CA_Survey_SOW_4.20.15.doc

STATEMENT OF WORK

FOR

CALIFORNIA IDENTIFICATION SURVEYS

PHASE I

General Information The United States Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency (USDA-FSA) has a need to survey certain areas within various counties throughout the state of California. The purpose of these surveys is to identify areas suitable for drilling water wells and associated piping to water tanks that will provide water to livestock.

This Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) Statement of Work (SOW), with minor adjustments where required, shall be applied to individual calls (orders) placed against this Agreement. Individual calls may be awarded at the California district or county level, and, at times, at small levels within a county. Unless otherwise stated in a separate SOW for each call, all conditions of this SOW shall apply. Refer to the attachments for information regarding the projected sites and locations for each of the surveys.

The contractor shall adhere to the guidelines for archaeological survey prepared by the (state) State Historic Preservation Officer. The contractor must meet the Secretary of Interior’s Standards to perform archaeological surveys. In addition, all work to be accomplished will be in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and Guidelines for Archaeology and Historic Preservation (48 FR 44716, September 29, 1983) and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's Handbook "Treatment of Archaeological Properties" (1980). Native American consultation is not required and is not considered part of the scope of this Statement of Work.

The contractor is responsible for obtaining written permission from the landowner prior to proceeding. FSA will assist in obtaining this permission.

TASKS

Identification Survey - Phase I

The initial archaeological identification survey involves both literature search and the actual field examination of the project area to determine if there is any evidence of prehistoric or historic occupations or activities. This survey need only cover the area specified in the survey request from the FSA but 100% of these areas must be examined. If possible, since the project area is so limited, the survey should include any minor testing necessary to evaluate any identified site for National Register eligibility. All such work should be carried out in accordance with the Secretary of Interior's Standard Guidelines (1983) for identification of archaeological sites.

Visibility must equal 25% or greater of the ground surface area to use pedestrian survey techniques. The suggested interval is 5 meters.

Systematic shovel testing may also be necessary. Such shovel testing involves the excavation of holes (40 cm diameter and 15 meters apart are recommended) down to archaeologically sterile soil or to the depth of proposed project disturbance, whichever is encountered first. The fill from each shovel unit shall be screened. Where cultural materials are encountered the grid interval should close up to 5 meters to more accurately delineate site boundaries.

The contractor is responsible for the stabilization and analysis of any artifacts. The artifacts are the property of landowner but the contractor will encourage the landowner to donate them to an

Appropriate curation facility.

Identification Survey Report:

At the completion of the field survey a report of the archaeological findings and recommendations must be sent to FSA. FSA will submit the report along with its findings to the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) Archaeology Section for concurrence. This report will be in keeping with the Secretary of the Interior Standards and Guidelines (1983) for archaeological documentation. The report should contain a discussion of the following minimal topics:

A. Background Information

1. Full description of project.

2. Previous archaeological research based on site files, and contact with archaeologists working in area. Thorough examination of historical documents to ascertain presence and extent of historical occupation/land use of project area. This should include, at a minimum, copies of relevant plat maps, and atlases which document historic habitation with a discussion of length of occupation and use.

3. Delineation of important regional research questions based on cultural history and past investigations.

4. Thorough discussion and description of present and past environment and their implications for interpreting the local archaeological record. This should include such topics as climate, vegetative patterns, fauna, geology, topography, soils, etc.

B. Information to be included in Survey

1. Complete description of project area including acreage, ground cover, topography, and any other factors that are important to interpreting the survey results.

2. Survey techniques thoroughly described and variations justified.

3. Maps are very important to aid in evaluating reports. At a minimum such maps should indicate position of project area in state/county, within township, location on topography and a detailed map of actual project.

C. Site Information (if present)

1. A full description of the site location, material recovered, and a preliminary interpretation of its place in the local culture history.

2. A completed site form and map must be submitted to the SHPO for each site. Although each contractor may use their own site forms the information included must include at a minimum that requested on the state’s archaeological survey's site form. These site forms are not to be included with the general report (report should include a statement on the confidentiality of this information).

3. Testing procedures used to determine whether the site is significant should be carefully defined and the eligibility of the site for the National Register of Historic Places should be addressed.

D. Other/Recommendations

This section must include the contractor’s recommendations for further testing, possible mitigation impact, or clearance as the case may be. Any suggestions concerning site disposition should be stated in terms of their relationships to relevant regional research questions and the State Archaeological Preservation Plan.

E. Archaeological Contractor's Vita

The contractor shall provide a vita that shows evidence of meeting the Secretary of Interior’s Standards.

F. Project Correspondence

Any project correspondence must be included as Appendices. Please do not include budget information.

Report Submission

At the completion of the Archaeological Identification survey a report of the Archaeological Contractor's findings and recommendations will be prepared. Three (3) copies of this report must be submitted to FSA. FSA will then submit two copies along with the findings to the State Historic Preservation Officer for Approval and Concurrence.

Contacts

Please forward your questions or any clarification to (Bennett “Ben” Horter at SEC, State Environmental Coordinator. By telephone at: (202) 690-1164.

Period of Performance The period of performance for calls placed against this BPA will vary based on the number of surveys to be performed and where they are to be performed. All calls shall be performed within the performance period of the BPA. The anticipated period of performance of this BPA is as follows.

Base Period: May 1, 2015 – April 30, 2016 Option Period 1: May 1, 2016 – April 30, 2017 Option Period 2: May 1, 2017 – April 30, 2018 Option Period 3: May 1, 2018 – April 30, 2019 Option Period 4: May 1, 2019 – April 30, 2020 Authorities

a. Reservoir Salvage Act of 1960 (P.L. 86‑523; 74 Stat. 220; 88 Stat. 174; 16 U.S.C. 469 et seq.), as amended.

b. National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, (P.L. 89‑665; 80 Stat. 915) as amended (16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.).

c. National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (P.L. 91‑190; 83 Stat. 852; 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).

d. American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978 (P.L. 95‑341; 92 Stat. 469; 42 U.S.C. 1996).

e. Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 (P.L. 96‑95; 93 Stat. 721; 16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.).

f. Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, Protection of Historic Properties (36 CFR 800).

g. National Register of Historic Places, Nominations by States & Federal Agencies (36 CFR Part 60).

h. E.O. 11593, Protection and Enhancement of the Cultural Environment

i. E.O. 11514, Protection and Enhancement of Environmental Quality

j. Title 7, parts 1b and 1c, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Department of Agriculture’s National Environmental Policy Act; Final Policies and Procedures

k. Title 7, part 3100, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Department of Agriculture’s Enhancement, Protection, and Management of the Cultural Environment

l. Title 7, Part 658, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service, Farmland Protection Policy

m. Departmental Regulation 9500-3, Land Use Policy

Attachments:

Attachment 1: CA ECP Project Coordinates