ATTACH 3 F Price Landing Cultural Resource SurveyFinal.docx

PART I – SECTION A – SOLICITATION/CONTRACT FORM

This Request for Proposals and contract resulting from this solicitation shall be a firm fixed price contract for a Phase I intensive cultural resources survey of 2,352 acres of the Price Landing Forest Health Project (Price Landing) survey area; the relocation, delineation, and paint marking of four (4) previously recorded archaeological sites (outside the survey area), and the identification, delineation, National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) evaluation and paint marking of six (6) suspected tar kilns (outside the survey area) on the Francis Marion Ranger District, Francis Marion National Forest located in Berkeley County, South Carolina. The contractor shall conduct a preliminary site evaluation of all newly recorded and previously recorded cultural resources within the survey area to determine eligibility for listing on the NRHP. The contractor shall complete the following:

Line Item A

· Complete archaeological and historical review of the Price Landing Project;

· Conduct a systematic, Phase I intensive cultural resources survey of 2,352 acres of the Landing survey area;

· Conduct a preliminary site evaluation of all newly recorded and previously recorded cultural resources within the Price Landing survey area to determine NRHP eligibility;

· Mark with tree marking paint all sites, structures, and features determined eligible or which eligibility could not be determined for listing on the NRHP;

Line Item B

· Conduct pedestrian and shovel testing survey to relocate and delineate four (4) previously recorded archaeological sites to establish accurate site boundaries;

· Mark the boundaries of the four (4) previously recorded sites with tree marking paint;

Line Item C

· Conduct a modified metal detector survey, site mapping, and limited shovel test investigation to locate six (6) unrecorded tar kilns outside the Phase I survey area;

Line Items

· Record the results of all newly identified sites and revisits on South Carolina Archaeological site form(s) and provide both hard copies and PDF copies of these forms to USFS and the South Carolina Institute of Anthropology and Archaeology (SCIAA);

· Provide weekly email progress reports of fieldwork to the COR;

· Catalog the artifacts collected under this contract and include within the technical report;

· Collect GPS data to specified USFS data standards and metadata for all sites, structures, or features located within the project area;

· Provide individual GIS shapefiles for all newly identified or revisited cultural resources for each site;

· Make preliminary NRHP eligibility recommendations of all newly recorded and previously recorded archaeological sites, structures, or features associated with Item A and Item C;

· Mark with tree marking paint all sites, structures, and features unevaluated or eligible for listing in the NRHP;

· Clean, analyze, and prepare for curation artifacts, records, photographs, and other materials collected or produced under this contract;

· Prepare a management summary within a month of completing fieldwork summarizing the results of Line Items A, B, and C.

· Prepare a detailed technical report on the results of Line Items A-C;

· Deliver artifacts and associated records for acceptance at the SCIAA in Columbia, SC for permanent curation.

The Quality Assurance program addressed in Section C requirements of this solicitation/contract shall provide the Best Value to the Government; price notwithstanding.

PART I - SECTION B - SCHEDULE OF ITEMS, SUPPLIES OR SERVICES

Bid Items

Line Item A Cultural resources survey of Price Landing Forest Health Project 2,352 acres.

Line Item B Relocation, boundary delineation, and paint marking of 4 previously recorded sites located within the Price Landing study area, but outside of the survey area defined in Item A.

Line Item C Location, delineation, preliminary evaluation and paint marking of the boundaries of 6 suspected tar kilns located within the Price Landing project area, but outside of the survey area defined in Item A.

Total

DELIVERY ORDER TIME: The total contract time for the completion of this project shall be 420 calendar days with optional extensions as agreed to by the Contractor and the Forest Service.

Scheduling will be as follows:

· Pre-work and background reviews completed within 60 calendar days of the Notice to Proceed (NTP)

· Fieldwork completed within 180 calendar days of the NTP

· Management summary completed within 210 calendar days of the NTP

· Site forms submitted to SCIAA within 240 calendar days of the NTP

· Draft report due within 270 calendar days of the NTP

· Forest Service and consulting parties review within 60 calendar days of receipt of draft report

· Revised final report acceptable to the Forest Service within 30 calendar days of receipt of comments on the draft report from the Forest Service and consulting parties

· All deliverables including marking of National Register eligible sites, unevaluated sites, and cemeteries, printed Final Reports and PDF copies, GPS files, GIS shapefiles delivered to USFS Francis Marion District office, and ancillary records and artifacts collections delivered in good order, and accepted by the collections manager to the South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology (SCIAA).

Final payment shall not be made until the COR receives written notifications from the South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology that the artifacts have been delivered in good order and accepted by the collections manager.

The draft and final reports shall be required as specified in Part I: Section C, Element V. Progress and Compliance.

PERFORMANCE: Performance of the contract shall begin within 30 calendar days after the effective date of the Notice to Proceed, prosecute the work diligently in accordance with this statement of work, and complete all contract requirements within the timeframe specified. The Notice to Proceed will be issued at the pre-work conference by the Contracting Officer or his/her designee.

PREOFFER INFORMATION: Offeror may contact:

Jason D. Moser, PhD District Archaeologist Francis Marion National Forest 2967 Steed Creek Road Huger, SC 29450 Telephone no. 843-336-2210 Electronic mail Jason.moser@usda.gov

Or

Robert T. Morgan Heritage Program Manager Francis Marion & Sumter National Forest 2967 Steed Creek Road Huger, SC 29450 Telephone no. 843-336-2212 Electronic mail rtmorgan@fs.fed.us.

PART I - SECTION C – DESCRIPTION/SPECIFCATIONS/WORK STATEMENT

STATEMENT OF WORK: CULTURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ON THE FRANCIS MARION NATIONAL FOREST

I. INTRODUCTION

A. Background The mission of the USDA Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. The Forest Service is directed to prevent disease, improve wildlife habitat, reduce hazardous fuels and prevent catastrophic wildfires by thinning, burning or removing wood products to improve a forest’s health. The purpose and need of the proposed silvicultural treatments within the Price Landing Forest Health Project is to maintain, expand, and improve longleaf pine ecosystems. The goal is to support at-risk plant and animal species within these ecosystems.

The Forest Service is proposing to conduct a variety of silvicultural treatments on approximately 3,800 acres within the Francis Marion National Forest. Treatments include mechanical felling and removal of loblolly pines, mastication of mid-story vegetation (0-15 feet in height), commercial thinning of low basal area canopy, and prescribed burning.

These treatments are proposed for 55 timber stands within 4 management compartments throughout the forest in Berkeley County, South Carolina.

B. Scope of Work The Francis Marion & Sumter National Forests needs professional archaeological and cultural resources services for completing an Intensive Phase I survey of cultural resources in support of the Price Landing Project, the relocation, delineation, and marking of previously identified cultural resources, the identification, preliminary evaluation, and possible bounding of tar kiln sites. Tasks include, but are not limited to the following:

· historical and archival research

· archaeological survey

· archaeological site mapping

· archaeological site evaluation

· artifact analysis, curation, and collections management

· other cultural resource recording including buildings, structures, cemeteries, features and artifacts

· prehistoric and historic cultural synthesis

· cultural resource report preparation

· global positioning system (GPS) data gathering

· geographical information systems (GIS) mapping

· relocating and marking and marking with tree marking paint cultural resources located on national forest lands

1. Authority. The investigations to be conducted under this statement of work are initiated and influenced by a number of Federal requirements. These requirements include, but are not limited to National Historic Preservation Act; the National Environmental Policy Act; the Archeological Resources Protection Act; the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act; the USDA Forest Service Memorandum of Understanding between the Francis Marion and Sumter National Forest, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and the South Carolina State Historic Preservation Office.

2. Purpose. A cultural resources survey or inventory is needed to determine the presence of archaeological and other cultural resources within timber stands to be harvested and make recommendations on their eligibility for listing in National Register of Historic Places.

3. General Requirements. The Contractor shall provide all personnel, supervision, equipment, tools, supplies, materials, transportation, facilities, and incidentals necessary to performance the cultural resource inventory and evaluation on national forest system lands. This statement of work consists of completing the tasks/subtasks in sections II, IV, and V of this solicitation.

II REQUIREMENTS

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT TASKS AND CRITICAL SUBTASKS

A. Project Objective and Plan of Action. The Contractor shall meet with the Contracting Officer and the Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative prior to initiating background and historical research or field work for the purpose of:

(1) Reviewing the scope of the project and discussing the project objectives, proposing a Plan of Action, and coordination with Forest Service personnel, including the district ranger and his/her representatives;

(2) Reviewing heritage resources information held by the Forest Service including historic maps and plats, and historic aerial photographs

(3) Examining pertinent natural resource data, reports, maps, historical data, etc.;

(4) Becoming acquainted with the natural and cultural features of the project area.

B. Records Search. At a minimum literature and records review shall be conducted in accordance with the South Carolina Standards and Guidelines for Archaeological Investigations (Chapter II Fieldwork Standards for Archaeological Survey, Evaluative Testing, and Data Recovery, subsection B Documentary Research). In addition, the Contractor shall examine the following:

· Forest Service land acquisition files

· Forest Archaeologist’s files including compartment folders, site forms, historic map and plats, photographs, documents and reports. These materials are located at the Francis Marion National Forest district office near Huger, SC.

C. Inventory

1. Survey Intensity Level. The Contractor shall locate, identify, and describe/document all cultural resources, including archaeological sites, structures, features and isolated occurrences, which can reasonably be detected from an inspection of the ground surface and through the use of systematic subsurface shovel test excavations. The inventory shall be an intensive field survey as defined in the South Carolina Standards and Guidelines for Archaeological Investigations (Chapter II Fieldwork Standards for Archaeological Survey, Evaluative Testing, and Data Recover, subsection D Field Methods for Intensive Survey).

The Contractor shall record sufficient data to determine:

· temporal/cultural components present

· type or function of the site

· size of site

· integrity of the site

· preliminary National Register of Historic Places eligibility of each cultural resource, so far as the data available will allow

2. Identification efforts. The entire project area shall be examined by systematic, pedestrian transects. All shovel test excavations shall comply with the South Carolina Standards and Guidelines for Archaeological Investigations. Survey methods and strategy are based on generalized models of site location for the Francis Marion National Forest. Classification of the project area into high and low potential for site occurrence shall be determined by examining a variety of existing data including, but not limited to, Forest Service GIS data including LiDAR, aerial photographs, USGS topographic 7.5 minute quadrangle maps, soil maps historical maps, previous cultural resource reports covering areas within and adjacent to the current project area, state archaeological site and historic structure forms for previously recorded cultural resources within and adjacent to the current project area and other information obtain during the archaeological and historical background and literature review. The Francis Marion National Forest color infrared aerial photographs, LiDAR, compartment and stand maps provided by the Forest Service shall guide the Contractor in determining site potential for the purpose of work planning and cost estimation. However, final determination of the site potential for any survey area shall be determined by the Contractor in the field based on the actual ground conditions within the stand at the time of the survey subject to agreement by the Forest Service. The Forest Service shall be the final authority on site potential within any given area and the Contractor shall comply with the Forest Service’s assignment of site potential.

3. Site Potential Model. A description and explanation of the archaeological site model for Francis Marion National Forest can be found in Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests Cultural Resource Management Report 2008-03 Living in the Low Country: Modeling Archaeological Site Location in the Francis Marion National Forest, South Carolina by Jason M. O’Donoughue. The contractor shall review the USFS model, as well as other relevant predictive models of site location for prehistoric and historic sites. All project areas will be divided into high, moderate, or low site potential areas prior to fieldwork in a manner that can be justified and relates to the results of previous research in the South Carolina lower coastal plain. The proposed division of site potential areas will be reviewed and approved by the COR prior to beginning of fieldwork. The model will be explained in the report methods section. High, moderate, and low potential areas require differing survey strategies. At a minimum, summary statistics will be included in the report which document the total acres determined to be high or low site potential areas in each compartment and the number of shovel test pits excavated in each area. Other methods such as graphic figures or tables may be used in addition to illustrate the model.

Soil survey maps may have as 5-acre or more margin of error in determining soil boundaries. This error can potentially lead to a false perception of the archaeological site potential within any given timber stand or administrative compartment. On the ground observation will aid in making the final determination of archaeological site potential within the stand.

4. Transects. All stands shall be examined by parallel pedestrian transects spaced at an interval not to exceed 30 m (100 feet). Shovel test excavations will be placed along transects at intervals not to exceed 30 m across all high probability areas. Shovel test excavation will be placed along transects at intervals not to exceed 60 m across all moderate probability areas. Low site probability areas shall be surveyed with parallel pedestrian transects not to exceed 30 m with shovel tests at judgmentally determined intervals. Shovel test excavations shall be employed when areas with greater site potential are encountered in the field. Judgmental shovel test shall be used when crossing areas of better drained soils, points of greater relief or areas near historic roads, railroads, or springs. All shovel tests shall comply with the South Carolina Standards and Guidelines for Archaeological Investigations (Chapter II Fieldwork Standards for Archaeological Survey, Evaluative Testing, and Data Recover, subsection D Field Methods for Intensive Survey). Questions about the appropriate systematic shovel testing procedures shall be directed to the COR before completion of fieldwork and any changes from the above described procedures must be approved in writing by the COR.

5. Performance Standards – Intensive Survey. The contractor shall conduct a pedestrian survey of the project area in the manner consistent with this statement of work and meet or exceed the South Carolina Standards and Guidelines for Archaeological Investigations.

6. Acceptable quality level: Full compliance with the standards and guidelines listed in section III.

7. Means of measurement: An arbitrary random field inspection of the survey area by the Government and the review of the contractor’s Quality Control records.

D. Site Recording

1. The contractor shall record all cultural and archaeological resources located in the project area in accordance with or exceeding the South Carolina Standards and Guidelines for Archaeological Investigations and South Carolina Institute of Archaeology guidelines.

2. Archaeological Site Definition. The definition of an archaeological site shall generally follow that included in the South Carolina Standards and Guidelines for Archaeological Investigations. However, under certain situations a different site definition may be appropriate. If a different site definition is used, then the investigator shall justify their reasons for doing so. As a general rule, sites with multiple components should be recorded as a single site and not divided into separate sites if they are within 30 meters of each other. There may even be cases where various components of the site are greater than 30 meters apart. This is a judgment call and the Contractor shall consult with the COR on how best to delineate the site boundary. However, the Forest Service shall make all final determinations of site size and extent, and final National Register of Historic Places eligibility.

3. Site Mapping. When a new site is located or a previously recorded site is relocated in the field it shall be recorded on a State of South Carolina Site Inventory Record (site form). Cemeteries with above ground markers should be recorded as both archaeological sites and as structures in accordance with the Survey Manuel South Carolina Statewide Survey of Historic Properties (2018). Visible surface remains and artifacts, local topographic features, and systematic shovel testing shall assist in determining the site extent, stratigraphy, integrity, and content. Site descriptions shall include maps showing the locations of pedestrian transects, shovel test units, surface remains, topographic features, site boundaries, and areas of significant ground disturbance. Historic sites may be identified by structural or landscaping remains such as chimney bases, eroded building outlines, foundation piers, graves, prospecting pits, ornamental plants, dams, quarries, and wells. These natural and cultural features shall be included on site maps.

The contractor shall use the site map template developed by the Forest Service. Examples of site maps will be provided to the contractor at the pre-work meeting or as requested by the contractor.

4. New Site Delineation. The contractor shall, at a minimum, comply with Archaeological Site Definition found in the South Carolina Standards and Guidelines for Archaeological Investigation.

All site boundaries shall be determined by subsurface excavation units excavated in a grid oriented along cardinal or transect grid directions. Intervals between shovel test units shall not to exceed 15m for sites less than 50m in length on any give side. Intervals between shovel test units shall not to exceed 20m for sites greater than 50m in length on any give side. The tests will be dispersed between transect (site discovery) tests in such a way as to create a uniform grid. Every positive test shall have shovel test units excavated around it along cardinal directions (i.e., N/S and E/W) or grid directions, until at least two negative shovel tests are reached. When new positive tests are found as a result of this work, testing shall proceed in cardinal directions (i.e., N/S and E/W) or grid directions around these tests until at least two negative tests are reached. Surface materials will be treated as positive shovel tests and will be tested as such. All shovel tests, both site discovery and boundary definitions shovel test units, shall be included on site and isolated find maps. The shovel tests shall continue to be excavated until two consecutive negative tests are encountered around each positive test in the grid. The midpoint between the last positive shovel test and the first of the two negative tests shall constitute a boundary.

The contractor shall investigate historic tar kiln locations using aerial Lidar and pedestrian survey to ground truth these locations. Instead of traditional shovel testing, the contractor will perform a metal detector survey within a 20-meter radius of the exterior of the visible tar kiln features. The contractor will map and record the surface features of the tar kiln and excavate shovel test(s) at positive metal detector hits within the 20-meter radius to identify and recover diagnostic artifacts. Questions about appropriate systematic shovel testing procedures must be directed to the COR before completion of fieldwork, and any changes from the above described procedures must be approved in writing by the COR.

5. Previously Recorded Sites. There are previously recorded archaeological and cultural resources within the project area. The Contractor shall attempt to relocate all previously recorded sites within the survey area(s) using the same field methods as noted above for general field survey. However, if a previously recorded has been adequately defined in previous surveys, i.e., sufficient shovel test were excavated to ensure overall site dimensions, components present, integrity, and potential for features, then additional shovel test excavations may not be required. The Contractor shall consult with the COR to determine if the current site recording is adequate or if close order shovel testing will be needed. The COR will make the final determination on the need for additional shovel test excavations. A new South Carolina state site inventory record shall be completed for each revisited previously recorded archaeological site.

Site maps of previously recorded sites in the report and attached to the South Carolina site form shall include the original recorded size and shape of the site. Current field observations shall overlay the original site map indicating any change in site size, shape or location from the original recording.

6. Private Land. If an archaeological site extends onto private land, the Contractor shall make observations of surface remains and exposed surfaces, but the Contractor shall not excavate on or collect artifacts from private land unless the Forest Service obtains prior permission from the land owner. The Contractor shall make an estimate of the site dimensions on private land from surface indications and topography. However, if the site extends outside of the project boundary but on national forest lands, the Contractor shall continue surface and subsurface investigations to determine the overall site limits.

7. Temporary Field Numbers. Temporary field numbers will be assigned according to the Forest Service designations: Compartment number – Stand Number - Site number. For example, 10 - 22 – 3 is the third site recorded in Compartment 10, Stand 22. Site forms shall be delivered to the COR for review and acceptance. If the COR finds the site forms unacceptable, then the COR will return the forms to the Contractor for correction. Once accepted by the COR the contractor shall submit forms directly to the South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology (SCIAA), to obtain permanent Smithsonian trinomial site numbers for use in the Draft Report.

8. Performance Standards – Site Recording. The contractor has recorded all sites in accordance with the South Carolina Standards and Guidelines for Archaeological Investigations, the SC Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology site form guidelines, and passes Forest Service review.

9. Acceptable quality level. 100% compliance with the South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology guidelines and standards for site recording

10. Means of measurement. A field inspection of the newly recorded sites and/or previously recorded sites and the review and verification of the contractor’s Quality Control records

11. Exceptions to the SC Standards and Guidelines for Archaeological Investigations. For inventory level fieldwork a written representative description of soil characteristics and stratigraphy for the site is required. The Contractor is not required to draw or photograph individual shovel test pit profiles unless a feature is encountered. Drawing and photographing of excavation units may be required on units 50x50 cm or larger.

12. Isolated Finds. Single artifacts identified on the surface or near the surface during survey of the project area shall be considered an isolated find or occurrence unless two additional artifacts of the same temporal component are identified within a 30 meter radius of the initial find, either on the ground surface or in subsurface test unit. After consultation the COR will make the final determination if it is an isolated find or represents a site. Isolated finds shall not be considered a site and will not be given a state site number. When an isolated find is encountered, it shall be accurately plotted on the report compartment and stand map and GIS map in the same manner as described for site locations.

13. Performance Standards – Recording Non-Site Cultural Remains. All isolated occurrences that were encountered during the survey have been documented, diagnostic artifacts, lithic and ceramic, have been drawn and the Isolated Occurrence location has been recorded with a GPS unit, and plotted on the compartment and stand map.

14. Acceptable quality level. 100% documentation of encountered isolated occurrences

15. Means of measurement. An arbitrary, random field inspection by the COR or inspector, the verification of the contractor’s Quality Control records, and the data documented in the contractor’s report

E. Site Marking

The Forest Service shall review all National Register of Historic Places eligibility recommendations and make the final determination on site eligibility. Once the final site eligibility determinations have been made the Contractor shall return to the project areas and mark with tree marking painted all newly recorded and previously recorded National Register eligible sites; sites considered possibly eligible, but unevaluated; and historic cemeteries. The Contractor shall flag the perimeter of the National Register eligible sites, unevaluated sites, and cemeteries with survey flagging and mark each site using orange, high quality, tree-marking paint that shall be purchased by the contractor from a commercial source.

The Contractor shall provide the tree marking gun. The marking gun may be a pump action type or it may have a built-in, hand-operated air pump type tree marking gun. To delineate the site boundary the site shall be marked with two bands, not less than 6-inches wide each, around the circumference of the tree. The band shall be not less than 5 feet above the ground. Marking shall be in such a manner that a person who has not previously seen the site can easily identify the site boundaries.

The loose, outer layer of bark on pine trees shall be scraped away to ensure that the paint will adhere to the tree. Pine tree bark should be scraped away using a light, sharp hatchet or other sharp cutting tool. Bark scraping should remove no more than ¼ to ½-inch of bark. The Contractor shall not chip or scrape hardwood trees.

Paint on trees on the perimeter of the site should be visible and liberally applied. Intervals between painted trees shall not exceed 5 meters (15 feet) unless there are no suitable trees to mark. Site boundaries marked on the ground should buffer the corresponding boundaries as mapped, not to exceed 15 m (45 ft). Any deviation from this system shall be approved in advance by the COR and documented in the report. The Contractor shall return to the field and remark any sites that the COR determines were not adequately marked. Except for historic cemeteries, sites not eligible for the National Register will not be marked with paint.

The Contactor shall contact the forest timber management assistant at the Forest Service district office in Huger, SC with any questions about marking paint.

F. Global Positioning System (GPS)

The Contractor shall record all sites using a Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) receiver capable of at least ±3-meter accuracy. For sites less than 225 m squared (15 m x 15 m) they shall be recorded as point data. For sites greater than 225 m squared (15 m by 15 m) they shall be recorded as polygons. Site boundaries are to be accurately located on project maps and Lidar and aerial photographs maps provided by the Contractor. Several base stations are located within the state that can be used to differentially correct GPS locations in either real time or as part of post field processing to achieve higher accuracy. The Contractor shall state in the report the type of equipment used and whether the data was corrected using real time correction or post field processing.

1. Digital Data.

All GPS files shall be provided in Geographic, WGS84 Datum with units in decimal degrees. GIS data derived from the corrected GPS files shall be provided in UTM Zone 17 North, NAD83 Datum with units in meters. Conversion of the data from WGS84 to NAD83 should be performed using a transformation suitable for the Eastern United States.

2. Deliverables The contractor shall deliver the following products:

· GIS shape files for survey area, sites, and isolated finds.

· Metadata for the GPS data collected--including PDOP (Position Dilution of Precision), HDOP (Horizontal Dilution of Precision), SNR (signal-to-noise ratio) values, and estimated accuracy or precision values for each GPS feature collected. The information can be attached to the GIS data attribute table as attributes or provided in a separate document.

· The GPS data should be processed to a USDA Forest Service GIS compatible shapefile format.

Digital data shall be collected in a manner that meets the ± 3-meter accuracy requirement and delivered in a format suitable for incorporation into the USDA Forest Service's GIS. These GIS data shall include attributes identified in the USDA Forest Service's archaeological GIS feature class data dictionary (this data schema will be provided). GIS data should be edited to remove intersecting lines (bowties) and spikes in the line work.

Digital GIS files are to be named in the following format:

Year_ProjectName_ ContractorName_pt or pl (point or polygon)

H. Analysis

1. Artifacts. After fieldwork is completed, all recovered artifacts shall be cleaned and sorted. At minimum artifacts shall be analyzed by provenience unit and classified into raw material, technological, and functional categories based on accepted southeastern typologies and artifact classifications used in the project vicinity. For additional guidance see the South Carolina Standards and Guidelines for Archaeological Investigations, and the South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology guidelines for collection management.

Forest Service archaeologists, or other consultants working on behalf of the Forest Service, may review the artifacts after initial cleaning and sorting into types. If, after consultation, the Forest Service disagrees with sorting methods or type identifications then the contractor will use the sorting criteria and type identification as determined by the Forest Service.

2. Site Assessment. As with fieldwork, the analysis shall, at a minimum, be sufficient to preliminarily assess NRHP eligibility and should address research questions developed as part of the project research design. For archaeological sites, analysis shall typically include an assessment of cultural periods represented, general site function, site boundaries, site stratigraphy, and the site condition or integrity. Historic sites may require architectural analysis, including periods represented, and documentation of ownership and function.

3. Research Design. As stated in the South Carolina Standards and Guidelines for Archaeological Investigations research designs should be problem oriented and should include explicit statements of theoretical approaches and methods. It should address issues such as:

1. Issues relevant to the significance of the site

2. New or previous research questions and existing knowledge

3. Interpretive potential

4. Historic context

4. National Register Eligibility. Evaluate each cultural resource and make a preliminary recommendation regarding its eligibility to the National Register of Historic Places using all criteria listed in 36 CFR 60.6, USDI-National Register Bulletin 15, and provide all appropriate site, feature, and artifact documentation needed to support a determination of eligibility. An eligibility recommendation of “Undetermined” may be made, with justification, when eligibility is inconclusive based on field observations.

5. National Register Eligibility Recommendations. The Contractor shall make recommendations to the Forest Service on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) eligibility of each cultural resource located within the project area. Sites shall be assessed as:

Contractors should avoid using the terms potentially eligible or possibly eligible when describing the sites.

6. National Register Eligibility Justification. Where no further work is recommended the contractor shall give reasons for arriving at this conclusion. Similarly, where further work is recommended, it will not be adequate to write simply that the work is necessary. Recommendations shall include statements about what information is to be expected to result from further research and why this information would be significant to the area's history or prehistory. These recommendations shall be framed as a series of research questions, which the data contained in the particular site, can possibly answer. In other words, National Register recommendations should be justified.

J. Documentation

1. Report. Most activities performed under the terms of this contract shall require the contractor to submit a report that describes the activity and any finding. The report shall be used to document all tasks performed. The resulting report shall contain enough information to permit the USFS, the SHPO, and Tribal Historic Preservation Offices (THPOs) to make informed decisions, and permit tribal representatives and other consulting parties to comment regarding the specific location and eligibility for the NRHP of identified cultural resources in the project area. The report may also suggest work limits to avoid adversely affecting historic properties. The contractor report shall include a quick reference table that minimally contains the following information--Trinomial Site number, compartment and stand location, site type, components present, UTM Coordinate (of approximate site center), site dimensions (length/width), site area (square meters), artifact recovery depths (site range), artifact density, preliminary NRHP recommendation(s), elevation, landform, slope, soil type, vegetation present, type, and the total number of STPs within the site boundary/total number of positive STPs within the site boundary, for each site. A more formal textual description of newly recorded or previously recorded and revisited cultural resources, will include natural and cultural environment, occupational component(s), degree of disturbance, integrity, soil morphology a preliminary geomorphic interpretation, research potential, and a justification for the preliminary evaluation of eligibility for listing on the NRHP. Descriptions should include photographs, maps, and site plan maps showing the shovel tests, site boundaries, and any landscape features (including roads, fields, ditches, canals, embankments, etc.). For previously recorded resources, summaries of work and data from each of any previous investigations should also be presented in discussions of individual resources. Site 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. The artifact catalog will include a summary of all artifacts by shovel test as labeled in the field and on sketch maps (see above). A full artifact catalog including counts, weights, and diagnostic types and should be presented, using the Field Specimen (FS) system of data collection and reporting. To maintain consistency in the identification and classification of diagnostic prehistoric artifacts the contractor will rely on local and previously utilized typologies whenever possible. Historic artifacts will be identified by color, material of manufacture, type, form, method of manufacture, production date span.

2. Documents. The final report must be submitted and with all USFS, SHPO, and tribal revisions and comments adequately addressed. All artifacts, site forms, photograph logs, prints, negatives or digital files shall be delivered to the state site files at the South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology in Columbia, SC for permanent curation.

3. Information Disclosure. Under no circumstances shall the contractor reveal to anyone outside of the Forest Service information concerning National Register eligibility of a site or building without prior approval of the COR.

K. Government Furnished Property.

· Geodatabase for GPS data and metadata for importing into the Forest Service GIS.

· Forest Service Lock Keys

· GIS layers

L. Contractor Furnished Items

· Tree marking guns

· Tree marking paint

· South Carolina site forms with maps

· GPS Units capable of post processing differential correction less than or equal 3 m

III REFERENCES

A. Personnel

1. Contract Manager. The contractor shall provide a contract manager (principal investigator, project archaeologist, or field director) who shall be responsible for the performance of the work. The name of this person and an alternate(s) who shall act for the contractor when the manager is absent shall be designated in writing to the COR.

2. Authority. The contract manager or alternate shall have full authority to act for the contractor on all contract matters relating to daily operations of this contract.

3. Availability. The contractor manager or alternate shall be available to meet on the national forest with government personnel designated by the contracting officer to discuss problems areas.

4. Personnel. The Contractor shall assign to this contract key personnel who meet or exceed the minimum criteria established in the South Carolina Standards and Guidelines for Archaeological Investigations. A contract proposal must include curriculum vitae for the Principal Investigator, Project Archaeologist, Field Director, and Lab Director and include their academic qualifications and experience. If consultants have not been identified at the time of contract proposal, vitae on these positions may be omitted until such time as they are identified. Employment under the terms of this contract for all individuals not identified at the time of the contract proposal is subject to approval of the COR. The COR shall approve in advance all changes in Principal Investigator, Project Archaeologist, or Field Director during the period of contract services. Subcontractors and subconsultants much meet or exceed the minimum criteria established in the South Carolina Standards and Guidelines for Archaeological Investigations.

The Principal Investigator or Project Archaeologist must be in the field with the crew not less than 50% of the time.

5. Substitutions. During the performance of the contract, the Contractor shall make no substitutions of key personnel unless the substitution is necessitated by illness, death, or termination of employment. The Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer’s Representative and shall submit the name and qualifications to the Contracting Officer’s Representative for approval at prior to making any permanent substitutions.

6. Proposed Substitutions. The Contractor shall provide a detailed explanation of the circumstances necessitating the proposed substitutions, complete resumes for the proposed substitutes, and any additional information requested by the Contracting Officer’s Representative. Proposed substitutes should have comparable qualifications to those of the persons being replaced. The Contracting Officer’s Representative will notify the Contractor within 15 calendar days after receipt of all required information of the decision on substitutions. The contract will be modified to reflect any approved changes of key personnel.

7. Employees and Vehicles. Contractor personnel shall wear protective clothing while working on national forest lands including bright orange, hunting safety vest or similar clothing during hunting season. While on national forest lands contractor vehicles shall be clearly marked with distinctive signs or plaques identifying the name of the company. During fieldwork contractor personnel shall check in with the district office and the COR or inspector each day and give their intended work location and number of personnel and shall provide the Forest Service with emergency telephone numbers.

8 Quality Control Plan. The contractor shall establish and maintain a complete Quality Control Plan to ensure the requirements of the contract are provided as specified. One copy of the contractor’s Quality control Plan shall be provided to the COR at the pre-work meeting. An updated copy shall be provided the COR as changes occur. The final Quality Control Plan shall be submitted along with final report.

Content. The plan shall include the following:

a. Inspection System. An inspection system covering all the services specified in this scope of work. It must specify the areas to be inspected on either a scheduled or unscheduled basis, how often inspections shall be accomplished, or the title of the individual(s) who shall perform the inspections.

b. Identification and Prevention. The methods for identifying and preventing defectives in the quality of service performed before performance becomes unacceptable.

c. Records. Documentation shall consist of on-site records of all inspections conducted by the contractor and necessary corrective action taken. This documentation shall be made available to the Government during the term of the contract.

d. Government Review. The Government will review the Contractor Quality Control Plan to determine if it is adequate. If the plan is adequate, the Government will accept the plan. If the plan is not adequate as submitted, the deficiencies will be identified to the contractor in writing. The contractor shall correct all identified deficiencies and submit a corrected Contractor Quality Control Plan within ten working days or contract start date, whichever is sooner. The Government will also periodically review the manner in which the contractor is conducting the quality control program by either reviewing the contractor’s records, observing actual performance or both.

9. Quality Assurance (QA)

a. Contracting Officer’s representative (COR), Project Inspector (PI).

Government personnel, with titles such as shown above shall be appointed to monitor contractor performance and to inspect and accept or reject the services as required by the contract. The name and telephone number of each such person under the contract shall be furnished to the contractor in writing by the contracting officer.

b. Government Evaluation. The Government will evaluate the contractor’s performance under this contract using the method of surveillance deemed appropriate. If Government QA reveals that any contract provision has not been met, a Contract Discrepancy Report (CDR) shall be prepared. The contractor shall respond to CDRs by completing Blocks 9 and 10 explaining: (1) why performance was unacceptable, (2) how performance will be returned to acceptable levels and (3) how recurrence of the problem will be prevented in the future.

c. Performance Evaluation Meetings. The contract manager may be required to meet periodically with the COR and/or the contracting officer during the contract. Meetings shall be as often as necessary as determined by the contracting officer. However, if the contractor requests, a meeting shall be held whenever a Contract Discrepancy Report is issued. The meetings shall focus on performance and actual or potential problems. A mutual good faith effort shall be made by all parties to resolve all issues. The written minutes of these meetings shall be signed by the contract manager, contracting officer, and COR. If the contractor does not concur with the minutes, then a notice of non-concurrence shall be provided to the contracting officer. This notice shall be in writing and provided within seven work days of receipt of the minutes.

e. Documentation and Records. All documentation, records and schedules as described in this SOW that is the responsibility of the contractor, are the property of the Government and shall be retained by the contractor until the Government approves the permanent curation and transmission of the artifacts and associated records to the SCIAA.

B. Standard Definitions.

1. Acceptable Quality Level (AQL). The maximum allowable deviation from perfect performance that may occur before the Government will invoke payment deduction. An AQL does not allow a contractor knowingly to offer defective service, but limits reduced payment to circumstances in which defective performance results in a measurable reduction in the value of services rendered.

2. Defective Service: A unit of service which contains one or more defects, or nonconformance with specified requirements.

3. Performance Standards: Identifies the key service outputs of the contract that will be evaluated by the Government to assure contract performance standards are met by the contractor.

4. Quality Assurance. Those actions taken by the Government to assure services meet the requirements of the Performance work Statement (PWS)

5. Contracting Officer: The Contracting Officer (CO) has overall responsibility for the administration of the contract and for overseeing the overall performance of the contractor.

6. Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR). A COR is a Government employee appointed by the contracting officer to help the contracting officer with contract administration. This person may also be responsible for surveillance of contractor performance.

7. Government Inspector. A GI is a Government employee responsible for surveillance of contractor performance.

8. Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP). An organized written document used for quality assurance surveillance. The document contains specific methods to perform surveillance of the contractor.

9. Quality Control Plan: Those actions that will be taken by a contractor to control the performance of services so that they meet the requirements of the Statement of Work.

10. Random Sampling. A sampling method in which each service output in a lot has an equal chance of being selected.

11. Sample. A sample consists of one or more service outputs drawn from a lot. The number of outputs in the sample is the sample size.

12. Sampling Guide. The part of the surveillance plan which contains all the information needed to perform a random sample.

13. Business Day: For the purpose of this solicitation/contract, a business day is defined as a day which falls between Monday through Friday.

C. Technical Definitions Peculiar to this Performance Work Statement

1. Archaeological Inventory/Survey. For the purposes of this contract an archaeological pedestrian survey is defined as the systematic, intensive inspection of the land surface and subsurface using a variety of inspection techniques.

2. Site Definition For the purposes of this contract, a site is defined as a locus of purposeful prehistoric or historic human activity. An activity is considered to have been purposeful if it resulted in a deposit of cultural material beyond the level of one or a few accidentally lost artifacts. Loci of human activity not classifiable as sites by this definition should be considered and recorded as isolated occurrences. Historic landscape features greater than 50 years in age, and including; old roadbeds, elevated logging tram(s) and railroad grades, levies, and canals are considered sites and are to be recorded per South Carolina Standards and Guidelines for Archaeological Investigations or Survey Manual South Carolina Statewide Survey of Historic Properties.

3. Alternative Site…