3_Statement of Work_Lomax_Task7_106_Oct2026.pdf

Version 1 1 of 26 SOW Lomax Task 7

US Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Statement of Work

For the

Phase I Archaeological Survey for the Lomax Task 7 Resource Management Project

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Table of Contents Table of Contents

1.0 Purpose and Need

• Background

• Place of Performance

• Period of Performance

• Designation of Authority

• Project Vicinity Maps

2.0 Definitions

3.0 Award Description

Lomax Task 7 Survey

4.0 Technical Specifications Instructions

5.0 Technical Specifications by Item

• ITEM 1 - Base Items: Archeological Services

• ITEM 2 - Base Items: Project Management

6.0 Contractor-Furnished Property

7.0 Government-Furnished Property

8.0 Disposition of Materials and Rights in Data

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1.0 Purpose and Need

The purpose of this solicitation is to secure professional cultural resource services to assist with the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) Section 106 compliance needs for 326 acres of phase I archeological survey for the Lomax Resource Management Project (formerly Footpath Divide) and 37 Site Evaluations for the Uwharrie National Forest (UNF), National Forests in North Carolina (NFsNC).

• Background In 2018, the Lomax Resource Management Project (formerly the Footpath Divide Project) was proposed to address insects and disease issues, as well as accelerate longleaf pine restoration on the Uwharrie NF. The purpose of this project is to authorize vegetation treatments on 3,017 acres of pine and/or mixed pine-hardwood stands to decrease susceptibility and increase resilience and resistance to insects and disease in the project area. The specific concern is the southern pine beetle (Dendroctonus frontalis). Treatment of stands experiencing stress and losses caused by the southern pine beetle typically results in reduced stress to stands by increasing stand diversity through thinning, prescribed burning, and restoration of more resistant longleaf pine communities.

Therefore, a multi-year phased approach archeological survey was proposed.

Previous archeological surveys have been conducted for this project, as Footpath Divide Task 1, Footpath Divide Task 2, Footpath Divide Task 3, and Footpath Divide Task 4, Lomax Task 5, and Lomax Task 6. Due to changes to the project, the name was changed from Footpath Divide to Lomax between Footpath Divide Task 4 and Lomax Task 5. Therefore, this iteration of the multi-year phased project will be known as Lomax Task 7. Lomax Task 6 is being written at the time of this SOW.

• Place of Performance Location The Uwharrie National Forest is located in the Piedmont region of central North Carolina and spans approximately 51,546 acres. It lies primarily within Montgomery County, with smaller portions extending into Randolph and Davidson counties. The forest is part of the ancient Uwharrie Mountain ranges in North America, though today these mountains are more subdued in elevation and can be described as rolling.

Nearby towns include Troy, which serves as the closest gateway community and houses the Uwharrie Ranger District Office. Other nearby towns are Badin, Albemarle, Denton, and Asheboro. The forest is about an hour’s drive east of Charlotte and south of Greensboro, making it easily accessible to residents of North Carolina’s major metropolitan areas.

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Bordered by the Yadkin-Pee Dee River to the west and interlaced with roads like NC-109 and NC 24/27, the Uwharrie contains a blend of rugged terrain, hardwood forests, pine plantations, and a mosaic of public and private land. Popular recreation areas include Badin Lake Recreation Area and Wood Run. The forest is a popular destination for hiking, horseback riding, off-highway vehicle use, camping, and hunting.

Administrative Information USDA Forest Service Region 8, Southern Region National Forests in North Carolina Supervisor’s Office, 160 Zillicoa St, Asheville, NC 28801

Ecosystem The UNF hosts a rich and varied ecosystem that reflects its unique position at the intersection of the Piedmont and Coastal Plain physiographic regions. Characterized by rolling hills, rocky ridgelines, and deeply incised drainages, the forest supports a mix of oak-hickory upland hardwoods, shortleaf, longleaf, and loblolly pine stands, and mixed pine-hardwood communities. Its diverse topographic and soil types create a patchwork of habitats that sustain a wide array of flora and fauna. Seasonal wetlands, riparian corridors, and ephemeral streams contribute to the ecological landscape.

Soils in the UNF are generally rocky, clay-rich, and well drained. Erosion is prevalent, and eroding bedrock may be seen at surface in some locations. Many upland soils contain high proportions of residuum from metamorphic rocks, resulting in relatively shallow to moderately deep profiles with abundant gravel, cobbles, and angular rock fragments. The soils have a clayey subsoil.

Cultural History The UNF preserves a deep and complex cultural history shaped in part by the region’s rich natural resources, including abundant rhyolite, quartz, and gold bearing deposits. These materials not only influenced historic gold mining but also made the area a focal point for early indigenous tool production. The forest contains a dense concentration of archaic-period archeological sites, many of which are associated with rhyolite quarrying and lithic reduction sites. There are no low probability areas on Forest due to the extensive disbursement of lithic quarries and camps. In contrast, Woodland-period sites appear more sparsely across the landscape, and provide important information to this lesser-known resource on the Uwharrie. Town Creek Indian Mound sits approximately 10-15 miles from the southern reaches of the UNF. Morrow Mountain State Park, also rich in quarrying sites, sits just across the confluence of the Uwharrie River and the Yadkin-Pee Dee River.

The Doerschuk site, which helped define the point-type sequence for the region, is just on

Version 1 5 of 26 SOW the western border of the Badin area of the Uwharrie, and the Hardaway Site (now a National Historic Landmark), is just a few miles west of that as the crow flies in the town of Badin.

In the historic period, the Uwharrie region played a notable role in early American industry with the rise of gold prospecting and small-scale mining in the 19th century, catalyzed by the nearby 1799 discovery at Reed Gold Mine, the first documented gold find in the United States. Miners left behind pits, hand-stacked spoil piles, and complex mining operations, some of which the Uwharrie still manages today and can be visited, such as the Russell Gold Mine. Concurrently, the region supported subsistence farming, often on somewhat steep, rocky terrain poorly suited to intensive agriculture. Known as “hard scabble” farms, these homesteads are marked by rock piles, chimney falls, wells, and family cemeteries.

Due to the potential of rock piles being precontact burial sites, rock piles are documented and may be metal-detected, but they are not excavated.

Much of the land of the Uwharrie was gradually abandoned in the early 20th century due to soil exhaustion, economic hardship, and out-migration, leading to federal land acquisition and eventual reforestation. CCC Company 2410, a veteran camp, established roads, trails, and reforestation in the Badin Area of the Uwharrie. Today, much of the culture of the Uwharrie now may be associated with recreation, hunting, and forestry.

• Period of Performance The overall contract may span up to nine months from the Notice to Proceed. The Contractor should include schedules and timelines as part of the proposals submitted in response to the solicitation. The Schedule of Items (SOI) represents the intent of the government to procure services over the life of the contract.

• Designation of Authority Before work starts the Contractor shall designate, in writing, a person to act as the representative of work site. The Contractor shall list the extent of authority their representative shall have on the job. The Contractor or authorized representative shall be present whenever work is in progress and shall act as a non-working supervisor. In the absence of the Contractor, the authorized representative shall receive orders and instructions from the Contracting Officer and shall take such action as is required to keep the job in progress under the terms of the contract. The Contractor and representative(s) shall have an oral command of the English language and the language common to the crew(s).

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• Project Vicinity Maps Maps showing the vicinity of work areas and Area of Potential Effects (APE) are included as attachments. The maps highlight phase I survey locations. Upon award, LiDAR bare earth PDFs demonstrating roadbeds, ditches, disturbances and potential mines may be provided upon request, as well as shapefiles for site evaluations.

Exclusions (non-work areas)

All work shall be within Forest Service administrative boundaries and not within private inholdings. The Forest Service boundary will be provided as part of the Government Furnished Property. There shall be no need to survey beyond the property boundary.

2.0 Definitions

Area of Potential Effect:

The geographic area or areas within which an Undertaking may directly or indirectly causes alterations in the character or use of historic properties and unevaluated Cultural Resources, if any such properties exist. The Area of Potential Effects is influenced by the scale and nature of an Undertaking and may be different for different kinds of effects caused by the Undertaking.

Cultural Resource: An object or definite location of human activity, occupation, or use identifiable through field survey, historical documentation, or oral evidence. Cultural Resources are pre-contact, historic, archaeological, or architectural sites, structures, places, or objects and traditional cultural properties. Cultural Resources include the entire spectrum of resources for which the Heritage Program is responsible from artifacts to cultural landscapes without regard to eligibility for listing on the National Register of Historic Places (FSM 2360.5).

Data: Writings, sound recordings, pictorial reproduction, drawings, or other graphic representations and works of any similar nature (whether or not copyrighted)

Excavation Unit: Large scale exposure, processing and recording of archaeological remains generally using square meter (m) units and occurring during Phase III for data recovery at a known site location.

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Monitoring: An informal term used to describe the visual confirmation that specific pre-agreed upon tasks are undertaken regarding the protection of archaeological sites that are potentially and/or eligible for inclusion in the NRHP. *For this contract, monitoring will be the relocation, verification and condition assessment of the Cultural Resource.

Project Area: The general area in which the project is occurring.

Project Boundary: The greatest extent the project will extend. The boundary encompasses the Project Area/Survey Area and all sites to be revisited under this contract.

Shovel Test Pit: A systematic excavation sampling unit, typically 30 cm in diameter, hand-excavated during Phase I survey to identify and delineate potential archeological sites. Shovel test pits are excavated to sterile subsoil, hydric soil, or to a maximum depth of 1 meter below surface, whichever is encountered first. In cases where subsoil is reached first, excavation should extend at least 10 cm into the sterile layer to confirm stratigraphic termination.

Survey: A systematic, detailed examination of an area designed to gather information about the number, location, condition, and distribution of Cultural Resources.

Survey Area: The area in need of survey under this contract.

Test Unit: Small scale excavation units typically incorporated for Phase II investigations to evaluate known sites. Test units may vary in size based on the extent of site boundaries, topography, and soil conditions. The size of any one unit should range from a minimum of 0.5-m square to 2-m square, with 1 square meter considered the standard test unit size.

Testing: A phase of archaeological investigation that assesses the horizontal and vertical extent of a particular site, its degree of preservation, and its potential for containing significant data.

Tree Tip-Up: Exposed root mat and soil that can be examined for cultural materials and soils when available.

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3.0 Award Description

The Contractor may bid on the following described award.

Lomax Task 7 Survey

Description – Complete background and historic research prior to initiation of fieldwork.

Provide the written description of reviewed background research to the POC prior to beginning fieldwork. Perform archeological field survey and archeological site evaluation(s) adhering to the standards and guidelines outlined by the 2023 North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office (NC SHPO)/North Carolina Office of State Archaeology (NC OSA) and the National Forests in North Carolina (NFsNC) Programmatic Agreement (PA). Identify all new archeological sites, define new archeological site limits, determine condition, evaluate for eligibility to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) for all recorded resources, prepare reports, and curate artifacts and ancillary documents. If project boundaries exceed the APE, but are still on Forest Service land, the contractor must continue delineations until two negative shovel tests are encountered in each cardinal direction. Entire site boundaries must be determined. If the site boundaries go onto previously surveyed areas, discuss with POC.

Survey units include tree stands that are slated for vegetation treatment, or bike trail improvement/creation. These locations are a total of approximately 326 acres within Uwharrie Forest Compartments 17, 19, 20, 26, 27, 30, 32, 33, and 34. The survey units in some cases are entire trees stands, or are at times partial survey within stands. Areas with partial survey in the stands are likely due to previous survey or recorded existing sites that may partially occupy a stand, and therefore does not require any new surveys. There are no low probability units on the Uwharrie. Bike trail surveys along with temporary road access surveys will follow a checkerboard pattern of shovel test units on either side of the centerline of the bike trail or proposed temporary road. This will ensure a full 30m coverage each side of the bike trail. Pedestrian surveys must occur as well. Archeologists should focus on the viewshed as well during pedestrian surveys for any nearby rock shelters or above ground features that may be indirectly impacted due to the implementation of a trail.

Furthermore, aside from newly recorded site evaluations, an additional 37 known sites within project boundaries require NRHP evaluation.

Access – The Lomax survey areas spread throughout the forest but are generally accessible as they are located near roads and trails accessible by the public. The Contractor should expect to encounter rugged Forest Service roads and downed trees that may happen.

Forest Service personnel will ensure reasonable access prior to field survey; however contractors should anticipate walking moderate distances to get to survey units from

Version 1 9 of 26 SOW drivable road access points. LiDAR georeferenced PDFs and road GIS layers may be furnished by the government upon request for review of access area and terrain.

Coordinate with POC. Field crews should also coordinate with POC for a safety plan that includes a daily check-in and check-out procedure.

Site Type / Density Assumptions – One site per six acres is generally a rule of thumb for the Uwharrie NF, though recent surveys for the southern portion of Lomax indicate that one sites per 10-12 acres are better expected in this area. Typical site types will vary from lithic quarries, workshops, habitation sites, prospecting, mining, and farming. Site sizes vary, but generally span landforms. Woodland occupation is scarce overall but exists and has been documented in previous surveys for Lomax. Pottery will likely be poorly preserved, eroded, and difficult to see in clay and cobbles.

Quantity / Reporting – A report will be completed for the Lomax Task 7 results of the overall Lomax Project. This project is phased per the 2022 NFsNC PA, and Lomax Task 7 is part of an overall larger multi-year project. Reports will capture the entirety of the Task 7 survey results following methods as stated by the 2023 OSA Standards and Guidelines and the 2022 NFsNC PA. In coordination with the POC, recommendations for mitigations or further work must be described.

4.0 Technical Specifications Instructions

The survey work will focus on Phase I archeological methodologies using shovel testing to identify new sites as described in the 2022 National Forests in North Carolina Programmatic Agreement (2022 NFsNC PA), however, transect spacing for pedestrian and subsurface surveys will adhere closer to the 2023 OSA regulations (see technical specifications by item). The survey archeological services include background research, survey, site identification and evaluation, site boundary delineation, site form preparation, artifact curation, and Section 106 reporting along with the GIS services to document the survey and site locations.

The survey portion of this contract is being done in compliance with Forest Service policy requiring a Cultural Resource survey prior to any undertaking which may affect Cultural Resources (FSM 2361), and pursuant to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 470) and procedures of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (36 CFR 800). The survey shall provide data sufficient to locate and identify all Cultural Resources in the Survey Area. The Contractor shall follow the North Carolina Office of State Archeology Archaeological Investigation Standards and Guidelines for Background Research, Field Methodologies, Technical Reports, and Curation

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(December 2017, Updated November 2023). This document is available online at https://archaeology.ncdcr.gov/osa-guidelines.

The Contractor shall maintain confidentiality of sensitive data furnished by the Government. The Contractor's Principal Investigator shall supervise all phases of the program, and the Field Supervisor shall personally supervise and be present during field operations.

The Contractor's representatives shall be available to meet with Contracting Officer or COR at checkpoints, and at other times, as requested by the Government. At the Contractor’s request, the Contracting Officer may schedule additional meetings with the Contractor to advise and comment on work conducted under this contract. Any comment, advice or guidance given by the Government personnel will be to assist the Contractor in performing work under this contract and shall not change the scope of services or release the Contractor from performing all work required hereunder, unless written notification of such, signed by the Contracting Officer, is received by the Contractor.

5.0 Technical Specifications by Item

• ITEM 1 - Base Items: Archeological Services o SUB-ITEM 1.1 - Background Research

The Contractor shall perform background research for the project. The Contractor shall collect sources regarding the previous surveys and cultural sites in accordance with the 2023 NC SHPO Standards and Guidelines. The Government shall provide the Contractor with relevant information including known Cultural Resource sites and previous survey coverage as part of the Government Furnished Property (GFP). It is expected that the Contractor shall use the background information to inform the work performed under the contract, for decisions during fieldwork, to inform the site evaluations, and as sources cited in the report. It is required that the Contractor perform background research at the NC SHPO and gather information from other data sources as appropriate. The Contractor should include a plan for completing the Background Research as part of the Proposal. The contractor must also visit the Uwharrie NF District Office in order to perform background research, particularly with past ownership and land deed files.

o SUB-ITEM 1.2 - Background Research Summary The Contractor shall use the Background Research to complete a Background Research Summary. The summary shall include a comprehensive overview of the findings and be provided to the Government for review and acceptance before proceeding to fieldwork.

Background Research may include, but is not limited to sources found at the NC SHPO, https://archaeology.ncdcr.gov/osa-guidelines

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Uwharrie District Office, historic map research, land deed research, relevant genealogical research, newspaper research, etc.

o SUB-ITEM 1.3 - Inventory Survey This item includes 326 acres of inventory survey to be completed under this contract within the APE. GIS maps and data of survey results must be submitted for the sub-items to be considered complete.

Compliance with Section 106 requires that the heritage resource sites in the project area be located, and sufficient data retrieved to evaluate sites for eligibility to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) to make a determination of effect. The project area will be subjected to pedestrian survey as well as subsurface testing.

Since management decisions and directions for future work are based on initial survey results, it is essential that enough information be obtained to make informed decisions or determinations. Consequently, subsurface testing, which can provide information about artifact depth, site boundaries, and deposit integrity is required. Sites will be described by the following Forest Service site designations:

Eligible - Listed in or determined eligible to the NRHP

Not Eligible - Not eligible for listing in the NRHP

Unevaluated - Further research or testing required (and may be used only if necessary due to unforeseen constraints).

NC Piedmont: Uwharrie National Forest Survey Strategy:

Tree Stand Improvements:

Field techniques involve pedestrian walk-over in parallel 30-meter(m) transects for complete coverage of the project acreage. Subsurface testing at 30m intervals along 30m spaced transects will be conducted in all areas except those that are justified not to require subsurface testing (excellent visibility, disturbance, etc.). This justification must be clearly documented in field notes and resulting report. Cleared areas, such as trails, roads, tree throws, and tree bases will be examined when available. The 30m interval methodology follows appropriate strategy for the state and was consulted with the SHPO and THPO. This is the only methodology that will deviate from the 2022 NFsNC PA.

Proposed Bike Trail Survey and Temporary Road Locations:

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Field techniques involve pedestrian walk-over in parallel 15m transects for complete coverage of the project acreage. Subsurface testing at 30m intervals staggered along 15m spaced transects will be conducted in all areas except those that are justified not to require subsurface testing (excellent visibility, disturbance, etc.). This justification must be clearly documented in field notes and resulting report. Cleared areas, such as trails, roads, tree throws, and tree bases will be examined when available. Transects should follow transect strategies as seen on page 16 in the 2023 NC SHPO Standards and Guidelines to ensure full coverage of 15m transects within the 30m wide corridor (https://archaeology.ncdcr.gov/osa-guidelines/download?attachment).

In sum, due to the linear nature of the proposed bike trails and temporary road construction, the 30m spaced shovel tests staggered on 15m spaced transects ensure full coverage of any potential sites within a 30m corridor on the trail or either side of the centerline of the proposed trail. Contractors will note with a GPS point and photo if there are potential rock shelters, rock piles, or above ground features such as chimney piles within view of the trail that may have impacts from being in proximity of recreators. Discuss with POC.

There are no low probability areas on this unit.

The entire project area must be investigated to an extent to ensure location of all sites in the APE. Site limits must be determined for each site using subsurface testing and landform observation (generally two negative subsurface tests in each cardinal direction or a significant change in landform will indicate the limit of a site). Larger tests may be needed to assess and/or evaluate sites. The test depths vary between less than 5 cm to well over 30 cm depending on the area. An auger may be employed in areas where soil depth has been increased by flood plain deposits.

Pedestrian Survey and Shovel Testing:

Pedestrian survey must occur in all areas of the project area that are safely accessible.

Areas that may be too steep for shovel testing must be still pedestrian surveyed as may safely occur. Clear justification of no shovel tests or pedestrian survey must be made. All subsurface tests should be a minimum of 30 centimeters (cm) x 30 cm in size and are to be excavated 10 cm into known sterile subsoil, or until impenetrable substrate (i.e., bedrock or clay), 100 cmbs, or the water table is reached. Typical shovel test depths range between 25 cmbs to greater than 50 cmbs depending on the area. If cultural material is encountered, subsurface testing should continue to clay substrate or until excavation of the unit is no longer feasible due to depth (generally beyond 100 cmbs). An auger may also be employed where deemed necessary due to increased soil depths, such as areas associated with https://archaeology.ncdcr.gov/osa-guidelines/download?attachment

Version 1 13 of 26 SOW floodplain deposits. If features are encountered, contact the COR prior to further investigation.

All soil matrix removed from the test is to be screened through a 0.635 cm (¼- inch) wire mesh screen. All cultural material recovered from the screened soils is to be collected and bagged by provenience in the field. A soil profile of the test should be completed including information such as depth, color, and texture, along with representative photographs of soil profiles at each archeological site and/or survey area. A field sketch map should be completed depicting the landform and delineation shovel tests for each resource.

Surface materials shall be treated as positive shovel tests and need not be excavated if subsoil clay is exposed. Transect and shovel test locations are to be recorded with a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver using North American 1983 Datum (NAD83). The level of accuracy of the GPS reading of coordinates should be annotated in field notes or included in the GPS data.

Artifact Collection – Collection of artifacts is authorized under this contract. The 2023 OSA Standards and Guidelines and the 2022 PA shall be followed as it pertains to the documentation, collection, and curation of artifacts. All artifacts recovered during field investigation remain the property of the U.S. Government and are to be prepared by the Contractor for curation according to 2023 NC OSA standards.

Site Recordation-

Site recordation will follow the 2023 OSA Standards and Guidelines and the 2022 NFsNC PA, as amended.

If archeological artifacts or cultural features are encountered, the boundaries of the deposit (site) must be delineated horizontally and vertically. Investigators must provide the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) coordinates of the center point of an archaeological site recorded by a GPS device. At least four additional GPS points are required to define the boundaries of each site. The boundaries of each site will be recorded as a polygon feature.

For any Isolated Find, the location of the find (or Datum) will be GPS’d in projection NAD83 and plotted on the appropriate USGS 7.5' topographic quadrangle (1:24,000 scale). All shovel test units, both site discovery and boundary definition units, shall be included on site maps.

All site boundaries shall be determined by shovel test units excavated in a cruciform pattern. This cruciform pattern may be laid out to follow the cardinal directions or in alignment with the natural landform. Intervals between shovel test units shall not exceed 15m on sites unless site size warrants further discussion and consultation. The edge of a site will be defined when at least two negative shovel tests in a row are encountered or

Version 1 14 of 26 SOW when a clearly recognizable and definable natural boundary occurs (e.g., steep slope, standing water, etc.). The midpoint between the last positive shovel test and the first of the two negative tests shall constitute a boundary. For historic sites, positive metal detector finds will be treated the same as positive shovel tests for determining boundaries. Most sites will have roughly ovoid boundaries.

If the site extends outside of the project/survey area boundary, the Contractor shall continue surface and subsurface investigations to determine the overall site limits within the extents of National Forest lands. If an archaeological site extends onto private land, the Contractor shall make observations while still on Forest Service land of surface remains and exposed surfaces, but the Contractor shall not excavate on or collect artifacts from private land unless prior permission is obtained by the FS. The Contractor shall make an estimate of the site dimensions on private land from surface indications and topography. If the site extends onto previously surveyed locations, speak to POC prior to continuing.

If features are encountered, do not excavate the feature. Features are typically a contributing element to eligibility in National Forest Land, and the Uwharrie NF will seek to preserve the feature in place once enough information may be collected. If features are encountered, contact the Uwharrie NF archeologist.

All new sites must be fully recorded using the forms available at https://archaeology.ncdcr.gov/. All sites must be geo-referenced with a GPS capable unit.

New cemetery sites shall be completely recorded on the NC SHPO Cemetery Site Form (available at https://archaeology.ncdcr.gov).

Buffers are required for cemeteries and other culturally sensitive resources, and appropriate distances must be determined in coordination with the Government and the NC SHPO, as applicable. See 2023 NC OSA Standards and guidelines. All site boundaries and buffer determinations must be clearly justified in the site documentation and report.

All sites shall be photographed as part of recordation. The photographs should be clear, high quality, and show the appropriate level of detail to document the site’s condition, features, and artifacts. Feature and artifact photos must have a scale included in the photo. The feature and site photos must be labeled with cardinal directions and include a scale and north arrow. Photographs should be labeled and logged.

As stated above, all new sites shall be recorded and the site boundaries must be mapped using GPS. Site Numbering Convention: Temporary site field numbers shall be assigned according to the Forest Service designations: District abbreviation, Compartment number

– Site number – Calendar year, e.g., U9-1-21 is the first site recorded on the Uwharrie https://archaeology.ncdcr.gov/

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Ranger District in Compartment 9 in 2021. Formal trinomials will be designated through coordination with NC SHPO. Follow the OSA Standards and Guidelines.

All temporary flagging and pin flags associated with archaeological fieldwork shall be removed at the conclusion of documentation unless otherwise directed by the POC. If contractors at the close of the contract are instructed to flag any of the documented sites, contractors shall provide their own white flagging tape to do so.

Ineligible/Unevaluated/Eligible Sites Relocations and Recordation

There are ineligible, unevaluated, and eligible sites within or nearby the survey units. This is due to previous surveys conducted near or within the project APE, but the surveys do not meet today’s standards and must undergo new and appropriate survey. Contractors are responsible for determining their locations during background research of nearby sites at the OSA, and in coordination with files at the USFS. Sites within survey units do require relocation, but do not require close interval shovel testing evaluation in this contract.

During phase I surveys, if positive shovel tests occur nearby known sites, and it is clear it is an extension of a site and not an unrecorded site, the Contractor will update the site form, artifacts, and site boundaries of the previously recorded site as determined during shovel testing. Sites that require evaluation as part of Lomax Task 7 (listed below), however, must undergo appropriate evaluation methodology to determine their eligibility.

Unevaluated Sites Requiring Evaluation for Lomax Task 7

There are 37 unevaluated sites within or nearby the survey units that require full site delineation and evaluation for the NRHP under this contract. The Government will provide confidential cultural resource data, including site locations on file at the USFS, upon award. The Contractor must treat all such information as sensitive and confidential under ARPA and NHPA.

Contractors are responsible for determining their locations during background research of nearby sites at the OSA, in addition to coordination with files from the USFS. These sites require different forms of evaluation, which may include metal detection, Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), close interval shovel testing, and 1x2 test units. The evaluation methods will differ per site. Similar to new site recorded during Phase I surveys, enough information must be obtained in order to determine eligibility with the NRHP. Follow standard methodology as described in the 2022 NFsNC PA and the 2023 OSA Standards and Guidelines. Site delineations may not extend beyond 15m intervals.

A table is provided as a reference to this SOW regarding the sites slated for evaluation with some details. Some we have determined methodology we feel is appropriate, but for most, Version 1 16 of 26 SOW the Forest Service is looking for prospective contractors to provide methodology with any submitted proposals.

The Contractor shall use information obtained in the Background Research to inform the relocation of known sites, including but not limited to GIS, LiDAR, aerial photographs, and reports. Field crews shall have access to all relevant background data to ensure accurate relocation of previously recorded sites. All sites must be geo-referenced with a GPS unit.

- All previously recorded sites shall be updated on the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office (NC SHPO) standard Archaeological Site Record Form (available at https://archaeology.ncdcr.gov).

- Cemetery sites shall be completely recorded on the NC SHPO Cemetery Site Form (available at https://archaeology.ncdcr.gov). Buffers are required per OSA Standards and Guidelines and shall be determined in coordination with the NC SHPO and the Government.

- If test units are conducted, photography and drawings for its plan and profile views must be completed to standard.

Maps, GIS, and Data

Draft GIS data will be required to consider this Sub-Item complete as the data will be used for inspections. This will follow the same procedures as in phase I surveys for new site recordings.

NRHP Evaluations:

The table below provides site-specific information to assist in the development of the technical approach and cost proposal for Phase II archeological evaluations. Many sites on the Uwharrie have been left in “unevaluated” status over the years, and some may be able to be determined through background research, close interval shovel testing, or test units.

For each site, the attachment includes the site trinomial,, bibliography references the Forest Service had on file, and preliminary guidance and recommendations based on existing information.

For certain sites, the Forest Service has identified a preferred Phase II evaluation strategy in particular for sites whose boundary extents were not found. When the recommendation is to delineate, that is in regards to a need for close interval shovel testing or a need to find site boundaries, as many Peter Cooper Sites in 1978 were simply surface collections from roads and plow lines, not meeting standard in the 2022 NFsNC PA or the OSA 2023 Standards and Guidelines.

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For other sites, the Forest Service is looking for prospective offerors to propose a Phase II evaluation strategy including field methods acceptable by NC OSA Standards based off of existing site information as part of the technical proposal. The Forest Service will evaluate the proposed methodologies for technical merit. Information on these sites may be found in reports and site forms through site research.

Compartment 18

Site # BiB # or Author

Recommendation

31MG264 Peter Cooper

Relocate site. Delineate and make NRHP eligibility recommendation.

31MG267 Peter Cooper

Relocate site. Determine if still present, delineate to make NRHP eligibility recommendation.

31MG271 Peter Cooper

Relocate site. Determine if still present, delineate to make NRHP eligibility recommendation.

31MG291 Peter Cooper 1978; 4282

Based off of site research, provide recommendation for Phase II evaluation.

31MG292 Cooper 1978 Relocate site. Determine if still present, delineate to make NRHP eligibility recommendation.

31MG295 Cooper 1978 Relocate site. Determine if still present, delineate to make NRHP eligibility recommendation

31MG301 Cooper 1978 Relocate site. Delineate and make NRHP eligibility recommendation.

31MG303 Cooper 1978 Relocate site. Delineate and make NRHP eligibility recommendation.

31MG1277 4282 Based off of site research, provide recommendation for Phase II evaluation.

31MG1302 4282 Based off of site research, provide recommendation for Phase II evaluation.

31MG1306 4282 Based off of site research, provide recommendation for Phase II evaluation.

Compartment 19

Site # BiB # or Author

Recommendation

31MG265 Peter Cooper 1978; 4282

Based off of site research, provide recommendation for Phase II evaluation.

31MG266 Peter Cooper

Relocate site. Delineate and make NRHP eligibility recommendation.

31MG1335 4282 Based off of site research, provide recommendation for

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31MG1338 4282 Based off of site research, provide recommendation for Phase II evaluation.

31MG1350 4282 Based off of site research, provide recommendation for Phase II evaluation.

31MG1352 4282 Based off of site research, provide recommendation for Phase II evaluation.

31MG1353 4282 Based off of site research, provide recommendation for

Compartment 26

Author

Recommendation

31MG189 Cooper 1978 USFS archeologists were able to delineate the site and collect artifacts. All artifacts were non diagnostic lithics and one potential ppk. Incorporate field findings into report and make NRHP eligibility determination.

31MG687 3404 Based off of site research, provide recommendation for Phase II evaluation.

31MG688 3404 Based off of site research, provide recommendations for Phase II evaluation.

31MG689 3404 Based off of site research, provide recommendations for Phase II evaluation.

31MG1865 6360 Based off of site research, provide recommendation for Phase II evaluation. If site delineations do not meet NC SHPO standards of today, incorporate.

31MG1867 6360 Based off of site research, provide recommendation for Phase II evaluation. If site delineations do not meet NC SHPO standards of today, incorporate.

31MG1870 6360 Based off of site research, provide recommendation for Phase II evaluation. If site delineations do not meet NC SHPO standards of today, incorporate.

31MG1871 6360 Based off of site research, provide recommendation for Phase II evaluation. If site delineations do not meet NC SHPO standards of today, incorporate.

Compartment 27

Author

Recommendation

31MG778 2674; 3440 31MG778 was rated as Class II in bib 2674 and then Class III (ineligible) in 3440 through fire rake testing, but

Version 1 19 of 26 SOW was not delineated or shovel tested to standard.

Recommendations are to shovel test to standard and delineate for NRHP evaluation validation or change.

31MG1070 3440 Above ground features were recorded and noted, no subsurface test were made. Based off of site research, make recommendations on Phase II eligibility determination and site delineation.

Compartment 30

Site # BiB # or Author Recommendation 31MG247 Cooper 1978 Relocate site. Delineate and make NRHP eligibility recommendation.

Compartment 32

Site # BiB # or Author Recommendation 31MG202 Cooper 1978 Relocate site. Delineate and make NRHP eligibility recommendation.

31MG204 Cooper 1978 Relocate site. Delineate and make NRHP eligibility recommendation.

31MG281 Cooper 1978 Relocate site. Delineate and make NRHP eligibility recommendation.

Compartment 34

Author

Recommendation

31MG103 MG7 Locate description and based off of site research, provide recommendations for Phase II evaluation. This site may be the same as Mg1884. Combine if so.

31MG593 3778 Site boundaries are not determined for this site. Based off of site research, provide recommendation for Phase II evaluation.

31MG1151 4026 Based off of site research, provide recommendation for Phase II evaluation.

31MG1152 4026 Based off of site research, provide recommendation for Phase II evaluation.

31MG1884 6360 A historic component was identified through research.

While precontact may not be significant, provide recommendation for Phase II evaluation based off of site information in bib 6360

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Maps, GIS, and Data

Draft GIS data will be required to consider this Sub-Item complete as the data will be used for inspections.

The Government, or a third-party, may request draft GIS data to assist in the inspection of the contract prior to the completion of the survey. This will not be inspected for completeness and is meant only to allow the COR/Inspector to follow fieldwork and progress. The Contractor may propose milestone billing and include checkpoints to have survey and data ready for inspection to allow for payable deliverables. This should be included in the Contractor’s proposal. Billing schedule will need to be reviewed and accepted by the government prior to award.

Base maps for all survey areas shall be GIS-created using a 1:24,000 scale unless there is a better practicality for easy view of site extents. Base maps should clearly depict topography with contour lines, National Forests in North Carolina and private property boundaries, and labeled National Forest roads for reference rather than stand-alone aerial imagery (i.e., Google Earth). All survey coverage and site boundary GPS data must be collected using NAD 83 and provided to the Government in a form compatible with the current version of ArcPro. All GIS data shall be accurate within 5 meters. GIS data shall be organized and submitted to the Government using the appropriate attribute table templates for survey coverage and site locations as described in the NC OSA Standards and Guidelines.

Site Relocation During Phase I Surveys -

During Phase I survey, the Contractor may encounter previously recorded archeological sites, including those documented as ineligible, eligible, or unevaluated from other previous surveys that do not meet today’s standards. The Contractor is not required to conduct eligibility evaluations of these sites. However, the Contractor shall update site information by completing revised OSA site forms with current observations, site boundaries, and condition assessments. If eligible sites are present, speak with the POC for shovel test strategy as to not disturb an eligible site.

Sites shall be accurately recorded on 7 ½ “ USGS topographic maps. If a site is not able to be relocated and fully updated, documentation will be provided including at minimum a clear explanation, a map of the site area, at least one photograph depicting the area with scale, and an update form describing the most accurate information that is able to be attained.

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Relocation Procedures – Site relocation may occur through research and with shovel test pits during phase I investigation. Coordinate with the Government and follow the OSA Standards and Guidelines on site revisits. Only boundaries of these sites are of interest to the USFS in order to know their location and extent during activities with the Lomax Task 7 Project.

The Contractor shall use information obtained in the Background Research to inform the relocation of known sites, including but not limited to GIS, LiDAR, aerial photographs, and reports. Field crews shall have access to all relevant background data to ensure accurate relocation of previously recorded sites. All sites must be geo-referenced with a GPS unit.

- All previously recorded sites shall be updated on the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office (NC SHPO) standard Archaeological Site Record Form (available at https://archaeology.ncdcr.gov).

- Cemetery sites shall be completely recorded on the NC SHPO Cemetery Site Form (available at https://archaeology.ncdcr.gov). Buffers are required per OSA Standards and Guidelines and shall be determined in coordination with the NC SHPO and the Government.

Maps, GIS, and Data

Draft GIS data will be required to consider this Sub-Item complete as the data will be used for inspections. This will follow the same procedures as above in phase I surveys for new site recordings.

o SUB-ITEM 1.4- Draft Report and Site Forms The Contractor shall prepare a Draft Final Report. The draft submission must include relevant photos, maps, source bibliography, artifact and shovel test catalogues, relevant feature sketches, GIS maps and GPS data. An electronic copy of the report in a Microsoft Word compatible format shall be provided to the Government for review. This must be submitted far enough in advance for a 10-day review period from the Government, time for the Contractor to address any Government requested Contractor edits, and a 30-day review window from SHPO and THPO for their comments. SHPO or THPO may then also request edits by the Contractor. Edits should be few if any.

The Draft Final Inventory Report shall conform to the NC SHPO Standards and Guidelines.

It shall not be substantially qualitatively or quantitatively different from the final report and it shall be substantially free of typographical and editorial errors. The submission must include GIS maps and GPS data.

Site Forms

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The Contractor must submit all final site documentation including site recordation forms and evaluation records. An electronic copy of the site forms in a Microsoft Word compatible format shall be provided to the Government for review. Site numbers/ trinomials will be designated through request from the NC SHPO.

All Cultural Resources shall require complete and accurate recordation on the NC OSA Archaeological Site Recordation Form (forms available at https://archaeology.ncdcr.gov/).

The site forms shall not be qualitatively or quantitatively different from the final version and it shall be substantially free of typographical and editorial errors. Ensure a site map and a 1:24,000 scale map of the project area is included with each of the site form.

o SUB-ITEM 1.5 - Final Report Once the USFS and SHPO have had their time to make any comments or request edits, the Contractor shall make requested edits, and provide the Government with the digital final report and supporting documentation to be submitted to the NC SHPO for review that all comments have been addressed. This step may not be necessary if the report was accepted without required edits. Upon digital acceptance by the NC SHPO, the Government will request hard copies of the report for Government Records, for SHPO, and for THPO. See below.

Artifacts must be sent to the OSA curation facility following final acceptance of the report.

See Section 8.0 this document for specifications regarding curation. The report and artifacts must be accepted they the NC SHPO for this Sub-Item to be considered complete.

o SUB-ITEM 1.6 - Final Hard Copies The Contractor must submit the final inventory report hard copies that were accepted by the NC SHPO to the Government including site forms, artifact catalogues, shovel test logs, GIS maps, and GPS data. Specifically:

• 3 Bound copies of final report

• 1 unbound copy of the final report

• 2 hard copies of site forms and attached maps, artifact catalogues, shovel tests logs

• 1 digital thumb drive or equivalent including all above mentioned items, GIS data, GPS data, and maps.

This shall be submitted to:

attn.: Nichole Wagner Uwharrie Ranger District 789 Biscoe Road

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Troy, NC 27371

• ITEM 2 - Base Items: Project Management The Contractor's representatives shall be available to meet with Contracting Officer at checkpoints, and at other times, as requested by the Government. At the Contractor’s request, the Contracting Officer may schedule additional meetings with the Contractor to advise and comment on work conducted under this contract. Any comment, advice or guidance given by the Government personnel will be to assist the Contractor in performing work under this contract and shall not change the scope of services or release the Contractor from performing all work required hereunder, unless written notification of such, signed by the Contracting Officer, is received by the Contractor.

Project Management

Use standard project management tools and programs to track the status and progress of projects under this contract.

Project management performance should include but are not limited to tracking time, cost, scope, and quality of work.

Project management tools and techniques should be included in the Contractor’s proposal.