A04_44009276_SOW.pdf

Statement of Work

Statement of Work (SOW)

Contract for Historical Research

Alaska Bureau of Land Management

January 7, 2025

I. Introduction

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Alaska Regional Office, Navigability Section, seeks cost proposals to enter a contract for the research of historical use of water bodies in Alaska and a work product containing the information outlined in this SOW.

II. Background

BLM Alaska is undertaking a broad initiative to investigate the navigability of major waterbodies in Alaska abutting federally owned uplands as part of an effort to determine the extent of the State of Alaska’s ownership of submerged lands. BLM Alaska seeks a contractor with the education and experience necessary to conduct research, evaluate information, and provide a final report in support of this initiative.

III. Statement of Work

The contractor providing this service shall draft reports1 summarizing the historical use of water bodies within selected hydrologic regions in Alaska. The hydrologic regions, and list of water bodies within each region, are included in Appendix A. The summaries will be used by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to assist with administrative determinations of navigability.

The Contractor shall be silent in the reports regarding interpretations of the facts related to the navigability of any water body. The prioritization of water bodies needing historical use research is dynamic, and the contractor should expect to consult with BLM regarding the priority of a given water body before starting on any report.

The deliverable should contain an analysis of the water bodies (and segments) of hydrologic regions in their natural and ordinary condition, detailing any improvements to the water body.

Include a discussion of any evidence that the water bodies were historically used for travel or trade, focusing on use prior and up to Alaska statehood, January 3, 1959. It is important to broadly include information for context of use. At a minimum, the reports should contain the type of watercraft used, the segment or water body in which the use occurred, notes of use of those types of watercraft elsewhere in the state if applicable, the nature and weight of goods or cargo carried if available, earliest date of use, latest date of use, notes as needed, a reference to the source used, and a copy of the source. Digital submissions are sufficient.

1 These reports prepared by the contracted historian shall summarize the historical use of the selected water body, but they will not serve as a final navigability determination. BLM reserves the right to make that decision.

IV. Specifications

The contractor shall research whether water bodies in Appendix A were used for trade and travel prior to statehood. This research will address historical use only. To accomplish this task, the contractor shall prepare a report on the history of travel and trade to include the type(s) of watercraft used, the segment or water body in which the use occurred, earliest date of use, latest date of use, notes as needed, a reference to the source used, and a copy of the excerpt from the source. The contractor should also note any areas where no information could be found and not make any assumptions about use of the waterbody.

The contractor shall document the type(s) of watercraft commonly used for travel, trade and commerce at the time of statehood, which includes information regarding the draft, width, weight, type of materials, method of propulsion, and any other qualities relevant to the watercrafts’ ability to travel up or downstream on the water bodies.

The report will describe any physical limitations to travel on the water bodies and trace the history of roads, trails, and airfields in the region that may have been developed by government entities, miners, or other commercial operators as an alternative or substitute for waterborne travel. Historical information concerning prospecting, mining camps, fur trapping, hunting, and recreational activities, or any other commercial activity will be included in the report.

This report will satisfy the following requirements:

- Provide information on the type of watercraft and propulsion systems used, the segment or water body in which the use occurred, earliest date of use, nature and quantity or weight of goods and cargo transported, if available, latest date of use, notes as needed, a reference to the source used, a copy of the source, and any other information relevant to understanding the use of the waterbody.

- Locate, review, document, and reference primary and secondary documents concerning the types of watercraft historically and presently used for travel and trade on each water body.

- Review BLM records concerning travel activities on or near each water body.

- Research the historical use of these water bodies at libraries (to include national sources and local sources such as Alaska Resources Library & Information Services), databases, historical societies, newspapers, and any other relevant sources.

- If necessary, travel to communities to interview individuals concerning uses of waterbodies and locate, review, document, and reference primary and secondary documents that may be unavailable elsewhere.

- To provide context for trade and travel of each water body, locate, review, document, and reference primary and secondary documents concerning the historical development of travel and modes of transportation (trails, roads, airfields) in the vicinity of each water body. Note if no information can be found.

- Provide BLM an outline of the report to be prepared for review before drafting.

- Provide BLM a draft report and references for review(s) before finalizing.

- Provide BLM a final report, including references, for approval.

- As part of the report, state if no documented use was found for a selected waterbody.

V. Deliverables

The final product will contain the type of watercraft and propulsion system used, the segment(s) of the water body in which the use occurred, nature and weight of goods or cargo transported, if available, earliest date of use, latest date of use, notes as needed, a reference to the source used, a copy of the source, and any other information relevant to understanding the use of the waterbody, including, if applicable, a statement that no documented use was found for a selected waterbody.

The contractor providing this service will provide the following deliverables:

- Final reports for each hydrologic region listed in Appendix A as they are completed, including exhibits, citations to references used, copy of excerpts from source documents, and interview reports if used.

VI. Proposed Schedule

The contractor shall provide a proposed schedule for completion of the project for consideration by BLM. The contractor shall provide written monthly updates on progress. The parties shall also have bi-weekly meetings to discuss any potential issues.

VII. Special Considerations

The contractor understands that BLM Alaska will evaluate possible conflicts that arise concerning an identified site. Litigation, as well as anticipated litigation, is a conflict that will require reevaluation; these potential conflicts will be evaluated throughout the life of the contract, and may require an adjustment to the SOW.