A09_CUGA_HRS_Contracting_Questions_and_Responses_0001.docx

Amendment 0001, 140P5123Q0022, Questions and Answers

1. Does the Park Service have an estimate of the number of resources requiring evaluation within the 24,547-acre project area? Does NPS have a general idea of the minimum and maximum number of resources to be surveyed? Do you have a bounding metric for how many properties may warrant Detailed Studies? Is there an estimate on the total number of resources to be inventoried? General estimate for total resource count (25 years or older)?

Estimated between 75-100 assets, with many between 25 and 50 years old. Recommend bidder consult available USGS historical maps and compare with contemporary mapping, and review attached CRIS data to home in on a detailed estimate.

The number and type of properties advanced for detailed study – those properties with NRHP potential - would be determined in consultation with the park following the field survey but would be a small subset of all surveyed assets.

2. Is there an estimate of how accessible these resources are? For example, are the roads within the park such as those to get to the Hensley properties all usable by a standard vehicle?

Most resources will be accessible by vehicle & a short walk (or hike). The resources at Hensley Settlement are accessible by a 4-wheel drive vehicle (up a 1-lane mountain road), followed by a short hike. Other resources (although these are few) can be as far as a 5-mile hike (up the mountain). The contractors should be aware that CUGA is not a driving park; CUGA is a hiking park although most of the front country resources can be accessed easily.

3. What is the estimated budget for this work?

The NPS will rely on the competitive bidding process to determine the cost of the project and will rely on bidders to develop an innovative approach that takes full advantage of the phased approach allowed by the NHPA and its regulations.

4. Are the locations of all resources to be surveyed known and recorded in GIS?

The Park has reliable GIS data, but it does not include all resources.

A goal of the HRS is to produce a clean georeferenced data set of asset locations that indicates NRHP status and includes historic property boundaries for all known historic properties and provisional historic property boundaries for any properties recommended as eligible for the NRHP.

5. Will the database subscription fees (if applicable) for CRIS, VCRIS, Kentucky Historic Resources Inventory, Tennessee Historical and Architectural Survey, etc. be waived for the awarded project team? Are there maps or GIS data that can be provided of known resources or any other mapping to supplement the mapping data available on the park’s website?

Yes, following the award, the NPS will provide all available GIS data and mapping to the contractor for their use at no cost. The SHPOs also have mapping and data that should be integrated and justified with the NPS data but may incur a fee.

6. In the RFQ, there is a restriction under Data Storage stipulating that the data may not be stored on third-party cloud platforms such as ArcGIS Online. Is this in reference to long-term or temporary storage to be used during fieldwork and is there a maximum amount of time the data can stay on ArcGIS Online after collecting it in the field? We wanted to note that it would only be stored on our private organizational account and not accessible to the public. There is substantial data security on all field data we collect.

Provided that the Data would be stored on our private organizational account and not accessible to the public, then the data could be temporary storage through the duration of the contract.

7. Can you clarify what level of effort will be required for the identification of archaeological resources?

This study should integrate data from the architectural, archeological, historical, and cultural landscape studies that have been developed in the past.

However, the survey is focused on the identification and evaluation of aboveground historic properties, some of which may have an archaeological component that should be considered in the assessment of the significance.

No new archaeological identification or evaluation is included as part of this SOW but can be included in the recommendations for future work.

8. Will historical research extend to earlier periods including indigenous histories?

Yes, the scope asks the contractor to account for the Native American use and occupation of the landscape, and for the contractor to account for the production of the park landscape over a long duration.

9. To what extent should the HRS include indigenous resources? The purpose section defines the survey as bounded by “aboveground cultural resources and updating and supplementing existing all previous inventories and designations,” but should these resources be defined in this HRS?

The contractor should identify and evaluate any aboveground cultural resources present in the Park from the time of European contact to the present.

10. We understand the surveyed cultural resources include elements and characteristics of the park's cultural landscape. As such, will cultural landscape Character-Defining Features, like viewsheds and vistas, and landscape character areas be documented and assessed by the consultant given these elements be an important contributing factor in the park's development? Do they want a features inventory? OR a cultural landscape/buildings inventory (would involve topography)?

The contractor should apply the guidance of the NRHP and its guidelines and bulletins as appropriate in identifying and evaluating aboveground historic properties, including landscapes, if present.

11. Is there an existing template for population or will we be doing document layout according to these specifications?

There is no template for this type of study document - the layout should adhere to the specification in the scope. The NPS will adopt the best format as a template by drawing from this and other pilot HRS work products.

12. Appendix D doesn’t appear to be attached. Can we get it?

Appendix D is attached. It is attachment 0002 labeled CUGA HRS CRIS-HS Data.

13. Is there a metric for the number of illustrations required in the report?

No, but there need to be enough illustrations (including mapping) to thoroughly document existing conditions, historic conditions, and any changes over time

14. Does NPS intend to make multiple awards for this work?

No

15. Per directions under Submitting a Quote, it states that all quotes shall be submitted on the above Price Schedule, SF18. Please confirm page 2 of the solicitation, with contractor details is also required, however, the Representations and Certifications (FAR 52.212-3) is not required if the bidder’s SAM.gov registration is up to date.

Yes, page 2, Addenda to 52.212-1 should be filled out. Reps and Certs are not required however, a SAM.gov active record should be available for the contractor through SAM.gov. Additionally, the contractor should submit a technical with past performance proposal to be evaluated on the criteria in FAR 52. 212-2.