Final_VICK_CCC_Context_Study_SOW.docx

APPENDIX A

MOA: Vicksburg National Military Park and Mississippi Department of Archives and History – Feb 2025

SCOPE OF WORK

CONTEXTUAL HISTORY STUDY

CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS AT VICKSBURG NATIONAL MILITARY PARK

PMIS PROJECT NUMBER # 321007C

INTRODUCTION

Vicksburg National Military Park (Park) requires a contextual study, including research and writing, of the history, significance, and impact of New Deal Era programs including transfer of control of the Park from the War Department to the National Park Service (NPS) and the work of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) within the Park. This study will focus on historical documentation of CCC contributions to the park design and projects carried out from the 1930s to the 1940s. The information contained in the contextual history study is essential for meeting the requirements of a signed Memorandum of Agreement between the Park and the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) to mitigate an adverse effect from the proposed demolition of a CCC-built Museum and Headquarters building (known as the Old Administration Building) in the core of the battlefield.

A contextual history study is an occasional special historical research study which can be commissioned either internally or externally by a park, region, or program. The studies vary and can be on any historical topic ranging from a specific resource to a broad theme or a national park unit. They contain in-depth research and are meant to focus on the history of their particular topic. The purpose of these studies is to aid interpretation, resource identification, and resource management. For this project, the completed study will specifically serve as a mitigation measure under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act for an adverse effects resulting from the planned demolition of a CCC-built building considered eligible to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).

The study shall conform to professional standards regarding methodology of historical research and writing. Stylistic, bibliographical, and report production standards shall conform to the current edition of the Chicago Manual of Style. In short, the project contains the following components:

· Part 1: Review Existing Documentation and Interpretation (survey existing research and conduct a gap analysis)

· Part 2: Historic Research (conduct thorough research in Park and non-Park archives and repositories focusing on the period starting with NPS management beginning in 1933 in combination with New Deal era programs and the CCC’s work at Vicksburg through the 1940s)

· Part 3: Special History (write a multi-chapter report that brings together Part 1 and Part 2 as an illustrated narrative with references, images and maps, draft and final reports)

· Part 4: Interpretive Component (write a series of interpretive social media posts and design waysides that tell the story of the first decade of NPS’ management in combination with the CCC’s work and other New Deal Era activities at the Park)

The special history study, including enumerated appendices (if applicable), graphics, and index, shall be completed within twelve (12) months from the date of contract award.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PARK & RESOURCES

Vicksburg National Military Park was authorized on February 21, 1899 (30 Stat. 841), to commemorate the campaign and siege and defense of Vicksburg, Mississippi and to preserve the history of the battles and operations of the siege and defense on the ground where they were fought. The Park and Vicksburg National Cemetery were transferred from the War Department to the NPS on August 10, 1933. In 1990, the Park was expanded to include Grant’s Canal in Madison Parish, Louisiana and again in 2002 to include Pemberton’s Headquarters in downtown Vicksburg. In 2014, the Park expanded a third time to include three new units in outlying areas associated with the Vicksburg Campaign from 1862-1863.

Today, the Park is comprised of several discontinuous units related to the US Civil War. These multiple sites are managed under one administration and are located in and around a 40-mile radius surrounding Vicksburg. Sites related to the Campaign for Vicksburg include the Port Gibson Unit (A.K. Shaifer House), Raymond Unit (Battle of Raymond), and Champion Hill Battlefield (which includes the Crossroads and Coker House in Edwards, MS). The Siege of Vicksburg sites within the city includes the main battlefield and National Cemetery Pemberton's Headquarters, Louisiana Circle, South Fort, Navy Circle, and the USS Cairo Gunboat and museum.

The Vicksburg National Military Park, the USS Cairo, and the National Cemetery are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In addition, the engines and boilers of the USS Cairo are designated Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmarks. Pemberton's Headquarters, located in downtown Vicksburg, A.K. Shaifer House in Port Gibson, MS, and Champion Hill Battlefield in Edwards, MS have all been designated as National Historic Landmarks.

The Park has had three distinct phases of development throughout its history. Upon the Park’s first establishment, the War Department laid out the preliminary road system and plan for commemorative monuments, tablets, and markers. In the 1930s and 1940s, in conjunction with NPS management, the CCC implemented the second phase of development by improving roads, fixing drainage, repairing erosion, and planting several trees throughout the Park to stabilize slopes and protect Park infrastructure. In addition, they built the Park’s first Museum and Headquarters (now known as the Old Administration Building) in the center of the battlefield and the Park’s facilities maintenance complex, constructed a brick-faced filled-concrete arch bridge carrying Confederate Avenue over Halls Ferry Road, and made improvements to the National Cemetery including construction of a Rest Pavilion and made repairs to the brick wall surrounding the cemetery. These efforts of the CCC had wide, sweeping impacts within the entirety of the Park. The third phase of development was related to the National Park Service Mission 66 era. In the 1960s and 1970s, roads were further improved, a new Visitor Center and Headquarters was built at a new park entrance along Clay Street, and a section of the south end of the Park was turned over to the City of Vicksburg in exchange for parcels of land located between North Union Avenue and Sherman Avenue on the north end of the Park.

The history of the CCC in the Park and its impact on the Park landscape is briefly summarized in the Vicksburg National Military Park Cultural Landscape Report (CLR). The CLR is to be used as a baseline and foundation for this contextual history study. which will need to expand upon the history outlined in the CLR and look holistically at all New Deal-era programming that took place at the Park during its second stage of development. This contextual history study will illuminate the role of these New Deal era developments and programs at the Park, and will provide park managers a comprehensive look at the impact of that work.

SCOPE OF WORK – SPECIAL HISTORY STUDY

The project has four components within a larger goal of improving visitor understanding and resource management. The four components of this project as are follows:

Part 1: Review Existing Documentation and Interpretation A. Review existing written documentation and previous interpretation related to CCC and New Deal era programs at the Park. At a minimum, these shall include the Vicksburg National Military Park Cultural Landscape Report (CLR), master’s thesis of Taylor Hegler, former Vicksburg park ranger[footnoteRef:2], and available drawings on NPS E-TIC (a digital repository). In reviewing available documents and published materials, gaps in interpretation and additional information shall be identified and used to focus the historic research portion of this special history study. [2: Hegler’s thesis, completed at Southern New Hampshire University, focused on the New Deal programs in the Park.]

Part 2: Historic Research

A. Conduct a thorough[footnoteRef:3] level of research within archives and repositories to locate more detailed information, including primary sources such as drawings, correspondence, historic photographs, etc to complete a comprehensive history on the CCC and New Deal Era work and programming within the Park. The historical narrative provided in the CLR should be used as a starting point from which this contextual history study is to be built upon and expanded. Use of primary archival sources is preferred. Note: The Park archives may contain some additional information; however, it is anticipated that researchers will need to examine previously un-evaluated materials from non-Park repositories as well [3: Thorough level of research as defined by NPS-28 Cultural Resource Management, NPS Office of Policy: NPS-28, Cultural Resource Management (Chapter 2))]

B. Conduct a thorough[footnoteRef:4] level of research as defined by NPS Director’s Order 28 on other, similar CCC and New Deal era programs that were happening within a 60-mile radius of Vicksburg National Military Park and relate these regional activities to what was happening in Vicksburg at the time. [4: Thorough level of research as defined by NPS-28. ]

Part 3: Special History Study

A. Produce a detailed history narrative in written report format expounding on all previous review and research (Part 1 and 2 above) supported with references, illustrations/photographs and maps, as applicable, along with a narrative of the CCC and New Deal era impact on the Park and local community. This special history study must place the CCC in context with the evolution and development of other programs happening at the time.

B. The format of the multi-chapter special history study shall include:

a. Abstract

b. Executive Summary - Clearly state the utility of the study, including its importance and relevance

c. Introduction

d. Methodology

e. Findings – multiple chapters addressing the history of the CCC and New Deal era programs answering questions related to:

i. history of such programs in the Park

ii. history of such programs in a 60-mile radius

iii. the construction of CCC-era buildings, structures, roads, and other features within the Park

f. Conclusion - a clear summary of main findings and how they relate to the Park and/or the agency

g. Recommendations - including on how this contextual history study can be used for interpretation, future related research, and resource management.

h. Bibliography – including references to all source materials and repositories researched

i. Appendices – including useful primary and secondary sources of information such as maps, drawings, newspaper articles, etc.

C. The study shall include appropriate photographs and figures embedded within the text of the narrative. The photographs shall have captions and identify their source. The report shall be properly cited using Chicago Manual Style.

Part 4: Interpretive Component

A. Working with park staff, identify segments of the histories and stories to augment and improve existing interpretive exhibits. Contractor shall include text and images for no fewer than 12 social media posts and text and images for 2 waysides related to the CCC’s impact at the Park. Fabrication of the improved exhibits will be carried out under separate contract.

Submittals & Reviews

A 100% draft of the completed special history study with all above specified elements (Parts 1-4) will be prepared and provided to the Park and SHPO for review and comment according to a project schedule and matrix outlined between Park and contractor at the start of the project. The 100% draft report will also be peer reviewed. The Park will handle the SHPO submittal on behalf of the contractor.

After a 45-day review/comment period following the submittal of the 100% draft, the contractor will then incorporate all Park, SHPO, and peer-review comments and resubmit a final draft. The final draft will then be reviewed by the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) and park Superintendent to ensure all NPS comments have been incorporated and then submitted for approval signatures.

Additional submittal and deliverable requirements are listed below in ADDITIONAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS.

Final Deliverables

Final deliverables for the project include:

· 5 hard copies of the final, printed and bound special history study (submitted to COR)

· USB drive containing:

· 1 digital copy of the final report (both Word and PDF files). The digital version must be Section 508 compliant.

· Digital files (.jpg) of all images/illustrations and maps used in the report.

· 1 hard copy of the final report, printed on archival paper, to be included in the Park archives

GENERAL PROPOSAL OUTLINE

The prospective contractor must formulate a study proposal and itemized cost proposal in response to this Scope of Work. The proposal must describe in detail the investigator's research strategy and qualifications of personnel responsible for completion of the study. Minimally, the study must individually address each topic outlined above.

The proposal will consist of:

A. Research Strategy

1. A description of the methods, techniques, and procedures of research, including a summary of repositories and other sources of information to be used.

2. A planning schedule and matrix identifying key project milestones and associated products pertaining to the project.

3. A preliminary draft for NPS review and final report.

B. Personnel Qualifications

1. The Principal Investigator: The Principal Investigator (PI) is responsible for all aspects of managing the proposed study. The PI must have a Ph.D. or equivalent in United States History (no exceptions). A level of experience equivalent to a Ph.D. is acceptable and may be evidenced by a publication record demonstrating a professional level of research, analysis, and report preparation. It is expected that the publication record will reflect an understanding and ability to apply research methodology, and education and experience beyond that of a project historian.

2. Project Historian(s): Although the overall research design, guidance, and responsibility for the completed study lies with the Principal Investigator, the PI may utilize the assistance of project historians (PH) and other project staff at their discretion to accomplish the research. The minimum requirements for a PH are a Bachelor's and Master’s degrees in United States History from an accredited college or university followed by two years of graduate study with a concentration in the field. A Master's thesis in history or its equivalent in research and publication are highly recommended.

3. Standards for Consultants: Personnel hired or subcontracted for their special knowledge and expertise must carry academic and experiential qualifications in their particular area of expertise. Such qualifications are to be documented by means of vitae attachments when the proposal is prepared and submitted.

C. Price Proposal

The prospective contractor must submit a line-item cost proposal for the project, including the following items:

1. Personnel services (include costs for Principal Investigator, other personnel)

2. Miscellaneous personal expenses

3. Supplies and equipment

4. Travel

5. Cost of analysis and report preparation

6. Overhead, Indirect, and In-kind costs as applicable

7. Other expenses

8. Total project cost

The proposal must include a work schedule diagramming the duration of field and archival work outlined in the research strategy section of the proposal.

ADDITIONAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS

A. General provisions

1. Prospective contractors should note that the research design submitted by the contractor becomes a binding element of the contract and is expected to be carried out. The research performed and reported must meet the minimum requirements.

2. Within 30 days of award of contract, the contractor shall attend a post-award scoping meeting in person or virtually to discuss technical aspects of the contract and to confirm the planning schedule for the submission of the deliverables. Contractor will within two weeks provide a summary of the meeting and the agreed upon contract schedule.

3. The production of the contextual history study shall be completed within twelve (12) months of contract award.

B. Report standards/format and submission schedule

The final report will be in the latest version of Microsoft WORD and include the information required in the specifications listed above. It must be formatted for 8-1/2 by 11-inch white paper, 12 point font. All pages must be numbered. Copies of photographs (screened for reproduction clarity), maps, drawings, and text must be clean, clear, and legible. The format must comply with the latest edition of the Chicago Manual of Style. The digital version of the document must be Section 508 compliant.

C. Progress reports

Quarterly progress reports during the performance of the research and writing phases of this contract are required. The initial due date of the first quarterly report will be 90 days after contract award. All quarterly reports will be submitted to individual(s) named at the time of award.

PAYMENT

Partial payments may be made up to 80% of the contract award amount. Payments must be based on deliverables accepted by the government (see FAR 52.212-4(a), Contract Terms and Conditions – Commercial Items, Inspection/Acceptance & FAR 52.211-1, Time of Delivery). Payment requests must be in accordance with the clause titled, Electronic Invoicing and Payment Requirements - Invoice Processing Platform (IPP).