, shall not be disclosed without the prior written consent of the individual, institution or organization.

(f) Written advance notice of at least 45 days will be provided to the Contracting Officer of the Contractor's intent to release findings of studies or research, which have the possibility of adverse effects on the public or the Federal agency, as described in (b) http://www.sam.gov/ https://www.ipp.fms.treas.gov/ above. If the Contracting Officer does not pose any objections in writing within the 45 day period, the contractor may proceed with disclosure. Disagreements not resolved by the Contractor and Contracting Officer will be settled pursuant to the "Disputes" clause.

(g) Whenever the Contractor is uncertain with regard to the proper handling of material under the contract, or if the material in question is subject to the Privacy Act or is confidential information subject to the provisions of this clause, the Contractor shall obtain a written determination from the Contracting Officer prior to any release, disclosure, dissemination, or publication.

(h) The provisions of paragraph (e) of this clause shall not apply when the information is subject to conflicting or overlapping provisions in other Federal, State or local laws.

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT (PWS)

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE (NRSC)

WETLAND RESERVE EASEMENT (WRE) PROGRAM

CULTURAL RESOURCES PHASE I ASSESSMENT/SURVEY

Part 1

General Information

1. GENERAL: This is a non-personnel services contract to conduct a Phase I cultural resources survey including a literature search and background review, field surveys, and associated reporting for the proposed Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Wetland Reserve Easement (WRE) Program study areas.

1.1 Description of Services/Introduction: An intensive Phase I cultural resources assessment will be conducted by the contractor to aid in the agency’s compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) (16 U.S.C. §470) and its implementing regulations (36 C.F.R.

Part 800). The contractor shall provide all personnel, equipment, supplies, facilities, transportation, tools, materials, supervision, and other items and non-personal services necessary to perform the cultural resources survey in the WRE study areas as defined in this Performance Work Statement (PWS), except for those items specified as government furnished property and services. The contractor shall perform to the standards in this contract.

1.2 Background: The intent of the WRE project is to enhance and restore wildlife habitat by restoring wetlands with the removal of exotic vegetation and restore historic wetland hydrology.

As part of the WRE project, various structural and vegetative practices will be implemented, depending on the project scale as well as benchmark and planned future conditions. No project plan is presently available for review; therefore, the contractor is not required to assess potential effects to historic properties. The Phase I cultural resources assessment is intended to identify and evaluate cultural resources and historic properties within the study areas for consideration during development of restoration plans, and during subsequent stages of compliance with the NHPA, including determination of effects and consultation.

1.3 Objectives: The goal of the Phase I cultural resources assessment under this contract is to locate, record, establish vertical and horizontal site boundaries as appropriate, and evaluate the significance and eligibility of cultural resources (archaeological sites and other types of historic resources) identified within the WRE study areas for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). The results of the investigations will be important in developing restoration plans and assessing the potential effects of the WRP project to cultural resources within the project areas and surrounding environs.

1.4 Scope: This PWS details the Contractor’s requirement to perform an intensive Phase I cultural resources survey within the WRE study areas, as defined in Technical Exhibit 3. As part of the WRE, the NRCS is proposing the purchase of easements on private property; therefore, contractors will coordinate access for fieldwork with the appropriate NRCS representative, for whom contact information will be provided among deliverables upon Notice to Proceed (NTP).

The WRP consists of ten (10) study areas in Florida. Testing of high, moderate and low probability areas should follow the guidelines for density and spacing as recommended by the Florida Division of Historical Resources’ (DHR) Module Three, Guidelines for Use by Historic Preservation Professionals; this includes testing of 10 percent of low probability areas. Shovel test should measure approximately 50 cm in diameter and excavated to a depth of one meter or bedrock, all sediment will be screened for cultural material using a ¼ inch mesh screen.

Project objectives include:

1) Present an overview of archaeological and historic research in and near the project area based on previous surveys and survey reports;

2) Document the location, nature, and extent of previously recorded cultural resources, including archaeological and historic resources, within and adjacent to the project area;

3) Identify and record locations and boundaries of archaeological sites and historic resources within and immediately adjacent to the project area;

4) Evaluate all cultural resources within the project area for eligibility for inclusion on the NRHP, including previously recorded resources, to the extent possible;

5) Recommend additional cultural resource investigations to evaluate significance, as appropriate to investigation and evaluation results.

1.5 Period of Performance:

The period of performance will be 125 days. See exhibit 2 for calculation of 118 days plus an additional 7 days accounting for unforeseen actions.

Schedule:

1) Commence background research upon receipt of Delivery Order

2) Fieldwork will be started within 30 days of NTP and will be completed in accordance with timeline listed on Exhibit 2.

3) An Executive Summary of field work findings, to be provided within 7 calendar days of completion of fieldwork.

4) Two hard copies and one electronic copy of the draft survey report delivered to the Cultural

Resources Coordinator, Ecological Sciences Section, NRCS State Office in Gainesville, Florida within 120 days after fieldwork is complete.

5) Reviews of the draft reports will be provided to the Contractor within 14 calendar days after receipt of the draft report.

6) Five bound copies, and one electronic copy (on compact disc) of the final reports will be delivered to the Cultural Resources Coordinator, Ecological Sciences Section, NRCS State Office in Gainesville, Florida within 7 calendar days after receipt of the Contractor of the Government's review comments. The electronic copy will include a copy the complete artifact catalog (compatible with Microsoft Excel).

1.6 General Information

1.6.1 Place of Performance: The work to be performed under this contract will be performed at the Contractor’s facility within the State of Florida, at libraries and archives (public, private and Tribal), and within the NRCS project areas, as shown in Technical Exhibit 3.

1.6.2 Special Qualifications: Agencies, institutions, corporations, associations, or individuals shall be considered qualified when they meet the minimum criteria given in section 1.6.6 below. The Contractor shall submit with the proposal package the qualifications, including academic and work experience, for the Principal Investigator and the key employees to the Contracting Officer. Any change to these employees during the performance of this contract must have the prior written approval of the Contracting Officer.

1.6.3 Periodic Progress Meetings The Contracting Officer, Contracting Officers Representative

(COR) if applicable, and other Government personnel, as appropriate, may meet periodically with the contractor to review the contractor's performance. At these meetings the contracting officer will apprise the contractor of how the government views the contractor's performance and the contractor will apprise the Government of problems, if any, being experienced. Appropriate action shall be taken to resolve outstanding issues. These meetings shall be at no additional cost to the government.

Principal Investigator The PI shall meet the criteria for a qualified professional archaeologist as defined in Personnel Qualifications of this PWS and according to the professional qualification standards established by the Secretary of the Interior. The PI for the contract will be, at minimum, an archaeologist at the MA level with at least two years of professional experience in cultural resources management and the administration of multi-disciplinary historic property surveys/excavations within the state of Florida. The PI shall be responsible for overall supervision of work and services to be performed under this contract, and shall be responsible for the validity of the material presented and reports produced under this contract. The Principle Investigator and Project Manager may be the same individual.

The minimum formal qualifications for individuals practicing archaeology as a profession are:

1) A graduate degree in archaeology, anthropology or a closely related field or equivalent training,

2) A demonstrated ability to carry research to completion,

3) at least one year of professional experience and/or specialized training in archaeological field, laboratory, or library research, administration, or management, including at least one year experience in a supervisory role and at least one year of experience and/or specialized training in the type of activities the individual proposed to practice, and

4) a proven familiarity with the archaeological resources of the region where the person is to work.

1.6.11 Identification of Contractor Employees: RESERVED

1.6.7 Contractor Travel: The Contractor will be required to mobilize to and from the five study areas to perform work under this contract.

1.6.8 Data Rights: All documents and data created during the cultural resources assessment survey (field notes, pictures, drawings, photographs, etc.) will be transferred to the Cultural Resources Coordinator, Ecological Sciences Section, NRCS State Office in Gainesville, Florida. All materials supplied to the Government shall be the sole property of the Government and may not be used for any other purpose.

1.6.9 Organizational Conflict of Interest. The Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer immediately whenever it becomes aware that such access or participation may result in any actual or potential OCI and shall promptly submit a plan to the Contracting Officer to avoid or mitigate any such OCI. The Contractor’s mitigation plan will be determined to be acceptable solely at the discretion of the Contracting Officer and in the event the Contracting Officer unilaterally determines that any such OCI cannot be satisfactorily avoided or mitigated, the Contracting Officer may affect other remedies as he or she deems necessary, including prohibiting the Contractor from participation in subsequent contracted requirements which may be affected by the OCI.

PART 2

DEFINITIONS & ACRONYMS

2. DEFINITIONS AND ACRONYMS:

2.1. DEFINITIONS:

2.1.1. CONTRACTOR. A supplier or vendor having a contract to provide specific supplies or service to the government. The term used in this contract refers to the prime.

2.1.2. CONTRACTING OFFICER. A person with authority to enter into, administer, and or terminate contracts, and make related determinations and findings on behalf of the government.

Note: The only individual who can legally bind the government.

2.1.3. DEFECTIVE SERVICE. A service output that does not meet the standard of performance associated with the Performance Work Statement.

2.1.4. DELIVERABLE. Anything that can be physically delivered but may include non-physical things such as meeting minutes.

2.1.5. KEY PERSONNEL. Contractor personnel that are evaluated in a source selection process and that may be required to be used in the performance of a contract by the Key Personnel listed in the PWS. When key personnel are used as an evaluation factor in best value procurement, an offer can be rejected if it does not have a firm commitment from the persons that are listed in the proposal.

2.1.6. PHYSICAL SECURITY. Actions that prevent the loss or damage of Government property.

2.1.7. QUALITY ASSURANCE. The government procedures to verify that services being performed by the Contractor are performed according to acceptable standards.

2.1.8. QUALITY ASSURANCE Surveillance Plan (QASP). An organized written document specifying the surveillance methodology to be used for surveillance of contractor performance.

2.1.9. QUALITY CONTROL. All necessary measures taken by the Contractor to assure that the quality of an end product or service shall meet contract requirements.

2.1.10. SUBCONTRACTOR. One that enters into a contract with a prime contractor. The Government does not have privity of contract with the subcontractor.

2.1.11. WORK DAY. The number of hours per day the Contractor provides services in accordance with the contract.

2.1.12. WORK WEEK. Is defined as Monday through Friday, unless specified otherwise.

PART 3

GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY, EQUIPMENT, AND SERVICES

3. GOVERNMENT FURNISHED ITEMS AND SERVICES:

3.1. Services: The Government will provide ArcView shapefiles of the five study areas. The Government will not provide any other services or personnel to assist with production set up. The Government will provide contact information of the appropriate NRCS representative for the contractor to coordinate access to each study area upon NTP.

3.2 Facilities: The Government will NOT provide any facilities.

3.3 Utilities: The Government will NOT provide any utilities.

3.4 Equipment: The Government will NOT provide any equipment.

3.5 Materials: The Government will NOT provide any materials.

PART 4

CONTRACTOR FURNISHED ITEMS AND SERVICES

4. CONTRACTOR FURNISHED ITEMS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

4.1 General: The contractor shall supply the necessary personnel, facilities, supplies, materials, and other equipment required to conduct site evaluations and cultural resources survey of the study areas. All GPS equipment shall be of such design and in such condition and adjustment that results obtained will be within a 3-meter range of accuracy. The contractor is responsible for coordinating entry with the appropriate NRCS representative for access to the five study areas.

4.2 Materials. The Contractor shall provide office and field supplies to meet the requirements under this PWS.

4.3 Equipment. The Contractor shall provide office and field equipment to meet the requirements of this PWS:

PART 5

SPECIFIC TASKS

5. Specific Tasks:

5.1 Basic Services

The Contractor shall be responsible for all damages to persons and property that occur in connection with the work and services performed under this Contract, without recourse against the Government. The Contractor is responsible for having adequate insurance coverage for all activities required under this Contract.

If encountered, human skeletal remains and the artifacts found in association with human remains, whether in association with marked graves or unmarked burials, will be left in situ and all work in this locality shall cease and desist and remains shall be reinterred where observed. The contractor will contact the Cultural Resources Coordinator, Ecological Sciences Section, NRCS State Office in Gainesville, Florida, immediately and guidelines pursuant to Florida Statute §872.02 will apply (see reference below).

Florida Statute §872.02: A person who willfully and knowingly destroys, mutilates, defaces, injures, or removes any tomb, monument, gravestone, burial mound, earthen or shell monument containing human skeletal remains or associated burial artifacts, or other structure or thing placed or designed for a memorial of the dead, or any fence, railing, curb, or other thing intended for the protection or ornamentation of any tomb, monument, gravestone, burial mound, earthen or shell monument containing human skeletal remains or associated burial artifacts, or other structure before mentioned, or for any enclosure for the burial of the dead, or willfully destroys, mutilates, removes, cuts, breaks, or injures any tree, shrub, or plant placed or being within any such enclosure, commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

5.2 Archival/Background Research

This task will consist of archival research, literature review, and interviews with local informants and other knowledgeable individuals as applicable. Archival and background research, undertaken prior to any field survey, includes a review of relevant environmental, archaeological, and historical literature, documents, and other data. It will allow for a review of known resources within and near the project area, and should provide a regional framework for the development of a predictive model and against which identified resources should be evaluated for significance. Background research should include previous archaeological and historic investigations (unpublished and published) conducted in and adjacent to the immediate project area. A review of relevant paleo-ecological studies should also include an assessment of past environmental conditions that may have influenced cultural adaptations before European and modern American settlement as well as significant environmental changes as a result of historic drainage or other modern alterations to the landscape and ecologies in the project region.

The historical review should provide an outline of the major historical developments in the project area, including information on historically significant individuals, institutions or events, as well as the history of land use for the survey property; this local scale history can usually be garnered from review of historic aerials and from landowners and lessees. The project area should be described in terms of its geology (formations and soils), natural communities (e.g., wetlands, basin swamps, hammocks, flatwoods), topography, and modern land use, including ground disturbances. For WRE projects, in particular, it is essential to review historic aerials to gain an understanding of topography and environment prior to twentieth century drainage activities. This information is vital to understanding the potential for archaeological and historic resources in specific historic environments and natural communities in and near the project area, and is a standard practice in identifying potential locations of cultural resources as well as for delineating areas of increased probability for containing cultural resources in Florida.

Archival research will address the following:

• Past field surveys in the project area and the relevance of the major findings in the area currently under study, with in-text references and full citations;

• Pertinent data in the FMSF and archaeological reports and site forms from Tribal and State officials and local repositories, as appropriate, with in-text references and full citations;

• Pertinent environmental and paleo-environmental data, cited appropriately;

• Pertinent data in other studies appropriate for the research problem, cited appropriately;

• Pertinent historical data from records such as plat maps, tract books, aerial and topographic maps, atlases, tax records, photographs, local historical/archaeological societies and relevant historical documents, cited appropriately;

• Pertinent historic aerials of the project area, with at least one appearing in the report, with in-text references/discussion and full citations;

• Pertinent information from informants, as relevant, cited appropriately. If formal interviews are conducted, the contractor or sub-contractor is required to provide transcripts of the interviews and waivers completed by the interviewee; contact the Cultural Resources Coordinator, Ecological Sciences Section, NRCS State Office in Gainesville, Florida for guidance. The result of informal interviews can be cited as personal communication; this data should also appear in field notes.

5.3 Research Design

Archival research and a literature background review should culminate in the formulation of a research design that will form the basis for assessing the National Register eligibility of historic properties. The research design provides an overall plan to guide the location and identification of cultural resources. The research design must be formulated and the resulting methodology clearly expressed in the report. The research design should contain a listing of previously identified sites, structures, districts, and any other cultural resources within and near the project area, and these should be explicitly included in the development of the research methodology. Areas within the project area will be assessed for their potential to contain unrecorded archaeological sites and historic structures, and these shall be described, defined, and illustrated with maps identifying areas of high, moderate, and low archaeological probability.

The research design must specify all previously recorded cultural resources within or adjacent to the project area. The research design will define how cultural resources, both archaeological and other, are to be identified and evaluated. For example, archaeological survey methodology should address subsurface testing intervals for high, moderate and low probability zones; the use of mesh screens to recover artifacts; and methods for determining archaeological site or other resource boundaries. Methods for identifying, recording, and evaluating other historic resource types vary, and those anticipated for use and/or actually used during fieldwork should be made explicit in the report. The research design should follow guidelines and requirements specified in DHR’s Module Three.

A primary component of the research design is a determination of appropriate modeling for the types of cultural resources expected to occur as well as their probable locations. Previous researchers have demonstrated certain environmental factors to be relatively accurate predictors of site location. Common variables include proximity to a freshwater source, soil drainage, landform, relative elevation, and local vegetation, among others. A full explanation of the predictive model utilized and a justification of its appropriateness for the project area will be provided in the report, with a full description of the factors for determining archaeological probability and areas of increased potential for other types of cultural resources. Predictive modeling should utilize historic aerials, and should not rely solely on the modern landscape. Where present, hammocks – and locations where hammocks were or may have been present – should always fall within high probability zones for archaeological sites; where this is not the case, the Contractor should provide justification for exclusion of hammocks or former hammocks from high probability zones. Other features, such as military trails, encampments, dipping vats or any other historic features that are associated with local or state history should not be dismissed.

Comparison of the orthoimagery probability map and LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) imagery shall be made, if LiDAR available. LiDAR imagery should be used to enhance and/or justify research methodology. Any suspect archaeological or historic features that LiDAR imagery may detect, shall only be an addition to what research methodology had indicated as high, moderate and low probability areas.

Note that a generic statement that certain variables were considered in creating the model and defining archaeological probability areas will not be acceptable; the predictive model must be explicitly described and defined. The model should be created before conducting fieldwork, as its purpose is to guide fieldwork efforts. It is acceptable, however, to adjust the model according to conditions encountered in the field; these conditions should be fully described in the report, along with any changes made to the model based on field conditions.

5.4 Fieldwork

Field survey methods shall include initial reconnaissance survey, a survey of the project area for historic resources in the built environment – including canals, ditches, levees, and other features and structures that may be greater than 50 years in age – and subsurface archaeological testing. The intensity of archaeological testing varies in accordance with the designated high, moderate, and low site potential as determined during preparation of the research design and as noted in the field. In most instances, systematic shovel testing along transects supplemented by judgmental shovel tests is most efficient. Techniques employed in the assessment survey will vary depending on such factors as terrain, vegetation, land use, hydrology, and the locations where various types of cultural resources (archaeological and other) may be expected or predicted. Where cultural resources are anticipated or evident on the surface, it is necessary to undertake some subsurface testing to more precisely delineate boundaries and, where necessary, to obtain sufficient information for preliminary site evaluation. Historic and cultural resources within the built environment should also be recorded, assessed, and evaluated. Testing of high, moderate, and low probability areas should follow the guidelines for density and spacing as recommended by DHR’s Module Three, Guidelines for Use by Historic Preservation Professionals; this includes testing of 10 percent of low probability areas.

In the event that new archaeological sites are identified, either as a result of surface reconnaissance or subsurface testing, additional subsurface testing will be carried out to determine site boundaries, horizontal and vertical extent(s), and cultural affiliation. FMSF site forms shall be completed for all new sites recorded and all previously recorded sites revisited, along with appropriate location and sketch maps as required by FMSF. Newly recorded sites and other resources will require new resource numbers, assigned by FMSF. Site and resource numbers should be assigned before completion and submittal of the draft report, and official FMSF numbers should be used to reference resources.

The Contractor should evaluate all previously recorded cultural resources within the project area.

Unless explicitly directed otherwise, Contractors are to consider and treat all previously recorded resources as newly recorded resources except during evaluation: all previously recorded resources should be investigated, recorded, boundaries established, and content determined, if there is insufficient information regarding the resource based upon the FMSF data. Review of previous investigation data may inform methodology and should be reviewed before field investigation.

Archaeological sites should be shovel tested as described below, and historic resources should be sufficiently photographed, sketched, and/or recorded appropriate to type. In evaluating the resource(s), the results of previous investigations should be described, cited, and incorporated into the evaluation and recommendation of significance and eligibility of the resource(s) for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. In no event is a previously recorded resource to be excluded from the investigation, either during fieldwork or in evaluation and report preparation.

The field assessment survey should:

1) Identify and define areas of site and resource probability (where the potential for presence of cultural resources is low, moderate, or high probability);

2) Conduct systematic subsurface archaeological investigation according to probability zones as outlined in DHR’s Module Three;

3) Identify new and previously documented cultural resources based on surface inspection and/or subsurface testing or assessment of historic resources, as appropriate to the resource type;

4) For archaeological sites, employ a systematic subsurface testing strategy consistent with the predicted probability model, supplemented where appropriate by judgmental subsurface testing, utilizing 50 cm by 50 cm shovel tests extending wherever possible to 100 cm in depth, with all excavated soils screened through ¼-inch mesh, with the testing strategy and probability model updated according to field conditions;

5) Recover data allowing the Contractor to fully describe and define newly and previously identified resources within the project area as possible, including information on type, period(s) of occupation, and location. Both horizontal and vertical boundaries for archaeological sites with subsurface components should be defined utilizing shovel tests at 12.5-meter or 10-meter intervals in each cardinal direction, or along and perpendicular to transect orientation, with at least two negative shovel tests in each direction determining site boundaries. Delineating shovel tests are to be excavated at 12.5-meter or 10-meter intervals regardless of the previously determined archaeological probability or environment unless other factors (e.g., standing water) preclude excavation of shovel tests.

Generally, a distance greater than 30 meters between positive shovel tests indicates two or more distinct sites, and no archaeological site should contain multiple discrete polygons representing boundaries;

6) Include an assessment of any historic buildings or other historic structures or resources within the project area, including ditches and canals as appropriate;

7) Allow further predictions to be made about the distribution, density and potential significance of cultural resources within the general project study area.

Records will be kept of the specific area(s) and method(s) of survey (surface inspection or subsurface testing), the content of each shovel test (soil type, color, etc.), and the precise location of all cultural resources that have been identified. Locations of subsurface testing shall be recorded with a GPS unit with at least 3-meter accuracy, and the UTMs for each testing location shall be recorded and reported along with testing results. “Writing off” of any shovel test locations due to disturbance is not acceptable; shovel tests should still be excavated in disturbed areas, with vertical extent of disturbance recorded in field notes.

The field survey should follow guidance provided in DHR’s guidelines for CRAS/Phase I investigations, summarized in Module Three, Guidelines for Use by Historic Preservation Professionals, of DHR’s Cultural Resource Management Standards and Operations Manual, including, but not limited to the following:

“All HPZ [high probability zone] and MPZ [moderate probability zone] areas are subjected to systematic subsurface testing at 25 meter (m) and 50 m intervals, respectively. In addition, at least 10 percent of the LPZ [low probability zone] areas are tested at 100 m intervals. Systematic testing should be supplemented by judgmental testing, as appropriate. Small interval testing (i.e., at 5 m) may be appropriate at historic period archaeological sites” (DHR Manual, Module III, page 16).

The Contractor should explicitly state and illustrate compliance with testing in accordance with DHR’s suggested intervals, including in low archaeological probability areas, both in the text and in the illustrations of the survey report.

The field survey and Contractor must comply with Federal, State, and local laws and regulations.

If the Contractor encounters any problems in accessing any portions of the property, or if the Contractor encounters any other problems in the process of implementing contract requirements, the Contractor should contact the NRCS and CO immediately to resolve the issues as quickly as possible.

The Contractor is responsible for identification and avoidance of all utilities; Contractors are encouraged to use the Sunshine 811 system. Contractors are responsible for all impacts by the Contractor to any utilities.

5.5 Analysis

Generally, artifacts recovered during the investigation should be recorded and returned to their general contexts of discovery (surface collection or shovel test). If further analysis is required off-site for any artifacts, permission from the landowner or the COR must be obtained in advance of removal from the project area. All artifacts recovered during the survey are the property of the landowner and will be returned directly to the landowner by the contractor (or sub-contractor) after the appropriate analysis is completed and the draft final report is accepted by the COR. If artifacts are removed from the project area by the contractor (or sub-contractor), it is that party’s responsibility to return all artifacts directly to the landowner. The COR will not certify project completion until artifacts removed from the project area have been returned to the landowner.

Whether in field or lab conditions, analysis will provide standard type/frequency counts as well provide information to the stability and conditions of the materials present. All materials will be analyzed; sub sampling will be conducted only if extremely high quantities of materials are recovered and only after approval from the COR. Ceramic identification will use the established Florida typologies and faunal material will be identified to the lowest taxonomic level possible.

5.6 Survey Report

The resulting report shall contain enough information to permit NRCS, the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), Tribal Historic Preservation Offices (THPOs) or tribal representatives, and other consulting parties to make informed decisions regarding the specific location and eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) of identified cultural resources in the project area. The report may also suggest work limits to avoid adversely affecting historic properties.

At a minimum, the report shall contain the following information, including appropriate photographs, maps, and drawings:

1) Map of the project area’s location, with previously recorded cultural resources within and near the project area labelled;

2) Description of the research sources utilized and the information resulting therein;

Reproduction of at least one historic aerial of the project area with approximate survey boundaries indicated;

3) Historical context with a synopsis of what types of archaeological sites and other cultural resources are likely to be found in the general vicinity of the project area as well as an assessment of the probability of unknown cultural resources within the general environs in and near the project area;

4) Full description and justification of the planned survey methodology, particularly the probability model, with a discussion of the use of historic aerials, current orthoimagery and LiDAR to determine probability areas;

5) Delineation of high, medium, and low resource probability areas within the project area;

6) Description of field team (names of authors and researchers, number of crew members, person-hours) and tools (e.g., screening material and size);

7) Global Positioning System (GPS) locations for all subsurface tests (both positive and negative tests) and boundaries of all cultural resources. All GIS data should be provided in Universal Transverse Mercator, Zone 17N, North American Datum 1983. Shovel test UTMs can be summarized in table form in an appendix;

8) Results, which should include

a. Summary of investigation methods and locations, including any changes to the predictive model, probability zones, or methodology based on field conditions.

b. Maps of investigation locations, including the locations of all shovel tests and pedestrian transects.

c. Descriptions of newly recorded or previously recorded and revisited cultural resources, including natural and cultural environment, occupational component(s), degree of disturbance, integrity, research potential, and preliminary evaluation of eligibility for listing on the NRHP. Descriptions should include photographs, maps, and sketch maps. For previously recorded resources, summaries of work and data from each of any previous investigations should also be presented in discussions of individual resources. Sketch maps must identify positive shovel tests by identifier (e.g., shovel test number) so that readers can reference shovel test results in field notes; these identifiers should also correlate with the artifact catalog (see below).

d. Summary and analysis of any artifacts, features, and structures.

e. Photographs of artifacts, features, and structures.

f. Photographs of representative shovel tests with photo scale.

g. Photographs of areas of investigation.

9) Recommendations and evaluations of all resources, including both newly identified and revisited;

10) List of references;

11) Artifact catalog, including summary of all artifacts by shovel test as labelled in the field and on sketch maps (see above). If artifacts are recorded in the field only, then only general information can be presented (e.g., counts, general categories, diagnostics if applicable), but if artifacts are removed from the field, a full artifact catalog including counts, weights, and diagnostic types should be presented, using the Field Specimen (FS) system of data collection and reporting;

12) Completed Survey Log form and associated maps in appendix;

13) Completed Florida Master Site File forms and associated maps in appendix;

14) Copy of SOW in appendix;

15) and resumes or CVs of principal researcher(s) in appendix.

All parenthetical citations and list of references should follow American Antiquity style. Spelling shall be in accordance with the U.S. Government Printing Office Style Manual dated March 1984.

5.7 Deliverables

At a minimum, associated deliverables will include:

1) Weekly field work status reports will be e-mailed to the COR. These are expected to be brief status (areas worked and general results).

2) ArcGIS electronic map of the project area with locations of subsurface tests (positive and negative tests) as points, pedestrian transects as lines (if applicable), and cultural resource boundaries as polygons;

3) Electronic copy of GIS shapefile(s) and feature class(es) with negative and positive shovel test pits/subsurface testing locations, pedestrian survey locations (if applicable), and all sites and features, including boundaries of archaeological sites and other cultural resources.

Resources identified within a study area should be represented in two ways: 1) shapefile(s) inclusive of all resources within the project area of that type (point, line, or polygon), AND

2) each individual resource should be represented by a separate and unique shapefile for ease of transmission to SHPO/FMSF. Note that no single resource should contain multiple entries for boundary or location (e.g., multiple polygons representing a single site); for exceptions (e.g., networks of canals and ditches), discuss with COR in advance of submitting deliverables;

4) Completed Florida Master Site File (FMSF) site forms for all archaeological sites and historic resources recorded or revisited during the project, including the required topographic location and sketch maps; these shall be provided in both electronic format and hard copy, separate from their inclusion in the report.

5) Completed Survey Log and associated maps, in both electronic and hard copy, separate from inclusion in the report.

6) Within 14 days of completion of the fieldwork, the Contractor shall provide an Executive Summary. The report shall briefly describe the field methods and results of the fieldwork.

(preferably electronic).

7) Draft Report. (two bound copies and one electronic copy) All information collected will be compiled to produce a graphically illustrated, scientifically acceptable report which conforms to the Secretary of Interior’s Standards and Guidelines. Information shall be presented in textual, tabular, and graphic forms, whichever is most appropriate, effective, and advantageous to communicate necessary information. All tables shall have a number, title, appropriate explanatory notes, and a source note. Oversize drawings or plates shall normally not have an image larger than 11 inches by 14 inches with sufficient margin for binding on the left side and shall have a graphic scale and a north arrow. No logos shall be used anywhere in the report.

8) Final Report. The Contractor shall address and/or incorporate any comments made by the NRCS COR. The Final Report shall address and resolve the reviewer’s comments and shall be submitted (along with a reproducible master copy of the original text, drawings, and plates) to the Cultural Resources Coordinator, Ecological Sciences Section, NRCS State Office in Gainesville, Florida .

The final report shall be consistent with the reporting requirements of 1 A-46, Florida Administrative Code, the Florida Division of Historical Resources Module Three Guidelines for Use by Historic Preservation Professionals, and Secretary of the Interior's Standards and Guidelines for Archaeology and Historic Preservation. Nine bound copies and one electronic copy (including the artifact catalog, compatible with Microsoft Excel or Access) will be submitted to the Cultural Resources Coordinator, Ecological Sciences Section, NRCS State Office in Gainesville, Florida ; five bound, one unbound and one electronic copy of the final report will be submitted directly to the Florida State Site File.

Perfect binding of the Final Report is mandatory. The electronic version will be will be in PDF format and delivered on disc (CD or DVD).

All documents created during the CRAS (field notes, pictures, drawings, photographs, etc.) will be also be to the Cultural Resources Coordinator, Ecological Sciences Section, Florida.

9) 5.8 Inspection and Acceptance of Deliverables During the process of the work, any inspection of the work by the Contracting Officer or her/his representative shall be solely at her/his option. All work, and all of the Contractor's office, equipment, and personnel engaged in the work, shall be subject to and available for inspection by the Contracting Officer or her/his duly authorized representative upon receiving a two week notice of the inspection. The Cultural Resource Coordinator may visit the field site at her individual discretion and without prior notice to the Contractor.

The Cultural Resources Coordinator, Ecological Sciences Section, NRCS State Office in Gainesville, Florida will accept or reject the deliverables in writing. In the event of rejection of any deliverable, the Contractor will be notified in writing by the COR, giving the specific reason(s) for rejection. The Contactor will have (5) working days to make corrections to the rejected deliverable(s) and resubmit to the COR.

Review and acceptance of delivered work will be the basis of final payment for the work. The Contractor is responsible for the professional quality and technical accuracy of the reports, maps, forms, logs, questionnaires, and other documents furnished under this contract. The contractor will, without additional compensation, correct or revise any errors or deficiencies in reports, maps, forms, logs, or questionnaires.

5.9 Communication Protocol:

Communication regarding any results, preliminary or final, shall be communicated to the Florida NRCS State Office, Ecological Sciences Section, Cultural Resources Coordinator and not to any other USDA – NRCS personnel or to the landowner or land managers/workers.