J.07 Sample Task Order 1.pdf

STATEMENT OF WORK:

CULTURAL RESOURCE SURVEY OF 375 ACRES WITH SHOVEL TESTING

FOR PRESIDIO SEDIMENT DISPOSAL SITES

A. Purpose

The purpose of this Statement of Work (SOW) is to assist the United States Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission (USIBWC) in conducting cultural resource surveys within the proposed sediment disposal areas for the Presidio Field Office in Presidio County, Texas. This shall include pedestrian survey and testing of the potential sediment disposal areas and surrounding lands.

B. Background

USIBWC hydraulic models for the Presidio Flood Control Project calls for excavation of 300,000 cubic yards of sediment in the river channel. USIBWC anticipates depositing the sediment at the Presidio Sediment Sites in Figure 1; these locations are on the United States (U.S.) side of the International Border of the Rio Grande..

On January 5th, 2019, USIBWC sent a letter to the Texas State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) of the Texas Historical Commission (THC) to request consultation and review of sediment disposal sites in the ancestral floodplain and lands above the natural river terraces where USIBWC believes no historic properties would be affected. In a response letter postmarked February 2, 2019, THC responded that possible remnants of Fort Leaton and environs, Spanish Missions (1700s), windmills, historic ranches, cemeteries and prehistoric sites are located in the Area of Potential Effect (APE), and THC required an archaeological survey with testing for possible mitigation. This SOW will fulfill THC’s requirements for surveying the potential disposal areas.

C. Duties and Responsibilities

The Contractor shall, as the lead for this requirement, perform the following:

Provide a work plan in accordance with Section C Performance Work Statement of the base Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ), at 5.3 Work Plan and abide by all requirements of the IDIQ.

Provide professional and support services deemed necessary to manage and track the progress and expenditures of the services covered under this SOW, including, but not limited to, advice for the coordination and synchronization of the Contractor’s subcontractors.

Request an Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA) permit from the USIBWC Cultural Resources Specialist to conduct cultural resource survey work within the APE. Use Attachment A, consisting of an ARPA Permit form, as a guide for information to be provided to the USIBWC in the ARPA Permit request. The Contractor shall submit the ARPA permit request to the USIBWC Cultural Resources Specialist.

Incorporate into the deliverable a copy of the signed ARPA Permit. Conform to the USIBWC regulations found at 22 CFR 1104 et seq. for protection of archaeological resources (Attachment B). Do not conduct work until after permit issuance. Conduct the work following ARPA of 1979 (P.L. 96-95; 93 Stat. 721, 16 U.S.C. 470aa et seq. and 43 CFR 7) as applicable for field conditions on United States Government lands owned or controlled by USIBWC.

D. Requirements

1. The Contractor's Principal Investigator (PI) for this study, who is responsible for study oversight, shall have extensive field and research experience in Spanish Colonial, historic (military) and prehistoric occupations in / and or near western Texas and complementing Mexican history, to include an extensive publication trail. Field and laboratory work shall be managed by Project Managers / Project Archaeologists (PA) with demonstrated field expertise with Spanish Colonial, historic and prehistoric occupations in or near the area with published work. The proposal work plan shall include PI and PA vitas, along with other staff and crew leaders, that demonstrates the number of publications credited to primary staff (other than the current survey report).

The same lead researchers (PI and PA) shall be directly involved in the field work, analysis, and write-up. The PAs shall be part of the survey crew for the entire field survey, including transects and Tasks. The PI shall be in the field at the project area for quality control and documentation for the field work, testing and analysis, because of their expertise. The contractor is responsible for having personnel with the archeological and historical experience, as stated, in / and or near the APE (within 100 miles). If the contractor has no personnel with western Texas archeological experience as defined in the SOW, it is up to them to acquire the appropriate personnel. Archeological investigations shall be supervised by an archeologist (PI, PA) who meets the U.S.

Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualification Standards for Archeology (48 FR 22716 or 36 CFR Part 61).

2. After award of task order, the Contractor shall not remove or exchange personnel listed on the SOW Proposal without written approval from the CO. Consideration for and approval of replacement personnel will only occur if replacements match or exceed the current team member's qualifications. If this is not sufficient, for any reason to the USIBWC, the contract may be terminated and re-bid without the current bidder being eligible. USIBWC reserves the right to reject subcontractors or individuals without prejudice.

3. Coordinate the field activities with the COR.

4. All surveys must conform to Texas Administrative Code, Title 13, Part 2, Chapter 26, Subchapters A-E, Specifically, Subchapter C, Archeology, Rule §26.10, Criteria for Evaluating Archeological Sites and Verifying Cemeteries. The provisions of this §26.10 adopted to be effective May 20, 2013, 38 TexReg 2980; amended to be effective

December 31, 2017, 42 TexReg 7383 and 22 CFR 1104 et seq. Minimum Survey standards shall follow the THC Archeological Survey Standards for Texas can be found at http://counciloftexasarcheologists.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/surveystandards.pdf.

5. Due to the sensitivity and need for a larger scope of site location information in this area, the current TX state standard for shovel test excavations during survey is not stringent enough. USIBWC shall require one (1) shovel tests per acre of survey, a minimum of six

(6) per identified site to identify boundaries and may require more to complete site dimensions. Each shovel test is based off the site area, with 30 cm diameter shovel tests, or 50cm x 50cm formal units, and/or systematic augering. The maximum surface disturbance for a single unit is 1m x1m, in any configuration, such as 1m x 1m, 50 cm x 2m, 33 cm x 3 m. This project will require at least 375 shovel tests over the study area, focused on USIBWC high probability areas above and in the active floodplain and no less than six for individual site boundaries.

6. The Contractor will ensure that historic properties surveys are conducted of all buildings, structures, objects, and districts that are of historic-age (i.e., 50 years old or older) and consider the potential for cultural landscapes.

7. Any archaeological collections obtained as part of a Contractor undertaking conducted on non-federal public lands, including lands owned by the state of Texas or by political subdivisions of the state, such as cities, counties, school districts and other special districts (e.g., county or city irrigation districts), will be curated at a repository within the State of Texas and in accordance with 36 CFR 79.

8. In consultation with THC, the Contractor will ensure that all publicly owned (federal or state) materials and records resulting from the historic properties studies are curated at a repository within the State of Texas and in accordance with 36 CFR 79. The repository shall be agreeable to the USIBWC before all artifacts or collected materials are curated.

This is to make sure that curated material is within reasonable distance of the APE for future study, if so to be completed, except for human remains as classified under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA).

9. If human remains are encountered on federally owned land, either during data recovery or during any construction activities, the USIBWC shall consult with the Tribes, as appropriate, regarding the treatment of human remains and will comply with all provisions outlined in the appropriate federal acts (NAGPRA), statutes, guidance, and provisions.

10. If human remains are encountered on State or privately owned land, either during data recovery or during any construction activities, the USIBWC shall follow procedures for unmarked human burials described in Texas Administrative Code, Title 13, Part 2, Chapter 26, Subchapters A-E, Specifically, Subchapter C, Archeology, Rule §26.10, Criteria for Evaluating Archeological Sites and Verifying Cemeteries. If items of religious and cultural importance to Native American groups or Consulting parties are http://counciloftexasarcheologists.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/surveystandards.pdf http://counciloftexasarcheologists.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/surveystandards.pdf http://counciloftexasarcheologists.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/surveystandards.pdf http://counciloftexasarcheologists.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/surveystandards.pdf encountered or collected, the USIBWC shall consult with Tribes and the THC regarding the treatment of any item of religious or cultural significance to Tribes and/ or Consulting parties and will comply with all provisions outlined in the appropriate federal acts (NAGPRA), statutes, guidance, provisions, etc., f o r items of religious and cultural importance to Native American groups encountered on federal lands, and with state laws for items of religious and cultural importance to Native American groups encountered on State or private lands.

11. The Contractor shall prepare all documents following appropriate sections of USIBWC regulations, the National Historic Preservation Act and ARPA. Prepare the text grammatically suitable for persons professionally trained in the technical subject matter.

Draft deliverables will not be reviewed if, in the opinion of the CO or COR, they are not a complete draft, or if they have not been edited. All Drafts shall be minimally edited by the CO or COR. Final deliverables shall be error-free, and have no typographical errors, inconsistent data or misspelled words. Define acronyms on first use. The report deliverable shall be in Microsoft Word and have a paper size of 8 1/2 x 11 inches with one-inch margins. Use the reference format of American Antiquity Journal or Council of Texas Archeologists, Standards and Guidelines for other records maintained by THC, including files at the Texas Archeological Research Laboratory (TARL) maintained by the University of Texas at Austin as part of the project planning process. TARL and other records guidelines can be found at:

http://counciloftexasarcheologists.org/?page_id=69

12. The following is provided and deemed necessary to make this project a success for which the contractor is required to assure:

a. Field workers shall have unhindered access to the project area.

b. Adverse weather conditions are covered by Section I of the contract at Federal

Acquisition Regulation (FAR) clause 52.249-8 entitled Default (Fixed-Price Supply and Service) (Apr 1984) incorporated by reference on page 33, paragraph (c). Site conditions may be such that trampling, increased erosion, or other adverse effects may arise from inventory and/or site recordation. This may arise, for example, shortly after rains have saturated the ground surface. Professional judgment shall be used to ensure that the inventory does not damage or threaten the preservation of cultural resources. The USIBWC may contact field crews and advise them to cease inventory if it is believed that trampling, vehicle tracks, etc.

may damage cultural resources due to saturated ground or other adverse conditions.

c. The crew shall survey one location of approximately 375 acres shown in Figure 1 by transects inspected by the crew leader, spaced at 20-meter (m) intervals or less, with no less than 25% area obscured by conditions such as vegetation or water. If thick vegetation or water level is adversely affecting ground visibility, then the field archaeologist shall immediately consult with the USIBWC regarding how to proceed. This may be postponed and to be surveyed within the contract period at a later date when conditions are permissible for 100% survey and testing at no cost to the government.

d. Proceed with survey, recording, shovel testing up to 25 individual archeological sites. If more are found over this amount, the Contractor shall contact USIBWC for further instructions and obtain the CO’s prior authorization through task order modification, as needed.

e. All transects shall have linear survey Global Positioning System (GPS) for area recorded and surveyed. These transects will be on the final maps showing individual transects with number, date and locations. This will be on an overall survey map of the area. Site maps will not have this. Uncorrected GPS files will be sent nightly to COR for demonstration of work completed in an email attachment the following day after recording.

f. The field investigation shall include a 100% pedestrian survey of the complete 375-acre project with shovel testing according to THC survey standards (and as stipulated in D.5).

g. The crew shall excavate at a minimum six shovel tests at each archaeological site location with the potential for buried deposits in accordance with THC survey standards. The crew shall define site boundaries to the fullest extent possible and GPS site by walking the perimeter and recording with GPS. If problems with GPS / Satellite connections, then tape and compass for subsequent conversion to GPS coordinates shall be used for recording sites. Sites continuing outside the survey boundary will be noted on the maps with the appropriate symbols, terminology and scale.

h. Survey methods shall be based on current THC standards and collection procedures, unless otherwise stated in this SOW. In addition, analyses in the field shall be extensive and collection shall be at a minimum for the number of artifacts except for diagnostics for curation. Collections of diagnostics are to document and prevent sites from being looted and deflation because of seasonal flooding. All sites shall be recorded in detail (THC Site Records as pertaining to site characteristics) with provenience of diagnostics, concentrations and estimates of artifact numbers. Sketch maps are to be recorded in detail of all sites.

Individual finds (IFs) shall be GPSed, photographed, measured and included with the draft and final reports. Collection of these shall be diagnostics or culturally significant.

i. Photographs will show a scale in photos and especially with artifacts (cm/inches).

Individual photos of each site from four cardinal directions with scale will be submitted for documentation. These photos shall be attached to the report as a separate photo log as documentation. This is to be used as a comparison of changes to sites over time in the reservoir. All photographs, aerials, slides, prints, negatives, video recordings, reports, documents, data, or other materials produced pursuant to this Contract shall be considered "work-made-for-hire" within the meaning and purview of Section 101 of the United States Copyright Act, 17 USC §101 and the Government shall be the copyright owner thereof and of all aspects, elements and components thereof in which copyright protection might subsist.

j. Sites that have significant impacts from looting, water damage or other shall be recorded in detail and the COR shall be notified. This shall be addressed as to what may be completed now (salvage) or within a year for preservation or data recovery / emergency data recovery plans. This shall be part of the Technical Report and/or future Site / Feature Investigations in the Technical Report.

k. Historical research shall include review of previous work and historical maps collected during previous research efforts or available at the Library of Congress.

At a minimum this shall include searches of the THC Site Atlas for previously recorded archeological sites and historic properties, and previous archeological work in the vicinity.

l. Historical air photos and maps are online and can be downloaded from USGS, Google Earth or GIS sites for field work. Listed sites for investigation may also be downloaded from the THC Site Atlas website.

m. Old and new sites found while accessing terrain to check on specified sites, shall be recorded and tested as stipulated under current survey mitigation. A GPS trail (waypoints) shall be recorded from exit of vehicle to site verification location for each site and on a separate map. This is used for Best Management Practices (BPM) for future revisits.

n. Previously recorded sites will be rerecorded as per defined standards.

Tasks

Task 1: Project Management.

1.1 Coordinate and attend a kickoff teleconference meeting with USIBWC via a teleconference, with all contractors, subcontractors and individuals involved, including the COR and USIBWC Cultural Resource Specialist Mr. Mark Howe.

1.2 Provide an agenda two days before the meeting, minutes within five days following the meeting, and monthly progress reports by the 10th of each month. Additional weekly phone meetings will be held on progress during excavation for updates with the COR and additionally with the CO if input is needed.

Task 2: Technical Direction / Quality Assurance and Survey

2.1 Conduct ongoing technical coordination with USIBWC. Discuss technical issues related to the execution of the project.

2.2 Conduct Survey over stipulated areas with testing.

2.3 Conduct systematic pedestrian surveys in the specified area.

2.4 Conduct limited historical research for the survey areas using materials collected during previous research efforts or available at the Library of Congress.

2.5 Review historical maps, site forms and other pertinent printed and web based resources for the survey areas identified to obtain information about sites.

2.6 Design the field methods for this project, taking into account research and fieldwork conducted previously in the vicinity of the study area. Survey the acreage with systematic pedestrian transects at intervals of 20 m or less. Place a minimum of six shovel tests at all archaeological site locations with the potential for buried deposits for site delineation and as specified in this SOW for survey. Describe all prehistoric and historic archaeological sites and IFs found within the survey acreages.

2.7 A Site for this project is defined as: An archeological occurrence which contains any cultural feature, or alternatively, a minimum of ten artifacts within a 30 m radius. This 30-meter radius is specific for the Presidio area. This can be adjusted as necessary after consultation with THC and USIBWC. Historic sites shall be recorded by feet and inches (English), while prehistoric sites shall be recorded in metric system. Historic foundations, artifacts and structures, including shovel tests with historic debris shall be measured, features identified, site and artifacts photographed and identified in detail including mapping by both paper and GPS. All sites will be delineated by GPS trail detailing site boundaries. Sites continuing outside of project area will be delineated on maps with details as to this conclusion. This shall be the same for historic, prehistoric sites and IFs as per THC standards and USIBWC specifications. This will be recorded under the information as listed in the Site Atlas and other records maintained by

TARL.

2.8 In the report, there shall be an analysis of the historic artifacts and illustrations of ceramics and other historic artifacts found. The bibliography shall cite references for date range of manufacture of such and sources as per THC standards.

2.9 Analyze the field data and support the field work. Arrange for curation of artifacts recovered. Update of all GIS records to TARL after final report with submittal of all GIS records to USIBWC. Review draft prefinal and final documents. Ensure that they are of a high professional scientific / archaeological and educational quality and meet the requirements of the SOW and IDIQ standards.

Task 3: Technical Report

3.1 Prepare Technical report for sites investigated. On USIBWC land, develop alternatives based on site cultural context, and potential research issues, for the USIBWC to make a selection of an appropriate treatment methodology, if required. Recommend specific field treatments / methods for alternatives and to salvage priority sites subject to erosion. Include an outreach component which includes continued USIBWC field inspections of leased rights-of-way.

Coordinate the treatment plan with the USIBWC as per THC guidance and standards.

3.2 Following site identification, make a preliminary evaluation of each resource's potential for significance, based on the criteria for eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places

(NRHP).

3.3 Create separate layers, or themes, representing previously recorded cultural resources, and previous survey areas, into the GIS project files. Any feature classes (point, polygon, polyline) created from the data shall be done in the State Plane coordinate system (feet) appropriate to the area, i.e. UTM, NAD83. Delivered geospatial data shall be contained in an ESRI file geodatabase that is compatible with the ArcGIS version currently used by IBWC, or some other mutually agreed upon format as described by task order. Delivered geospatial data must have complete metadata that meets or exceeds the minimum content required by either the Federal Geographic Data committee's Content Standard for Digital Spatial Metadata (FGDC CDSGM) or the North American Profile of ISO 19115 2003 Standard or as specified in task order and include detailed definitions of all layer attributes. Describe methodology for taking GPS measurements and post processing including perimeter data.

3.4 Prepare the data on the archaeological sites recorded and include them as part of the Technical Report.

3.5 Submit the completed Archaeological Site Data Forms to TARL after they have been reviewed and approved for corrections by USIBWC. Site forms submitted before USIBWC final review and that require updates will be resubmitted at contractors’ expense.

3.6 Prepare collected artifacts, photographs, and field notes to be curated at TARL or other approved depository for collections generated from projects conducted by USIBWC. A signed agreement with TARL will be in place as part of the ARPA agreement.

E. Government Furnished Materials:

The Contractor shall return all Government Furnished Materials (GFM) upon completion of the Task Order. The GFM follows:

a. Copy of USIBWC Federal Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA) Permit form (Attachment A);

b. USIBWC regulations at 22 CFR 1104 et seq. (Attachment B);

c. THC Archeological Survey Standards for Texas (Attachment C)

F. Deliverables, Schedule, and Period of Performance

1.1 Provide an agenda two calendar days before the kickoff meeting and provide minutes within five calendar days following the kickoff meeting.

1.2 Contractor shall furnish all labor, materials, facility equipment, mail costs and transportation to do the work and services, following the schedule below and as per IDIQ. Do not release data, reports and materials contained, or developed without prior written approval of the USIBWC.

1.3 GIS files are a separate deliverable with all shapefiles, metadata and pertinent files in geodatabase format. Include an explicit set of instructions on ESRI ArcMap 10.3.1 in the CDs and on the jacket of the CDs for the GIS project files.

1.4 Submit the deliverables to the CO and COR by e-mail, except the final report in bullets f and g below. If the files are too large for email delivery, then CD/DVDs shall be used as stipulated below. The GIS data in geodatabase format shall be separate as follows but may be submitted electronically after consultation with USIBWC GIS Supervisor:

a. Contractor Monthly progress reports on the 10th of each month.

b. Surveys complete twenty-one (21) calendar days after task order award

(TOA).

c. Preliminary draft report fifteen (14) calendar days after completion of the fieldwork including the GIS project files.

d. Draft report five (5) calendar days after comments on the preliminary draft report. Two (2) sets of the draft report and 2 CD/DVD copies including the GIS project files.

e. Preliminary final report five (5) calendar days after comments on the draft report from THC and COR. Two (2) sets of the preliminary final report and 2 CD/DVD copies including the GIS project files and 1 copy to the THC for comment.

f. Advanced copies of the final report are due five (5) calendar days after receipt of comments on the preliminary final report. The Government has up to five

(5) days for review and approval after THC review and comment. THC review will determine this time frame for submittal and additional review and comment

g. The Contractor shall finalize the final report within five (5) calendar days of receipt of the Government’s and THC comments and approval. Six (6) sets of the paper copies of the final report with CD/DVD copies including the GIS project files for USIBWC. Additionally, two copies of the previous will be one tagged PDF with the sites and one tagged PDF without the sites to THC.

h. Distribute the copies of the final report to THC after receiving COR notification.

Target Schedule

Task Deadline, calendar days after TOA Field surveys complete 21 Preliminary draft report submitted 14 USIBWC and THC review of preliminary draft report

Up to 30

Draft report submitted 5 USIBWC review of draft report 5 Preliminary Final report 5 USIBWC and THC review of prelim final Up to 35 Final report 5

1.5 This schedule incorporates one review period of thirty (30) calendar days to allow THC to comment on the preliminary final deliverable.

1.6 Period of Performance is one-hundred and twenty (120) calendar days from the date of Task Order award.

G. Invoicing & Payments

Invoices and progress reports should be included with documentation for IBMXXXX.

H. Attachments

Attachment A. USIBWC ARPA Permit form.

Attachment B. USIBWC regulations at 22 CFR 1104, et seq.

Attachment C. THC Archeological Survey Standards for Texas

Figure 1 Survey Area