7835_OakFlatWillowSpring_SOW_MAforArchaeology.pdf

Multiple Award for Archaeology Scope of Work Procurement Authority: State of Utah AS24-114

Project Title: Yellowjacket – Oak Flat and Willow Springs Project (7835)

Cultural Resources Project Type: Intensive archaeological survey.

Project Description: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), in coordination with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR), proposes to treat approximately 2,127 acres of encroaching pinyon and juniper in sage-brush steppe areas utilizing equipment to masticate vegetation within the project. The Yellowjacket Oak Flat and Willow Springs project area occurs within the larger 30,000-acre Yellowjacket Vegetation Enhancement Project landscape in southern Kane County, Utah. The need to rehabilitate and restore vegetation communities within the Yellowjacket area has been recognized for many years by multiple agencies and stakeholders.

The proposed treatments site locations are located Kane County between Hildale, Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, and Mt. Carmel Junction.

Given the proposed ground disturbing treatments, an archaeological survey is being requested in advance of the project. The project qualifies as both a state and federal undertaking. The archaeological survey area identified for this project includes approximately 2,127 acres of land managed by the BLM. More information on the project needs, objectives and management plans can be found here. Images of the project area can be found here.

WRI Number: (7835)

Acres: 2,127 acres

Land Manager: BLM 2,127

Cultural Lead: BLM- Roy Plank (rplank@blm.gov) USWFS CPD Fire and Fuels Archaeologist; DWR- Arie Leeflang (aleeflang@utah.gov) DWR Archaeologist.

Project Lead: Steve Barker (sabarker@blm.gov)

Permitting Requirements: Principal Investigators, Field Directors, and Crew Chiefs must hold a current BLM Permit for Archaeological Investigation (PAI) for the Virgin Cultural Area. Project personnel substitutions must be listed on the pertinent PAI and require written approval from the Agency Archaeologists. A fieldwork authorization (FWA) must be obtained from the pertinent land managing agencies. Contractor is responsible for acquiring all necessary permits and permissions for all lands included in the project.

The identification, documentation, and NRHP evaluation of archaeological resources will be completed in accordance with the current BLM Utah Fieldwork Guidelines and Utah State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) Cultural Resource Compliance Guidance.

Multiple Award for Archaeology Region: Southern, greater than 300 acres “Maximum Price per Acre.”

Multiple Award for Archaeology Contracted Model: Lump sum. As a lump sum project, cost modifications or change orders based upon unexpected or excessive findings will not be entertained. Please include a per-acre rate in your bid response.

https://wri.utah.gov/wri/project/title.html?id=7835 https://wri.utah.gov/wri/project/justification.html?id=7514 https://wri.utah.gov/wri/project/justification.html?id=7514 https://wri.utah.gov/wri/project/justification.html?id=7835 https://wri.utah.gov/wri/project/attachments.html?id=7514 https://wri.utah.gov/wri/project/attachments.html?id=7835 https://wri.utah.gov/wri/project/justification.html?id=7688 https://wri.utah.gov/wri/project/title.html?id=7835 mailto:rplank@blm.gov mailto:aleeflang@utah.gov mailto:sabarker@blm.gov https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2024-03/Utah%20Permit%20Instructions_March2024.pdf

Period of Performance:

Draft Deliverable Due Date: August 11, 2026 Final Deliverables Due Date: August 25, 2026

Fieldwork Preferences: Do not place physical datums. Flag recommended-eligible sites with pink flagging at a 30-meter buffer.

Flagging is to be placed on the outside of trees for visibility to machine operators.

Site boundaries, artifacts, and features must be GPS’d with submeter accuracy following BLM Utah Fieldwork Guidelines. Follow the 2008 UPAC Linear Sites guidance for the recordation of linear sites. Clearly justify the recordation of the linear as a site, per the UPAC guidance, as opposed to an isolated occurrence. Linear sites that are not justified as an archaeological site will be transitioned to an isolated occurrence if requested by the Agency Archaeologists.

Utah Archaeological Site Forms will be completed for each newly recorded cultural resource site and each revisited previously documented site. Previously documented sites that are unable to be relocated will be documented using a Utah Archaeological Site Form Part A. Previously recorded cultural site forms that are recent (less than 10 years) do not need to be re-documented if they have adequate information and key aspects have not changed since the previous recording, including but not limited to eligibility, condition/impacts, artifact or feature lists, and site boundary, and the existing documentation meets Utah SHPO and BLM standards.

Each cultural resource site within the project area shall be evaluated for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), as set forth in 36 CFR 60. The Contractor shall make recommendations concerning site eligibility and include a written justification, both on the Utah Archaeological Site Form and in the project report. This justification shall specify the specific criteria under which eligible sites are found to qualify and a discussion of the seven aspects of integrity specified in 36 CFR 60. Justifications should reference Research Questions from the Applicable Class I Report. Final determinations of eligibility will be made by the BLM in consultation with the SHPO.

If areas of dense vegetation or steep slopes present an unsafe work environment, document the locations with GPS points or polygons and photographs. Such changes in archaeological survey intensity will be documented and shared with the Agency Archaeologists within 5 days of the close of the pertinent field session unless otherwise directed. These areas must be documented in the final report and spatial data attributes and will be coded as reconnaissance surveys or exempted rather than intensive surveys in the report.

Photos shall be submitted for Isolated Finds (IFs) that are features or consist of diagnostic prehistoric artifacts. IFs that consist of more than one artifact shall list the measurable extent in which the IF occurs to ensure they do not meet the site definition.

Reporting Requirements: No paper reporting is required for this project. Standard BLM and SHPO digital deliverables are required for the Agency Archaeologists. This contract will: 1) Provide federal and state agencies with a cultural resource inventory for the specified project acreage and 2) Provide information on the distribution and character of cultural resources in this area to better assess their significance and preservation requirements, to determine the potential effects of the proposed undertaking on Historic Properties, and to provide protection of eligible resources from ground-disturbing activities.

Unless directed otherwise, the contractor will be required to gather existing information on known cultural resources and previous cultural resources surveys within the project area and within a 1/2-mile buffer around the project area. This will provide the contractor with a good understanding of the density and types of sites that may be found. Previous project information is available from the SHPO’s Sego database and if directed, from the pertinent BLM field office. Other background information should be gathered from General Land Office records, relevant National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) historic contexts, PLPCO Access 360 web application, historical aerial images, historical maps, etc.

The final report will include the Utah SHPO Cover Sheet (PDF page 1) and the BLM Summary Report of Cultural Resource Inspection, Form UT-8100-3 (PDF page 2+). All records and data files will match Utah SHPO submission structure and requirements and BLM Utah Data Standards.

https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2024-04/BLM%20Utah%20Cultural%20Fieldwork%20Guidelines%20and%20Standards_2024.pdf https://82f96c66-8d2b-4bed-939b-344cbc2ba706.usrfiles.com/ugd/82f96c_c901a7a7da6d4242ad7083a2392dc393.pdf

Previous Inventories and Previously Recorded Sites: See the attached BLM-provided spreadsheet (OakFlat_WillowSpring_LitReview.xlsx). Review the attached Paria River District Suggested Readings as part of the project specific literature review.

Access: The project area can be accessed from the existing Skutumpah road, though dead walking or UTVs will be required to reach a majority of the project area.

Payment Schedule: Invoicing for this project will follow the standard Multiple Award for Archaeology contract schedule: 10% invoiced upon completion of pre-field literature review; 50% upon completion of fieldwork; 30% upon delivery of draft deliverables;

final 10% upon full acceptance of final deliverables by the Agency Archaeologists and successful consultation with SHPO. Agency Archaeologists must approve milestone arrival.

Milestone arrivals require the submission of documentation:

● Pre-field literature review: submission of a brief literature review document that summarizes the initial literature review and background research effort. While this does not need to be polished, the document should provide evidence of a thorough literature review effort and should include a survey findings expectations paragraph.

● Fieldwork: Agency Archaeologists may request documentation of fieldwork and preliminary fieldwork results. This may include spatial data for fieldwork transect lines, preliminary archaeological site boundaries, and class II or other exclusion areas. Preliminary site lists and preliminary eligibility determinations may also be requested. Such submissions may be waived by the Agency Archaeologists during the project kickoff meeting.

● Draft deliverables: draft SHPO package following BLM and SHPO reporting and data standards requirements.

● Final deliverables: final SHPO package following BLM and SHPO reporting and data standards requirements.

Invoices must include your DWR contract number. Please contact the DWR Archaeologist if you do not know your contract number.

This number differs from the Billing PO number listed below.

Billing PO: 202629

Attached Files:

● 20260504_WillowSpringOakFlat.zip: a GIS shapefile of the project area and KMZ file of the project area

● 20260504_WillowSpringOakFlat.kmz: a Google Earth file of the project area

● OakFlat_WillowSpring_LitReview.xlsx: a BLM-provided spreadsheet of literature review results.

● CPD AI Parameters.pdf: Artificial intelligence use policy that will be followed for this project.

● Paria River District Suggested Readings.pdf: a BLM-provided list suggested readings and resources for the Paria River area.

How Projects will be Awarded

The individual SOW project award will be made based upon a cumulative assessment which will take place at each project release.

That assessment will combine the previously outlined Best Value score and a new “SOW Cost Point Award.”

The “Best Value Score” was awarded in RFP AS24-114 and is not changeable. It is a portion of 300 points as assessed in the first three categories (Technical Criteria) of the RFP.

The “SOW Cost Point Award” is figured each time bids are received based upon an individual SOW. The bid responses may be for a “lump sum” bid that would cover all the costs associated with the entire project. Or the bid responses may ask for a “base rate” bid that would cover the basic aspects of an archaeological survey and a “per site” bid that would also ask for the costs to record an archaeological site. 700 cost points are possible. The lowest cost bid will receive the full 700 points. Each higher bid will receive points based upon its percentage higher than the lowest bid.

Cumulative Assessment is calculated by:

(AS24-114 Best Value Score out of 300) + (Cost Point Award out of 700)

The highest point tally will receive the project contract at their submitted bid rate.

This approach will assure the State of Utah and the WRI are able to include the point rankings associated with non-cost elements from the RFP, along with the cost ranking associated with each project SOW release (aka the “SOW Cost Point Award”).

All work is contracted and awarded through the State of Utah Division of State Purchasing & General Services Solicitation AS24-114 and Limited Purchasing Delegation #230

Any awarded work is at a fixed rate and is not open to modification except as allowed under State of Utah Division of State Purchasing & General Services rules.