A04 Statement of Work.pdf

Scope-of-Work for

Class III Inventory and Report Preparation for the Cedar Creek Unit of BLM lands for Projects Requiring Cultural Resources Inventory in Accordance with BLM Montana/Dakotas Cultural Resources Handbook H8110-1, Section III.C.

I. General Background.

A. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is required to identify, evaluate, and protect prehistoric and historic cultural resources on public lands under its jurisdiction: and to ensure that Bureau initiated, or Bureau authorized actions do not inadvertently harm or destroy cultural resources. The National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) mandates these requirements.

B. A Class III intensive field inventory is a professionally conducted, continuous, intensive survey of an entire target area aimed at locating and recording all cultural properties that have surface and exposed-profile indications. In general, a Class III survey is accomplished through systematic inspection carried out by walking a series of close-interval parallel transects until the area has been thoroughly examined. Artificial exposure of the subsurface (auger probing or shovel testing) is sometimes a necessary part of Class III surveys and should be included in identification efforts if ground/surface visibility is completely obscured by heavy vegetation cover.

II. Specific Background.

A. Setting: The Miles City Field Office is located in southeast and eastern Montana.

The Field Office administers 2,751,530 acres of surface estate and an additional 11,437,479+acres of Federal minerals (See Map 1). The Field Office is involved with a variety of land disturbing activities that require cultural resource input including fuels reduction, forestry, range and habitat improvement projects.

B. The areas proposed for inventory in Fiscal Year 2021 are in Prairie and Wibaux Counties within the Miles City Field Office. BLM anticipates up to 10,370 acres requiring inventory in Fiscal Year 2021.

III. Objectives.

A. General Bureau Objective.

Meet BLM’s obligations under Sections 106 and 110 of the NHPA.

B. Field Office Objective.

BLM’s objective is to identify all cultural resources and historic properties within the locations identified for the Cedar Creek Fuels Unit.

C. Specific Study Objectives.

1. To identify, record and evaluate, based primarily on surface indications, cultural resources located on lands identified for survey within the project area. In general, site evaluations shall be conducted using existing guidance from the BLM, Montana SHPO, the National Register Criteria (36 CFR 60.4), and National Park Service National Register Bulletins.

IV. Statement of Work.

A. The contractor will perform Class III inventory on the following BLM identified tracts.

Inventory shall be conducted on a priority basis. The list of BLM identified tracts is shown Table 1. of this Statement of Work

All BLM lands in the Cedar Creek Unit are to be inventoried in Prairie and Wibaux Counties (Map 2- 10,370 GIS acres).

Priority one will be the lands within the Cedar Creek Unit.

B. The Contractor shall conduct a site file and literature search at the State Historic Preservation Office in Helena, Montana, and shall contact CJ Truesdale lead archeologist at the Miles City Field Office for additional resource data. The purpose of this file search is to ensure that the Contractor is familiar with all previous work conducted in the general area of the project. This information is a necessary component of the inventory report.

C. The contractor shall clearly identify all previously recorded sites so that they may be avoided, mitigated, rerecord, or monitored during project implementation. GIS Data will be provided to the field office archaeologist so that sites can be easily relocated in the field.

D. Formal testing shall not be conducted; however, limited hand/bucket auger or shovel testing, at the discretion of the field director, may be performed to establish potential for site deposition, site boundaries, or significance. Shovel testing is not a requirement for this procurement. If historic period architectural structures or remains are located the Contractor is expected to conduct a land title and mineral patent examination as part of the site identification and evaluation effort.

E. The Contractor shall employ BLM criteria for minimum site definition; i.e., The minimum criteria for defining archaeological or cultural properties, requiring use of a site record, are that sites should contain remains of past human activity that are at least.5O years old and consist of one or more of the following: 1. At least 5 artifacts within an area 50 feet in diameter (roughly 15sq meters); 2. One or more archaeological features in spatial association with any number of artifacts; 3.

Traditional Cultural Property (TCP) as defined by National Register Bulletin 38 (H8110- 1.V.b.1 through 3). Sites may also include locations which contain no physical evidence but are important for their associations with the traditions of a group, ethnic community, or Indian tribe; e.g., National Register Bulletin 38. Locations containing less that 5 artifacts, shall be recorded as isolated finds. The contractor will not be responsible for Native American consultation and coordination for the project, this will be completed by

BLM.

F. The Contractor shall:

1. Cover the areas to be inventoried on foot by employing standard survey methodology. Transect intervals shall be spaced no more than 30 meters apart.

Transect intervals may be modified if conditions warrant; e.g, dense grasses and sod, rough, steep, landforms. If transec tintervals are modified the Contractor shall document the rationale employed which justifies the deviation from the standard interval distance. In all cases, coverage shall be thorough.

2. Identify from all surface and exposed indications all cultural properties or materials. A digital site datum (GPS point) can be used or a physical datum such as rebar or PVC can be placed at the site. In either instance a UTM coordinate of the datum will need to be used in appropriate resource forms.

3. Collect time diagnostic artifacts; e.g., projectile points, ceramics, gun flints, etc. Include both those found on sites and those occurring in isolation.

4. Locate each cultural property on a United States Geological Survey (USGS) 7.5' quadrangle topographic map.

5. Record all cultural properties on BLM site and isolated find forms. Site forms and instructions can be found in BLM's Handbook for Cultural Resource Inventory and Compliance, see section V. Unless otherwise directed, completely re-record previously recorded cultural properties located within unit boundaries identified for inventory. Note any change in resource condition from when the site was originally recorded.

6. Take at least two 3 X 5" non-modified digital photographs of each cultural property. Digital Photos to include an accurate date stamp on image. Standing historic structures shall be photographed on all sides to illustrate architectural features. Label all photos and negatives with a description and orientation. A photographic record shall be maintained.

7. Prepare sketch maps of all sites based on the location of the site datum and include topographic contour lines, cultural features, basic site contents, and locations of all collected artifacts. While it is not necessary to map all artifacts indicate areas of artifact concentration. All prehistoric cultural properties or historic material scatters shall be mapped by compass and taped or paced in meters. All historic period Euro-American standing structures and mining features; e.g, houses, barns, etc., shall be mapped in feet. GPS Data may be substituted for the above provided it is of the same or better precision to taping and pacing.

8. For previously recorded sites that may be affected by the proposed actions, such as standing wooden structures and rock art develop recommendations for protection and/or avoidance.

9. The Contractor shall obtain Smithsonian site numbers from the Montana SHPO, for all cultural properties not previously assigned such numbers. The BLM will review all site forms for adequacy prior to the submission to the SHPO for site numbers. Isolated find numbers will be assigned by the Contractor.

10. The contractor shall provide BLM with contractor generated GIS Data for all areas inventoried and all site and isolate find locations. GIS Data shall meet the data requirements for GIS Data for the Miles City Field Office.

G. Collections, if Made.

1. Collections shall be labeled and catalogued, using BLM catalog cards, and shall be processed in accordance with Billings Curation Center packaging standards (forms and packaging requirements shall be provided to the Contractor by BLM).

2. All collections belong to the United States Government and shall be delivered to the Billings Curation Center as part of submitting the final inventory report. A collections receipt from the Billings Curation Center must accompany the final report deliverable.

H. Analysis and Report Preparation.

1. Upon completion of the Class III inventory field work, prepare a professional quality report, addressing the general categories outlined below.

a. Title Sheet. Signed by the Principal Investigator.

b. Abstract. Provide a 250-word or less abstract of the report. The abstract shall outline the report contents and refer to specific highlights from the narrative.

c. Table of Contents. Provide a complete inventory of report contents.

d. Introduction. Provide an overview of the project including its purpose.

Identify the tracts inventoried for this project, by legal description in table form.

e. Literature Search. Provide a brief but complete discussion on the work that has been conducted in the project area.

f. Environmental and Cultural Setting. Provide a brief but complete overview of the environment in which the survey tracts are located. In addition, discuss the cultural setting, again briefly, including both the prehistoric and historic periods.

g. Inventory Results. Provide a summary description of each cultural property found. Indicate results from preliminary evaluation and any problems connected with the property's recordation. Include photographs of cultural properties located during the inventory; e.g., half-tones or good quality xerox copies of original photographs. Use graphics and tables as appropriate.

h. Summary and Recommendations. Discuss the results of the inventory in summary form. Include the following:

i. Identify the sites recorded, whether the sites were prehistoric or historic, and what type of site is represented.

ii. Evaluate each cultural property for its eligibility to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Contractor shall use an appropriate "Context" in which to evaluate cultural properties and shall employ the National Register Criteria in those evaluations.

Contractor shall clearly describe the rationale used to determine which sites are eligible, potentially eligible, and not eligible.

Contractor shall recommend treatment needed to determine eligibility on sites determined potentially eligible.

i. References Cited. Include a list of all sources cited in report.

j. Appendices. Provide an appendix to incorporate typed unit forms and descriptions, copies of USGS maps with the depicted units, and photographs of individual units. Combine these elements (unit forms and descriptions, copies of USGS maps, and photographs) into separate unit summaries within the appendix.

k. Maps and Graphics. Provide appropriate maps, charts, tabulations, and graphics necessary to support the report narrative.

l. Preservation, Packing, and Packaging, Submitted collections must adhere to the standards identified for the Billings Curation Center.

V. Specifications and Standards.

1. Inventory guidelines and standards for BLM generated cultural resource investigations can be found in Montana State Office Handbook H-8110-1 entitled Guidelines for Identifying Cultural Resources. The Handbook will be made available at the Miles City Field Office

VI. The Contractor Shall Not:

A. Complete consultation with affected Native American Groups.

B. Sign off on environmental documents for cultural resources.

VII. Inspection.

A. If requested, contractor shall make all field notes, photographs, and other items related (including e-mails and phone conversation logs) to the performance of this contract available to the BLM.

VIII. Government Provided Information

A. The project may be substantially marked on the ground prior to inventory. GIS Data of the locations to be inventoried may be provided. In addition, the contractor will have access to site and project files located at the Miles City Field Office.

IX. Deliverables.

A. The Contractor will prepare reports, and associated forms for project inventoried under Section A of this scope of work.

B. Address for deliverables:

Bureau of Land Management Miles City Field Office Attn: CJ Truesdale 111 Garryowen Road Miles City, Montana 59301

C. One set of draft site forms with original black & white or color photographs, as specified above.

D. One copy of the draft Class III cultural resource inventory report.

E. One unbound original, plus 2 copies of the final Class III cultural resource inventory report. The report shall be typed and printed on 8 .5" x 11" paper and shall be single spaced. Two sets of final site forms with Smithsonian site numbers and with original black & white or color photos. Additionally, the final report shall also be submitted in an electronic format.

F. One clean and undamaged set of USGS 7.5' topographic quadrangle maps showing the locations of survey areas and all cultural resource sites and isolated finds identified on inventoried tracts. Sites and survey areas shall be labeled with site and unit numbers using black ink and neatly printed or drawn on maps.

G. One copy of photographic record.

H. One copy of all field notes.

I. One disc for each report containing GIS data to include inventory area boundaries, site boundaries as polygons, and locations of site datums, finished artifacts, features if present, and artifact concentrations, and any disturbances or unique features in or affecting the site as point or polygonal data.

X. Period of Performance

The contractor shall begin fieldwork as conditions dictate from award of this contract, No later than May 3, 2021. All final reports for the 2021 field season, site forms, and artifacts to be curated are due to BLM by October 29, 2021.

XI. Payment

Payment shall be made on the following schedule for 2020.

1. Completion of Pre-field Meeting and Documentation of File Search Completion 10%

2. Documentation of Completion of Fieldwork 20%

3. BLM Approval of Draft Report 45%

4. BLM Acceptance of Final Report and Acceptance of Any Collections by Billings Curation Center. BLM will bear curation costs 25%

Table 1. Breakdown of Cedar Creek Fuels Treatment area by location & acreage.

Parcel

ID

Acres Legal Location Parcel

ID

Acres Legal Location

1 565 T12N R56E Sec. 2 Los 1-12, SE; 10 640 T12N R57E 20 ALL;

2 640 T12N R56E Sec. 12 ALL; 11 640 T12N R57E Sec. 22 ALL;

3 640 T12N R56E Sec. 24 ALL; 12 320 T12N R57E Sec. 30 Lot 4, E2NE, SESW, SE

4 434 T12N R57E Sec. 6 Lots 8-10, 12, 13, E2SW, SE;

13 640 T12N R57E Sec 28 ALL;

5 737 T12N R57E Sec. 4 ALL; 14 320 T12N R57E Sec. 26 NE, NW;

6 646 T12N R57E Sec. 8 ALL; 15 482 T12N R57E Sec. 32 NE, NW, SE;

7 640 T12N R57E Sec. 10 All; 16 160 T12N R57E Sec. 34 SW;

8 626 T12N R57E Sec 18 ALL; 17 640 T11N R57E Sec. 4 ALL

9 320 T12N R57E Sec. 14 NW, SW; 18 640 T11N R57E Sec.10 ALL;

19 640 T11N R57E Sec. 14 ALL;

Total All Areas to be Inventoried in 2021, 10,370 Acres.

Map 1: Map of Outline showing Miles City Field Office Area.