140FS124Q043_Solicitation_Questions_and_FWS_Response_0001.pdf

Questions and FWS Response Solicitation 140FS124Q0143

Cultural Resource Survey, Identification, and Preliminary Evaluation for the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge

Sweetwater River Trail Repair Project

Question: I noticed that the period of performance ends on October 11,2024 with a 30 day for FWS to review and a 30 day for the contractor to make edits based on comments. Is the data of the POP negotiable? I feel that this schedule does not allow enough time to request a records search, to do background research, conduct the field survey, and complete a draft report.

Answer: The FWS will take 15 days to review the draft report. The contractor will consider all comments made and revise the report accordingly. After the review and return of the draft report, the contractor will submit the corrected report within 15 days. Only a single draft report is being reviewed by FWS and provided to the contractor.

Question: Do they have a list of people to interview?

Answer: We do not have a list of people to interview.

Question: Also, what about a list of "appropriate tribes"?

Answer: We can provide the list and contact information for appropriate Tribes.

Question: Will the requested interviews and contact with tribal members be conducted in conjunction with Section 106, or will it be conducted instead of Section 106?

Answer: We have initiated consultation with the Tribes under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.

Question: Is the requested outreach to be presented as an ethnographic study or as informational?

Answer: The outreach is for informational purposes.

Question: Will accessing public domain be adequate for obtaining historic photographs and map reproduction?

Answer: Accessing public domain sources for historic photographs and maps is adequate.

Question: Does GIS require sub-meter accuracy?

Answer: All GIS data should be collected with submeter-capable GPS device.

Question: What is the end goal of the research? Is it a technical report and evaluation alone, or is there an interpretive element?

Answer: The end product is a technical report as specified in Task 4:

Task 4: Report Produce a report that describes the results of Tasks 1-3. The report will include a narrative that provides a historic and cultural context for the APE and immediately surrounding area. The report will describe the fieldwork methods and results. The report will provide a rationale for eligibility for listing on the NRHP, or lack thereof, of cultural resources in the project area.

Finally, the report will offer recommendations for the avoidance or mitigation of historic properties in the APE. Since the precise locations for trail improvements are flexible, should any sites potentially eligible for listing on the NRHP be found, the Contractor will advise how the sites can be avoided and how the APE can be modified to avoid the sites.

Question: Do we need Professional or tech drawings?

Answer: Drawings shall be at a quality suitable for a professional technical report.

The expected product is a professional technical report that describes background research, survey methods, cultural resources findings, preliminary evaluations for eligibility to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), and avoidance or mitigation recommendations, if necessary.

Photographs and/or drawings of important locales, features, sites, and artifacts will be included in the report.

Question: Do you need outreach based on a list or our community knowledge?

Answer: We can provide the list and contact information for appropriate Tribes.

Question: Is there an available stipend for people who want to take the time to share info with us or should we budget for that?

Answer: No stipend is available.

Question: What’s the end goal of all the non-survey work?

Answer: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will use the report to comply with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act for the undertaking, and to ensure that historic properties are identified, avoided, and protected from trail improvement impacts.

Question: Do you know the total length (miles, feet) of the new trail, trail repair, and trail closure> Answer: The trail specs for this project include the map below:

• Trail closure (current) burgundy-hashed: 2000 feet

• New trail - green-hashed: 2000 feet

• Trail closure (future) solid burgundy: 2700 feet

• Trail repair - solid green: ~1500 feet

• Each trail is between 4-5 feet in width for the entire length with small exceptions for thinner sections of 2-3 feet.

Question: For quotes submitted, is the SF-18 the only requirement or should short approach or company qualifications be submitted?

Answer: Complete and return all pages of the SF-18, which includes the certifications beginning on Page

21. Although not required, most companies do submit their company overview and some recent projects.