2026_CNFSO_GPR_SOW.pdf

Statement of Work (SOW): Coconino National Forest Remote Sensing GPR Survey USDA Forest Service, Coconino National Forest 05/20/2026

1.0 General Summary of Work

The Coconino National Forest seeks to implement remote sensing/geophysical survey to assist in meeting its compliance responsibilities under federal law and regulation. The purpose of this contract is to perform geophysical survey utilizing ground-penetrating radar (GPR) at a project unit covering up to five acres on the Coconino National Forest, to identify subsurface disturbances and anomalies, and characterize their extent. Based on the available funds additional units and/or acreage may be reduced or increased within the units and options at the government’s discretion. One base unit covering approximately two acres is proposed, and if funding allows two additional project units covering three acres may be exercised as optional line items. See the table below for more details. Survey, report, and data deliverables for both the base units and optional units are described in this contract Statement of Work. The survey results for the base unit and optional units may be combined into a single report. If optional units are awarded, completion dates for fieldwork and reports may be adjusted based on Forest priorities.

Required work for this contract consists of geophysical survey utilizing GPR equipment, and results reporting that includes geospatial data, maps, and raw data. Intensive geophysical survey of block areas will cover the areas described below at transects no more than 1 meter apart. The Contractor will provide a report documenting the survey and its results. The Contractor will provide all digital survey data to the Coconino National Forest as well as geospatial data formatted for use with Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) software. Additional contract work information is provided below.

Schedules for the optional units will be discussed at the time the options are exercised/awarded. The work schedule for the optional units shall be proposed by the Contractor but will be planned to be completed to meet the Forest’s priorities and implementation schedule.

2.0 Project Location and Context

The proposed survey areas are located within the Coconino National Forest, Arizona. The Flagstaff Unit is located approximately 3 miles east of Flagstaff, Arizona, the Red Rock Unit is located approximately 22 miles southwest of Flagstaff, and the Mogollon Rim Unit is located approximately 40 miles southeast of Flagstaff. The sites are relatively flat, undeveloped terrain with some brush and grasses. The project units may be accessed via Forest System Roads in accordance with the Coconino National Forest Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) restrictions. These restrictions vary by season/weather. A high clearance vehicle will be needed. Roads may not be regularly maintained. Confidential (pursuant to 36 CFR 296.18) maps may be provided upon request as necessary. Upon award, maps and shapefiles will be loaded onto an external partner folder on Box, and an invite link to the location will be provided to the Contractor.

3.0 Description of Work and Deliverables

The Contractor will carry out the work described below for each of the project units exercised/funded.

Project unit specific information is provided below. The Contractor will carry out the work in the general order stated, although some activities may occur concurrently. The Contractor will discuss any proposed deviations from the general order with the Contracting Officer (CO), Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) and Coconino National Forest Heritage Staff, reaching a mutual agreement prior to proceeding.

Conduct intensive geophysical GPR survey of the proposed unit areas:

1. Personnel performing the survey must be qualified and trained in the operation of GPR equipment and the interpretation of GPR data. Staff resumes/curriculum vitae for the Project Manager, Site Supervisor, and any specialists will be provided to the Coconino National Forest prior to implementation of the survey.

2. Identify and accurately locate all subsurface disturbance and anomalies within the survey area that could represent previous excavation. The GPR depth penetration should be 2 meters minimum. GPR survey methods will utilize transects no more than 1 meter apart. The survey grid/transects must be established by electronic means using sub-meter GPS and accurately tied to the grid via a physical survey datum.

3. Data will be collected about all subsurface within the unit area(s). A shapefile of the survey results will be submitted with the draft report.

4. Create georeferenced maps showing the location and dimensions of all identified anomalies.

5. At least one digital photo showing the in-progress survey will be taken at every project unit.

Draft report/final report:

6. If multiple optional units are exercised/funded at the same time, the Contractor, CO, COR, and Coconino National Forest Heritage Staff may discuss in advance whether the exercised units can be documented in a single report, reaching a mutual agreement prior to proceeding.

7. Complete and submit a digital draft report that includes a description of the project; survey methods including equipment used and staff qualifications; survey results data analysis;

interpretation, characterization, and discussion of anomalies including depth and distribution;

recommendations and/or conclusions; and project maps (Heritage Staff will provide a Box link for uploading materials).

8. Complete and submit draft and final geospatial data for all survey coverage as well as survey results, in standard shapefile format (concurrent submittals with the draft and final reports).

9. Subsequent to review of the draft report by Coconino National Forest Heritage Staff, the Contractor will revise and submit a final report. This includes submittal of the digital final report, digital data, digital photos, shapefiles, and any other data collected during the survey to Box.

3.1 Standards for Acceptance of Work

1. Geophysical survey, analysis, reports, etc. must meet professional standards in accordance with ASTM D6432-20 and current GPR operations training and certification programs.

2. Geophysical survey should be adequate to identify extent of subsurface disturbance to within 1 meter within the survey area.

3. Analytical methods must be explained in the draft and final reports, defining all technical terminology and citing all sources.

4. 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, organization, production, etc. are grounds for rejection of the report. There should be no more than three errors in spelling, grammar, punctuation, and typing per page of the report. Legal descriptions in the report must agree with those shown in maps and figures. All survey areas, disturbed areas, and other readings encountered during the geophysical survey that are mentioned in the report must be shown on the report maps and vice versa.

3.2 Project Unit Summary

Table 1. Project Unit Summary Table

Unit Name Base / Optional Survey Acreage Report Flagstaff RD Base 2 Individual Red Rock RD Optional 2 May be combined depending on timing Mogollon Rim RD Optional 1 May be combined depending on timing

OPTION UNITS TOTAL 3

ALL UNITS TOTAL 5

4.0 Period of Performance/Time Frame

The total period of performance for the base unit task order will begin on the date of award and end on December 1, 2027.

An initial kick-off meeting will be conducted online or at a Coconino National Forest office. It is expected the Contractor with Key Personnel, the COR, the CO, and Forest Archaeologist will minimally attend.

There may also be a final meeting, similar to the kick-off meeting, to close out the contract.

The project fieldwork shall be initiated in 2026 and fieldwork should be completed by June 15, 2027 or earlier if possible. The Contractor must account for and comply with seasonal Forest Road closures that typically occur in November or December and last until April or May depending on local conditions.

Additionally, the Contractor must be prepared to account for and comply with any other forest closures that may arise due to wildland fires or other dangerous conditions.

Draft reports for each unit (or combined units as described in Table 1) will be submitted electronically to the COR and District/Forest Archaeologist no later than 90 days after completion of fieldwork in the unit(s). Each final report shall be submitted no later than 45 days after Forest Service review of each draft report. The period of performance for each optional unit will be one year from exercise/award of the option, with an option for a one-year extension.

The COR, Technical Specialist, or a designated Coconino National Forest Archaeologist will conduct routine inspections through field visits, virtual meetings, email check-ins, and/or review of project deliverables to ensure that work is proceeding satisfactorily within the timeframe.

5.0 Contractor Qualifications

At the discretion of the Forest Archaeologist, execution of this contract may be used as an alternative to the issuance of a Forest Service Cultural Resource Use Permit, pursuant to Forest Service Manual section

2367.15 [A Permit for Archaeological Investigations is required for “Consultants who are under a contract with the Forest Service to carry out official agency duties pertaining to the management of cultural resources on NFS lands. The permit may be in addition to the contract or the permit requirements may be added as stipulations to the contract (36 CFR 296.4(c).”].

All individuals proposed to work as principal investigators, crew chiefs, or in other supervisory capacities must submit their qualifications to the COR for review to ensure qualification before that person may direct the remote sensing work.

Prior to conducting any fieldwork, the Contractor will notify the COR and discuss any special conditions that may apply to this project.

6.0 Payment Phases

The Contracting Officer will authorize payments only for work that has been completed. Generally, these payments will follow Contactor invoicing after specific phases of the project are completed, such as:

• Completion of remote sensing / geophysical survey fieldwork by unit or groups of units and upon acceptance of work by COR.

• Completion of draft report by unit or groups of units (delivery of electronic copy of the draft report with all forms, photographs, maps, figures, shapefiles, etc.) and upon acceptance of work by COR.

• Completion of final report (delivery electronic copy of the final report with all forms, photographs, electronic data/files, digital images, maps, data, etc. and return of any unused Government Furnished Property), and upon acceptance of work by COR.

The Contractor may invoice partial payments during these phases if they are able to document that the work that has been completed is equivalent to the partial invoice.

The Contractor will be responsible for preparation and submission of proper invoices. Invoices shall contain the contract number, vendor identification number, invoice number, remit to name and address, and the specific line items that are being billed.

The COR will inspect and accept or reject work as appropriate. Upon rejection work will be returned to the Contractor for correction. If work is accepted, then recommendation for payment of invoice will be forwarded to CO.

7.0 Government Furnished Services

The Coconino National Forest shall provide access to such information in its possession pertinent to the project, including archaeological and historical inventory data, environmental data and reports, aerial photos, maps, and other relevant information. Forest Service personnel and resource specialists for technical consultation will be available as needed for efficient development of the project. Maps of the area showing survey areas, rights-of-way access when required, and National Forest Property lines will be furnished to the Contractor. The Coconino National Forest Archaeologists will coordinate field activities with the Contractor.

8.0 Additional Requirements

8.1 Burial Sites, Human Remains, and Funerary Objects

If human remains and funerary objects are encountered during the investigation, the Contractor must stop and contact the COR and Forest Archaeologist immediately. The Contractor will abide by all applicable federal, tribal, state, or local laws and ordinances regarding the treatment of burial sites, human remains, and funerary objects. The Contractor will also follow USDA and Coconino National Forest policy on treatment of human remains and consultation. The Contractor will secure the area in the vicinity of the encountered remains or objects and protect from disturbance and harm.

8.2 Curation

The Contractor shall thoroughly document all cultural materials in the field following Coconino National Forest archaeological inventory standards and returned to their location of (re)discovery. Collection of cultural materials during this contract is prohibited apart from rare finds such as whole or nearly whole vessels, jewelry, Paleoindian projectile points, etc. Any artifact collected must be located using a GPS unit. Any and all collections remain the property of the U.S. Government and will be submitted to the federal repository listed in the permit or to the Forest Archaeologist as soon as possible, and no later than completion of the project, unless otherwise agreed to.

8.3 Security

All project data provided to the Contractor and collected by the Contractor is the property of the U.S.

Government and will turn over all data at the conclusion of the project. The Contractor must ensure the security and confidentiality of the project, its location, the nature of the data being collected, the data collected itself, or any related information, and must not disclose such information with any individual or entity outside of authorized government personnel.

The Contractor shall prohibit the use of keys, issued by the Government, by any persons other than the Contractor’s employees and the opening of locked areas by Contractor employees to permit entrance of persons other than Contractor employees engaged in performance of contract work requirements in those areas. The Contractor shall safeguard all Government property and controlled forms provided for Contractor use and adhere to the Government property requirements contained in this contract. At the end of each workday, all Government facilities, equipment, and materials shall be secured.

8.4 Data Rights

All data, including field notes, pictures, drawings, not contained in the above report are the property of U.S. Forest Service and shall be turned over to Coconino Forest Service Archaeological staff once the COR, Technical Specialist, and Coconino National Forest Archaeologist have accepted report or upon conclusion/termination of the contract, whichever occurs first.

9.0 Integrated Project Risks and Mitigation

• Environmental conditions (wildfire, flooding, winter storms) may delay access. Mitigation: build schedule flexibility and monitor closure orders.

• Technical risks related to GPR performance in clay-rich or saturated soils. Mitigation: document soil conditions and adjust equipment settings.

• GPS signal degradation in dense canopy. Mitigation: plan for post-processing corrections.

• Data corruption risk. Mitigation: daily backups and redundancey without specified date-redundant drives.

• Access restrictions. Mitigation: early coordination with Forest Service staff.

• Cybersecurity risk. Mitigation: use encrypted storage and follow Forest Service data transfer requirements.