A04_SOW_DOMINGUES_CANYON_ART_NOMINATION.pdf

Statement of Work

BIG AND LITTLE DOMINGUEZ CANYONS ROCK ART NATIONAL REGISTER

DISTRICT NOMINATION IN DOMINGUEZ-ESCALANTE NATIONAL CONSERVATION

AREA

1. INTRODUCTION

1.A. Background

1.A.1. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is required, under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (as amended) (NHPA), with the advice of the Secretary and in cooperation with the Colorado State Historic Preservation Officer, to establish a program to locate, inventory and nominate to the Secretary all properties under the agency’s jurisdiction that appear to qualify for inclusion on the National Register. Section 2(a) of Executive Order 11593 provides that Federal agencies shall locate, inventory, and nominate to the Secretary of the Interior all sites, buildings, districts, and objects under their jurisdiction or control that appear to qualify for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. BLM cultural resource specialists use identification and recordation of historic properties in combination with information gained through consultation with affected Tribes, the Colorado State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO), and other consulting parties to determine plans for management, protection, and nominations of any site.

1.A.2. National Register Nominations are guided by the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) under the National Park Service. NRHP registration forms and instructions can be found through the Colorado State Historic Preservation Office at https://www.historycolorado.org/nomination-forms and https://www.historycolorado.org/sites/default/files/media/documents/2018/1413b.pdf.

The current BLM Handbook, PAI permit procedures, and the 2021 Procedures and Reporting Standards for Cultural Resource Consultants Conducting Projects Under a CRUP Permit for the Upper Colorado River District, Bureau of Land Management can be found at https://www.blm.gov/programs/cultural-resources/archaeology/colorado.

1.A.3. An overview of the project is being provided below with the intent of assisting prospective offerors with more specific information about the project area. Prospective bidders should not assume that this overview is anything more than an informed projection of what could possibly be present in the project area.

1.B. Objectives

1.B.1. Place of Performance:

The project is located in Big Dominguez and Little Dominguez Canyons within the Dominguez- Escalante National Conservation Area, approximately 22 miles southeast of Grand Junction, Colorado. Access is via U.S. Highway 50 to the Bridgeport Trailhead on Bridgeport Road. The nomination project area is within the Dominguez Canyon Wilderness and is accessed via a moderate hike (2.3 miles) from the trailhead. No contract modifications will be provided for unanticipated logistic complexity not considered by the contractor in their bid. The legal location is the 6th Principal Meridian, T. 14 S., R. 98 W., sec. 19, lots 10, 11, and 12; and sec. 20, NW1/4SW1/4; T. 14 S., R. 99 W., sec. 26, N1/2NE1/4, NE1/4SW1/4, and NW1/4SE1/4.

https://www.historycolorado.org/nomination-forms https://www.historycolorado.org/sites/default/files/media/documents/2018/1413b.pdf https://www.blm.gov/programs/cultural-resources/archaeology/colorado

1.B.2. Proposed Historic District Nomination:

The Big and Little Dominguez Canyons Rock Art National Register District Nomination, in Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area is a National Register (NRHP) district nomination project located approximately 20 miles southeast of Grand Junction, Colorado on lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area (DENCA). The National Register is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. As part of the BLM’s ongoing effort to record and preserve historic properties for the benefit of the American public, the BLM DENCA is seeking to nominate the Big and Little Dominguez Canyons Rock Art District. The nomination will preserve information regarding the rock art sites and will facilitate future preservation and interpretation efforts.

The NRHP Nomination is for one district composed of fourteen rock art sites within a 725-acre area. The project is located in two relatively narrow canyons consisting of sparse to moderate pinyon and juniper habitat with other small vegetation throughout, and riparian vegetation along the perennial creeks that run through the canyons. The Nomination and site forms must meet the Contract Requirements below and meet the Colorado Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (OAHP) and National Park Service standards for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places.

1.B.3. Proposed Site Documentation and Archival Research:

Fourteen (14) rock art sites have been previously determined as eligible for listing on the NRHP.

This project will include the detailed documentation, archival research, and interpretation required for nominating an historic property to the NRHP. As part of documentation new site recordings, feature descriptions, plan maps, digital photographs and photograph logs, archival research, and significance statements will be completed for each site. A National Register Nomination form for the proposed district will also be required.

Further information on site documentation requirements and NRHP nomination forms are below.

Compliance with NHPA and Resource Management Plans:

This project ensures compliance with Section 110 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and with the BLM DENCA Resource Management Plan that requires the identification, evaluation, and preservation of cultural resources. No specific undertaking is currently associated with this project that could impact cultural resources; this project is being conducted for identification and protection of cultural resources.

2 CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS

The selected contractor(s) must hold a current Colorado BLM Permit for Archaeological Investigations (PAI). The field crew chief must be on the contractor’s current, be qualified to do cultural resource work in the GJFO area, and be present in the field at all times with crews. This is a three-item contract with deliverables due on the schedule in the reporting section below and will ultimately result in a National Register nomination and site forms. The three work items are:

1) a letter report, 2) a draft nomination form and site forms, and 3) a final nomination form and site forms. The fieldwork will be completed to assure that the contractor meets the deadlines for submission of the final nomination described below. A final report on the results of the fieldwork will be delivered by no later than twelve (12) months after award of the contract (see report schedule). All reports and supporting documents will meet professional guidelines established by the Colorado Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (OAHP) and the Department of the Interior/BLM. The boundaries of the proposed district are not flagged. Use of a Global Positioning System (GPS) unit to locate and plot UTMs for cultural resources is required. Contractors must also follow the current BLM Handbook, BLM Colorado Northwest District and Upper Colorado River District Procedures and Reporting Standards, the most recent BLM Colorado Digital Standards, and the PAI permit procedures including delivery of all site information in shapefiles with supporting tables.

Note: The project bid should include evidence of satisfactory staff member experience recording and evaluating prehistoric and historic cultural resources; and evidence of technical capability of staff (i.e. use of tools such as GPS, etc.).

3 TASKS

3.A Archival Research and Fieldwork

Archival Research: A prehistoric context for the Big and Little Dominguez Canyons area will need to be completed as part of the nomination. Several contexts are already available and can contribute to the research. It is expected that the contractor will research available resources and include relevant information that would improve the quality of the National Register nomination.

Fieldwork: The Contractor must coordinate with the COR, giving at least a week in advance notice, to schedule a pre-work meeting with the BLM and the Fieldwork Authorization will constitute the Notice to Proceed. All fieldwork and documentation shall be performed to Secretary of the Interior (SOI), National Park Service (NPS), BLM, Colorado SHPO, and other applicable professional standards. All fieldwork and documentation shall be completed within six (6) months of award date.

The required documentation will be completed to meet the report deadlines described below. The selected contractor(s) must hold a current Colorado BLM Permit for Archaeological Investigations (PAI). The field crew chief must be on the contractor’s current, be qualified to do cultural resource work in the GJFO area, and be present in the field at all times with crews. Contractors must also follow the current BLM Handbook, PAI permit procedures, and the 2021 Procedures and Reporting Standards for Cultural Resource Consultants Conducting Projects Under a CRUP Permit for the Upper Colorado River District, Bureau of Land Management (included) for information on delivery of all site and information in shapefiles. Shapefiles require projection data and should be submitted according to the BLM-Colorado Digital Data Specifications Guide (included). It is the contractor’s responsibility to coordinate access, locate the project area, and complete the recording and nomination as described. The project area will not be flagged on the ground, but GIS shapefiles will be provided to the selected contractor upon award. A Global Positioning System (GPS) unit is required to locate, plot, and provide UTMs for the recorded sites.

The Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) is Patricia Stavish, pmstavish@blm.gov or (970) 244-3013.

Site Documentation: Full site re-documentation will be completed for each of the fourteen sites within the proposed district. OAHP management data, relevant component, and rock art forms will need to be filled out for the site according to OAHP and BLM standards. Upon contract award, the BLM Grand Junction Field Office will provide the contractor with shapefiles and documentation related to the previous recording. Detailed plan and feature maps are also required for complete documentation of the site. The following is a brief synopsis of each site (but should not be construed as definitive):

Site Number Site components 5ME.158 Five panels (varying 1-20+ elements), 1 historic inscription, 5 thermal features, one mano, lithic scatter 5ME.159 Ten boulders (varying 1-5 panels each with 1-20+ elements), 3 thermal features, 1 rock wall feature, lithic scatter

5ME.5918 One panel with 4 elements 5ME.12174 Four panels with approximately 15 elements 5ME.15345 Two panels with 4-6 elements and lithic scatter 5ME.15346 Five panels with varying 1-10+ elements, one thermal feature, and lithic scatter 5ME.15347 One panel with 10+ elements 5ME.15348 One panel with approximately 2 elements 5ME.15349 One panel with 1 element 5ME.17742 One panel with several elements, and two thermal features 5DT.761 One panel with 6 elements 5DT.1664 One panel with 4 elements 5DT.1821 Three panels with varying 1-6 elements 5DT.1822 One panel with 8 elements

NRHP Nomination Documents: National Register nomination forms will need to be completed in full for the proposed district. Instructions for completing NRHP forms can be found in form 1413b (https://www.historycolorado.org/sites/default/files/media/documents/2018/1413b.pdf).

Proposed District Map: The requirements include an original full USGS topographic quad map showing location, as well as a sketch map at appropriate scale of the proposed district showing site locations and district boundary. Instructions for mapping can be found in form 1413b.

Photographs: The NRHP nomination requires inclusion of current photographs that are well-composed and provide an accurate visual representation of the nomination. District nomination also requires several photographs that convey a general overall sense of the character of the nominated area. All photos included in the nomination submission are digital photos. Specific photo instructions can be found in form 1413b.

3.B Reporting

3.B.1 Item 1 payment (25% of total contract) will be made based on acceptance of a preliminary letter report within two weeks of completing the fieldwork. The letter report should contain, at a minimum:

https://www.historycolorado.org/sites/default/files/media/documents/2018/1413b.pdf

• A brief description of archival research and sources completed to-date,

• A brief description of fieldwork conditions and challenges,

• A brief description of each site along with current site conditions,

• A 7.5' topographic map showing the site locations.

3.B.2 Item 2 payment (50% of total contract) will be made based on acceptance of a copy of the draft nomination forms, uploaded to an FTP site or otherwise arranged digital submission to the BLM for review within three (3) months of completing the fieldwork. The draft nomination and the site forms shall meet the guidelines established by the Secretary of Interior’s Standards (and Guidelines for Archaeology and Historic Preservation), the BLM Colorado Handbook, Colorado OAHP Guidelines, and the current standards and procedures requirements for the BLM DENCA.

The consultant’s editor is strongly encouraged to review the draft before submission to correct grammatical and factual errors. BLM will not serve as a copy editor and drafts may be rejected/returned for correction to the contractor for substandard copy editing.

The BLM will provide a response to the draft forms within one (1) month of submission. If substantial editing is required, all documents will be returned with general comments or tagged corrections.

3.B.3 Payment of Item 3 (25% of contract) will be made based on acceptance of one final digital copy of the nomination, one final digital copy of the site forms (with photos and maps), one set of digital photos in separate file (with metadata filled out), final district map, and final shapefiles and digital (PDFs) of all other documentation. If minimal changes are required, specific corrections will be identified in the response and individual corrected pages may be submitted. Delivery of the final report and supporting records is required no later than twelve (12) months after award of the contract. BLM will notify the contractor of acceptance of the Final Report which constitutes completion of the contract.

3.C General Requirements

3.C.1 Site Confidentiality: To protect site information from unauthorized disclosure, all site location and content information must be kept in strictest confidence. The Contractor shall make the information available only to the COR/PI and must take whatever internal measures are necessary to ensure that confidential material is protected. All site-specific records, photographs, and maps generated in the course of this contract, including original field maps and notes, will be considered BLM property and will be turned over to the COR/PI upon completion of the project.

The Contractor will be responsible for ensuring that all excess site-specific documents, maps, site forms, etc., (i.e., those not submitted as deliverables, internal review drafts, etc.) are properly disposed of upon completion of the project.

3.C.2 Ownership: The BLM retains ownership of, and all rights to, all artifacts collected, records, data, maps, drawings, photographs, samples, artifacts, GIS products, automated data bases, or other products. These items cannot be used by the Contractor without written permission from the

BLM.

3.C.3 Collection and Curation: No collection will be authorized for this project.

4 DEFINITIONS

4.A Cultural Resource or Cultural Property: Any definite location of past human activity, occupation, or use, identifiable through field inventory (survey), historical documentation, or oral evidence. This term may be applied to archaeological, historic, or architectural sites, structures or places, or places of traditional cultural or religious importance to specified social and/or cultural groups, whether or not represented by physical remains.

4.A.1 Site: A physical location of previous (50-year age minimum) human activity at which the evidence suggests repeated and patterned use over time, or multiple classes of activities. Certain cultural resources that represent single activity use may be considered eligible for the NRHP and will be defined as sites. For example: a) Isolated thermal features such as hearths due to the potential for chronometric and economic information; b) Single element rock art panels due to the potential diagnostic and cultural value of the motif; c) Isolated human burials; or d) Loci exhibiting ground stone and flaked stone in association due to the potential of being open camps.

4.A.2 Districts/Structures/Objects/Buildings: These resources are defined within the NHPA and its implementing regulations. The Contractor will need to contact the COR/PI to determine if special recordation of any such properties is required prior to completion of fieldwork.

4.B Evaluation: The evaluation of cultural resources requires a determination of site eligibility for the NRHP using National Register eligibility criteria (36 CFR 60).

4.C Historic Property: Any prehistoric or historic district, site, building, structure, or object included in, or eligible for inclusion in the NRHP. The term includes, but is not limited to, artifacts, records, and remains that are related to and located within such properties. The phrase ‘eligible for inclusion in the NRHP includes both properties formally determined as such by the Secretary of the Interior and all other properties that meet National Register listing criteria and those sites already identified as eligible during consultation between the BLM and the Colorado SHPO.

5 COORDINATION

5.A The Contractor must be highly flexible and able to adapt to rapidly changing circumstances.

Close coordination with the CO and COR/PI will be necessary to meet BLM deadlines. If problems arise, they first shall be discussed with the COR/PI. The Contractor must be able to quickly "gear-up" to execute assigned tasks within short time frames.

5.B The Contractor shall be prepared, at the request of the BLM, to incorporate into their work plans a method by which the public can be informed and educated about activities under this contract. Any contacts with the news media or other public concerning work performed under this contract shall first be cleared through the COR/PI.

5.C Any problems which may delay the Contractor’s work schedule must be reported immediately to the COR/PI.

5.D The Contractor’s project director and all field supervisors must have a valid BLM Colorado PAI and have submitted a Fieldwork Authorization request prior to the initiation of fieldwork. A Fieldwork Authorization Request must be submitted to the Grand Junction Field Office, 2815 H Road, Grand Junction CO 81506 or via email to the COR or PI and should be submitted prior to the file search conducted in the Grand Junction Field Office.

5. E During the course of the project, reasonable precautions will be taken to avoid the disclosure of site locations to all but authorized personnel. In addition, field personnel will be required to keep all motorized vehicles on existing designated roads. Access from the Bridgeport Trailhead to the project areas is open to foot and horse travel only. The project area is located in Zone 1 of the Dominguez Canyon Wilderness and is Day Use Only; camping is not allowed in Zone 1 to protect sensitive resources. Field personnel will contact the COR at least one week prior to initiating fieldwork.

6 PROGRAM MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL REQUIREMENTS

6.A Work performed under this contract shall be monitored according to contract specifications, provisions, and the Contractor's proposal. The Technical Proposal to this RFP shall thoroughly discuss cost and schedule control as well as quality control.

6.B Cost and Schedule Control: Adherence to costs and schedules contained in the award shall be closely monitored. The Contractor’s response shall specify individuals who shall be responsible for monitoring costs and schedules. Each type of task included in Section 3 above, shall be structured as a series of steps, each with identifiable goals and end points. Progress shall be evaluated periodically and shall be included in the progress/letter report, if required.

Communication between administrative and technical staffs shall be maintained according to the specified procedures. A detailed plan for the early identification and resolution of problems (i.e., scheduling delays due to inclement weather, etc.) shall be prepared and followed. Potential problem areas shall be identified in consultation with the technical and administrative staffs before work begins. All records of actual time and costs charged to this contract shall be made available for inspection upon request by the BLM.

6.C. Quality Control: Control over the technical quality of all work and deliverables shall be closely monitored by the Contractor to assure required BLM and other professional standards are met. Within the Technical Proposal to this RFP, explicit procedures shall be provided that assure periodic quality checks on field methods and products (site records, photograph logs, final reports, etc.) associated with individual orders. A discussion of actual procedures which shall be followed to monitor progress and assure quality control shall also be included within the Technical Proposal.

These procedures could include periodic meetings with staff, field or laboratory inspections, independent checks of analytic procedures, etc.

7 ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

7.A. Travel: Any travel costs are to be included in the fixed price contract pricing. The contractor shall bear all travel expenses related to this contract.

7.B. Costs: As costs may vary within the identified units, the offeror should propose their highest price expected for the entire area. All costs must be included to include reiteration of paragraph 1.C.4.

7.C. Payment: Payment will be made via IPP, a copy of the invoice must be attached to the IPP invoice submission (electronic) and also emailed to the BPA call COR. Payments may be made by Task or Deliverable within the contract, once the Task or Deliverable is completed, accepted and upon submission of an acceptable invoice.