A02_South_Forest_Boundary_Mastication_Project_SOW.docx

CULTURAL RESOURCES CONTRACT SPECIFICATIONS

Dolores Prescribed Fire Pine Ecosystem Restoration Environmental Assessment Southern Forest Boundary Mastication Project

Class III Cultural Resources Inventory

DIVISION 100 - GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

Please Note:

This will be a best value contract based on the highlighted specifications outlined in Section 160 – Contractor Qualifications.

110 - Scope of Contract

The contractor shall supply the necessary qualified personnel, services, and facilities to complete the following:

· Conduct intensive (Class III) pedestrian field inventory of 818 acres.

· Reevaluate 12 sites, including 7 prehistoric sites, 2 historic camps, 2 segments of the Mancos and Rico Wagon Road, and 1 segment of the Montezuma Lumber Company Railroad Grade. Eleven of the sites to be reevaluated are located within the inventory area and one site is located in an area of previous survey that is not included within the inventory area.

· Produce an Addendum Report for the inventory following standards outlined in the 2017 Programmatic Agreement between the United States Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Regional Office, Pike-San Isabel National Forest and Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands, Routt National Forest, San Juan National Forest and the Colorado State Historic Preservation Officer Regarding Vegetation Management Undertakings (PA).

· Complete appropriate Colorado CHS-OAHP site and isolate forms in accordance with CHS-OAHP guidelines, including management recommendations concerning proposed activities within or near the site.

The project area is located within the San Juan National Forest, Dolores Ranger District. Survey will be conducted on 818 acres within the Dolores Prescribed Fire Pine Ecosystem Restoration Environmental Assessment boundary. The San Juan National Forest, Dolores Ranger District, is proposing to use prescribed fire and oak mastication of ponderosa pine-Gambel oak forest.

The overarching purpose of this project is to 1) restore and maintain healthy ecosystems in areas where fire historically played an important role, and 2) reduce the risk of large, high-severity wildfire. The specific needs for this project are to:

· break down the duff layer, increase nutrient recycling, and promote new growth of grasses and forbs;

· improve age-class diversity in ponderosa pine stands;

· improve wildlife habitat (by increasing the amount and diversity of grasses, forbs, and shrubs and improving the mosaic of oak/grass patches so that remaining trees can produce more mast); and

· reduce fuels in order to prevent large, high-severity wildfires, especially on National Forest System land that is adjacent to private land.

120 - Work submittal

The contract period shall begin May 1, 2018. The start date may be adjusted depending on weather conditions, access, and ground visibility (i.e. remaining snow load) within the project area. The project area must be 80% snow free and reasonably dry prior to the commencement of fieldwork. Deliverables, including a draft report, photographs, site/isolate forms, maps, etc. shall be received by the Forest Service Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) or Dolores District Archaeologist by August 31, 2018. Upon receipt of the draft documents, the COR or Dolores District Archaeologist will have 14 calendar days to review and provide comments to the contractor for finalization of the draft documents. Upon receipt of the draft report review e-mail, the contractor will then have 14 calendar days to make changes and submit the reports and all project records as final. Work that is submitted later than the contract schedule or that fails to meet contract and permit specifications will be subject to possible charge for excess administration costs incurred by the Forest Service, and the contractor’s Forest Service Cultural Resource Use Permit may be suspended.

130 - Description and location

The area to be analyzed is located along the southern property boundary of the Dolores Ranger District from just east of McPhee Reservoir on the west to the Chicken Creek area on the east within Montezuma County. The project proposes to construct a 200-foot fuelbreak along 24 miles of property boundary, including mastication of 80% of Gambel oak within the project boundary and 100% of Gambel oak around the drip line of mature ponderosa pine, mastication of all pinyon and juniper trees measuring less than 9 inches DBH (diameter at breast height), and hand thinning of pinyon and juniper trees measuring greater than 9 inches DBH. Mastication would be completed with a wheeled or tracked masticator. Where mastication could not be used, vegetation would be hand thinned, piled, and burned. All old growth ponderosa pine would be retained.

The proposed fuelbreak is discontinuous in nature, with treatment locations identified based on the topography and expected fire behavior along the property boundary. Vegetation in the area consists primarily of ponderosa pine, with a Gamble oak understory, and scattered areas of pinyon/juniper woodland. Elevations range from approximately 7,100 feet at the western end of the project area to approximately 8,300 feet at the eastern end of the project area. The terrain is typically flat to rolling, and is broken by canyons that are excluded from the inventory area.

The legal location of the project area is:

Township 38 North, Range 15 West, Sections 4, 26–29, 32, 35, 36 Township 37 North, Range 15 West, Section 1 Township 37 North, Range 14 West, Sections 6–11, 14, 23, 25, 26 Township 37 North, Range 13 West, Sections 28, 30–35 Township 36 North, Range 13 West, Section 5

Twelve previously recorded sites within the project area will require reevaluation. These sites include:

There have been several previous inventories conducted within and near the inventory area. Based on the results of these inventories, it is expected that the site density will be moderate. Prehistoric site types that may be expected in the inventory area include artifact scatters, limited activity sites, culturally modified trees, and habitation sites with standing architecture. Historic sites related to logging and ranching may also be expected in the area.

General maps of project locations and GIS shapefiles of the survey areas are provided with these specifications. Topographic maps, site location maps, site sketch maps, and site/IF forms for previously recorded cultural resources are available for inspection by appointment at the Dolores Public Lands Office, 29211 Highway 184, Dolores, CO 81323. These materials will also be reviewed by the contractor at the pre-work meeting during the Class I literature review.

The Forest Service reserves the right to modify areas to be surveyed by the contractor. In the event that such survey changes are necessary, adjustments will be mutually agreed to by the contractor and the Forest Service Contracting Officer.

140 - Property furnished by the Government

The Government will supply the contractor with the following supplies:

1. GIS shapefiles of the project area and site locations;

2. a copy of the 2017 PA;

3. the notification package produced pursuant to the PA for the Environmental Assessment area, when available.

Property furnished by the Government will be made available at the pre-work meeting.

150 - Property furnished by the Contractor

The contractor will furnish all other equipment needed to accomplish the fieldwork and site form documentation according to the specifications of this contract. This equipment includes, but is not limited to, transportation, GPS equipment, computer programs, compasses, and cameras.

160 – Contractor Qualifications

The Principal Investigator for the project must hold a valid Forest Service Cultural Resource Use Permit for the San Juan National Forest and must have a current curation agreement with the Anasazi Heritage Center in Dolores, Colorado.

The Crew Chief of each survey crew must have the following minimum qualifications:

· A graduate degree in anthropology, specializing in archaeology, or equivalent archaeological experience.

· Listed as a crew chief on the Principal Investigator’s valid Forest Service Cultural Resource Use Permit.

· At least 16 months of professional experience and/or specialized training in archaeological field work, artifact analysis, and administration.

· At least 6 months experience in archaeological survey or excavation within the southwestern region of Colorado.

· Demonstrated competence in collecting, handling, analyzing, evaluating, and reporting archaeological data.

· Demonstrated ability to plan, equip, staff, organize, and supervise a cultural resources survey.

· Demonstrated ability to accurately plot archaeological site locations on topographic maps and to map sites using GPS.

· Demonstrated competence in identifying and describing artifacts, including identification of prehistoric ceramics found within southwestern Colorado, using published type descriptions.

Each crew member must have the following minimum qualifications:

· At least 24 semester hours of credit in archaeology, anthropology, and/or history courses. Courses must include information on the method and theory of archaeoloical survey and excavation.

· At least 3 months field experience in archaeological survey. Crew members must work under the direct field supervision of a certified crew leader at all times.

Individuals, institutions, groups, and agencies performing work under a contract for cultural resources survey will submit the vitae of all persons who may work under the contract to the Dolores District Archaeologist. If additional individuals are recruited to work under the contract after its issuance, vitae of these additional individuals must also be submitted to the Dolores District Archaeologist. Information in the vitae will be used to verify that the individuals meet the requirements listed above. All individuals proposed to work as principal investigators, project directors, or in other supervisory capacities must be approved by the Dolores District Archaeologist before that person may direct archaeological work.

Prior to conducting any fieldwork, the contractor will submit a Fieldwork Authorization Form to the Dolores District Archaeologist and discuss any special conditions that may apply to this project.

DIVISION 200 - TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

210 - Survey techniques

Once the procurement is issued, the contractor may commence work by scheduling an appointment to conduct a records search at the Dolores Public Lands Office or by requesting an electronic file search. The file search can begin immediately upon receipt of notification of award or receipt of a Notice to Proceed (acceptance of bid and award of procurement). Fieldwork must be completed by August 31, 2018. The following fieldwork restrictions for snow cover apply: all survey areas must be 80% snow-free and reasonably dry. Provisions for extension of fieldwork dates may only be made for unusual or prolonged weather delays.

The project area can be accessed by vehicle and then by foot. Field personnel will be required to keep all motorized vehicles on existing roads. Limits of the survey areas are not marked in the field. Overall, survey areas will require accurate location and orientation prior to inventory.

As a minimum, the contractor shall perform the following:

1. Prior to conducting fieldwork, the contractor will submit a Fieldwork Authorization Form to the Dolores District Archaeologist and discuss any special conditions which may apply to this project. The Fieldwork Authorization Form must be signed prior to the commencement of fieldwork.

2. Prior to conducting fieldwork, the contractor will conduct a Class I literature review of all previous survey and site documentation within the proposed project area in the Dolores Public Lands Office Heritage files and at the Colorado Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation.

3. The contractor will conduct a 100% intensive Class III pedestrian survey of the inventory area. The maximum transect width per surveyor will not exceed 15 meters (49 feet). Transect spacing should be reduced as needed by vegetation and ground cover to ensure complete, intensive survey coverage of the entire survey areas. Map and compass or GPS shall be used to ensure systematic, even coverage of the survey areas.

4. Each crew member must be directly supervised by an individual who meets the requirements for crew leader, as specified in Section 160 above. Survey crews may consist of no more than five individuals.

Sites:

For the purposes of this contract, a cultural resources site is defined as a locus of human activity that is more than 50 years old, including prehistoric and historic resources, at a level of intensity normally involving evidence of purposeful behavior beyond the level of one or a few (less than 25) accidentally deposited artifacts. Minimal site identification criteria include at least one of the following:

(a) One or more features,

(b) one formal tool if associated with other cultural materials or more than one formal tool,

(c) an occurrence of three or more types of artifacts or materials,

(d) two types of artifacts in a density of at least ten items per 100 square meters,

(e) a single type of artifact or material in a density of at least 25 artifacts in a definable area.

Isolated Finds :

Occurrences of artifacts at less than the above shall be classified as “Isolated Finds” (IF), including "Scatters" (less than 25 artifacts) or "Isolated Artifacts" (an occurrence of a single item). A "pot bust" is considered to be a scatter, even if it contains more than 25 sherds. Isolated occurrence descriptions will, when possible, include associated dates, cultural affiliation, material type, ceramic type, and other information for determining the context of the isolated occurrence. A "Feature" is a construction that, due to its recent nature or lack of association, is not designated as a site". Examples of Features would be a railroad grade, isolated trash dump, abandoned road, non-historic fence line, or a recent camp fire ring. Such features may or may not be recommended for protection from project activities.

Isolated prehistoric features, such as grinding slicks, pecked hand and toe holds, or bedrock mortars, will normally be recorded as sites. Significant cultural manifestations younger than 50 years old may occur in the project area. In some cases these cultural manifestations may be associated with recent Native American activities or other recent historic events. These manifestations should be documented as part of the survey and in some cases, after consultation with the Dolores District Archaeologist, may be recorded as sites. Recording the content and location of IFs is generally considered to exhaust the information potential of the find, and they are not usually considered eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.

Exclusions:

Certain constructions (modern fence lines, recreational and hunter camps, modern camp fire rings, logging roads, skid trails, modern isolated trash dumps, and modern abandoned roads) may be excluded as sites due to their recent nature, lack of association, and minimal scientific importance (FSM San Juan Supplement No. 20, 2361.05). It is not necessary to fully document features such as dirt roads, stock ponds, soil berms, fence lines, small irrigation ditches, pastures, or fields unless they are part of a larger site, are known to be significant, or are named (based on field or archival evidence). If the resources are not fully documented, they should be generally described in the inventory report (Colorado Cultural Resource Survey Manual p. 18).

Additional Documentation Provisions

1. Each site and isolated occurrence discovered shall be plotted with a GPS unit, depicted on a 1:24,000-scale USGS topographic map, and identified with its Smithsonian number. All sites shall also be assigned a Forest Service site number.Original copies of the maps with isolated finds and sites will be provided by the contractor to enable the Dolores District Archaeologist to inspect the results of the survey. A CD or DVD containing the shapefiles for the GPS locations will also be provided by the contractor.

All locational information will be provided as GIS shapefiles and on a hard copy of the USGS topographic map to the Forest Service with the draft site forms.

GPS locations are required at site datum points. The site boundaries of sites are greater than 0.1 acre in size will also be recorded with a GPS unit.

All GPS data gathered will meet the following accuracy standards:

2. At least two digital photographs taken from different directions will be submitted for each site. Photographs should show identifying site characteristics and important landmarks for relocating the site. Photographs will be printed on archival quality photo paper. Photographs and digital photograph files will be submitted to the COR or Dolores District Archaeologist upon conclusion of the project. Photographs will be included with the OAHP site forms and will include provenience information.

3. Each newly discovered site shall be recorded on the appropriate standard Colorado Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (OAHP) forms. Information contained on the site form will be consistent with the instructions as listed on the OAHP website.

4. Sites and IFs shall be plotted, described, and assigned a Smithsonian number. All sites shall also be assigned a Forest Service site number.

5. Previously recorded National Register-eligible and unevaluated sites within the survey areas will be relocated and re-evaluated on official OAHP Re-Visitation Forms with maps and photographs. If the existing complete site records for these sites are older than 10 years, the sites will be fully re-recorded on current site forms.

6. Needs Data and unevaluated sites, both previously recorded and newly discovered, within the project area will have limited testing (shovel or trowel) to determine National Register eligibility. All sites will be evaluated as eligible or not eligible to the National Register. No sites will be evaluated as Needs Data or unevaluated.

7. Historic trails will be documented as such on official OAHP linear site forms. Associated features, such as sheepherder arbolgyphs along a stock driveway, will be recorded as sub-features of the historic trail, if appropriate.

8. Draft maps and shapefiles of the site locations will be provided to the Dolores District Archaeologist within 14 days of the completion of fieldwork.

9. The contractor shall cease work upon discovering any human remains and associated funerary objects, and shall immediately notify the authorized officer. Work in the vicinity of the discovery may not resume until the authorized officer has given permission.

211 - Artifact Collection and Analysis

As a minimum the contractor shall perform the following:

1. The contractor shall not collect any artifacts with the exception of Paleoindian projectile points and exceptional artifacts that are at risk and cannot be reasonably protected in the field. These exceptional artifacts may include exposed fragile perishable materials at risk of being destroyed or extremely significant diagnostic artifacts that are in immediate danger of being looted. All other analysis shall be done in the field.

2. Ceramic Analyses: In-field analysis of ceramic materials will be done using standard regional published typologies in order to assign cultural affiliation and occupation dates, unless such artifacts are at risk as described in Section 211.1 above.

3. All collected items will be labeled and packaged according to their standards and will be curated at the Anasazi Heritage Center in Dolores, Colorado.

4. Lithic Analysis: The contractor should expect to encounter artifacts manufactured from sandstone, quartzite, rhyolite, basalt, obsidian, chert, petrified wood, calcedony, and other siliceous and igneous materials. The contractor shall explain the typology used in classifying the lithic artifacts in the final report. Lithic materials may consist of both ground and chipped stone varieties, and should, at a minimum, be assigned to functional and material categories. For example, manos should be identified by material, whether they are "one-hand" or "two-hand" in size, and whether they are unifacially or bifacially worked.

220 - Inventory report

Inventory reports shall follow the guidelines set out for Addendum Reports in the PA. Components of Addendum Reports include the following:

· Cultural Resources Survey Management Information Form;

· description of field methods;

· description of National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) evaluations,

· evaluation of survey strategy or predictive models (i.e. analysis of resources found in high or low site probability areas); and

· results and recommendations, including a comprehensive assessment of direct, indirect, and cumulative effects, actions to avoid, minimize, or mitigate adverse effects to historic properties (including Standard Site Protection Measures listed in Appendix D of the PA), and areas that require post-implementation survey.

The report shall include a Forest Service project number, the OAHP tracking number assigned to the project, and the following maps:

· project location map,

· Area of Potential Effects (APE) and survey coverage map,

· map of previously identified cultural resources within and adjacent to the APE,

· map of previous inventories conducted within and adjacent to the APE,

· map with site locations plotted on 1:24,000-scale USGS topographic quadrangles, and

· map with the locations of isolated finds plotted on 1:24,000-scale USGS topographic quadrangles.

All typing and illustrations used in the report must be of suitable quality to provide a clear, legible copy when used on a duplicating (xerox) machine.

The Smithsonian site number will be the primary site reference number used in the report. The report will include a table of the cultural sites (both previously recorded and newly discovered). The table will also include Smithsonian number, site type, cultural affiliation, dates, National Register eligibility recommendation, and management recommendations. The Forest Service will also provide a site number specific to their database that will be included on the site forms.

221- Transmittal of report

One copy of the fieldwork summary will be submitted to the Dolores District Archaeologist within 14 days of completion of the fieldwork. The fieldwork summary will include:

An electronic copy of the draft inventory report, photographs, forms, maps, etc. shall be submitted to the Dolores District Archaeologist by August 31, 2018. Upon receipt of the draft documents, the Dolores District Archaeologist or COR will have 14 calendar days to review and provide comments to the contractor for finalization of the draft documents. Upon receipt of the draft report review e-mail, the contractor will then have 14 calendar days to make changes and submit the reports and all project records as final. Two hard copies of the final inventory report will be submitted, along with all associated maps, photos, and site forms and other documents, and one digital copy of the report and shapefiles.

These shall be submitted to the Dolores District Archaeologist or COR according to the schedule stated in Division 120 - Work Submittal.

222- Future use of survey data

All field notes, maps, electronic data, photographs or digital images, photo negatives, and artifacts collected or generated from this procurement are considered property of the United States and will be submitted to the Dolores District Archaeologist or COR with the final Addendum Report at the conclusion of the project. Per the provisions of the 1979 Archaeological Resources Protection Act, as amended, all computer files generated or gathered as a result of this project will be deleted from all non-federal computers used by the contractor or his/her subcontractors immediately following submission of the final report.

During the course of the project, reasonable precautions will be taken to avoid the disclosure of site locations to all but authorized personnel.

Division 300 - Inspection and Acceptance

Field research, artifact analysis (in-field only), and the Addendum Report are to meet professional archaeological standards set forth in the Colorado Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation Guidelines as determined through review by the Contracting Officer and/or the COR.

Reports must contain the information mentioned above and must be written in a style that is clear, concise, and most importantly, well organized and easy to use. Poor writing, poor organization, poor production, insufficient information, etc. are grounds for rejection of the report. Legal descriptions in the report must agree with those shown on maps and figures. All inventory locations, sites, scatters, isolated artifacts and features mentioned in the report must be shown on the report maps and vice versa.

Appropriate knowledge of the prehistory and history of the Forest must be demonstrated by use of correct terminology, dating, citation of classic standards as well as the most recent publications pertinent to the cultural resources of the Forest.

Additional standards and requirements may be established at the time the contract is awarded and will be discussed by the Contracting Officer and/or the COR and the contractor at the time the contract is issued.

DIVISION 400 - PAYMENT

Forty percent of the contract will be paid once the fieldwork is completed.

Thirty percent of the contract will be paid once the draft report and site forms are submited for review.

The final thirty percent of the contract will be paid upon acceptance of the final report and site forms.