AG-4670-S-08-0039.doc

SERVICE RFP

SOL NO: AG-4670-S-08-0039

UNIT: SUMTER NATIONAL FOREST

PROJ NAME: ANDREW PICKENS LOBLOLLY REMOVAL PROJECT CULTURAL SURVEY

UNDER DPAS (15 CFR 700)

8. ADDRESS OFFER TO (If other than Item 7)

USDA FOREST SERVICE

FRANCIS MARION & SUMTER NATIONAL FOREST

4931 BROAD RIVER ROAD

COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA 29212-3530

SAME AS BLOCK #7

NOTE: In sealed bid solicitations "offer" and "offeror" mean "bid" and "bidder".

SOLICITATION

(Hour)

(Date)

CAUTION - LATE Submissions, Modifications, and Withdrawals: See Section L, Provision No. 52.214-7 or 52.215-1. All offers are subject to all terms and conditions contained in this solicitation.

11. TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART III - LIST OF DOCUMENTS, EXHIBITS AND OTHER ATTACH.

PART IV - REPRESENTATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS

X X

OTHER STATEMENTS OF OFFERORS

OFFER (Must be fully completed by offeror)

NOTE: Item 12 does not apply if the solicitation includes the provisions at 52.214-16, Minimum Bid Acceptance Period.

12. In compliance with the above, the undersigned agrees, if this offer is accepted within calendar days (60 calendar days unless a different period is inserted by the offeror) from the date for receipt of offers specified above, to furnish any or all items upon which prices are offered at the price set opposite each item, delivered at the designated point(s), within the time specified in the schedule.

(See Section I, Clause No. 52-232-8)

(The offeror acknowledges receipt of amend-ments to the SOLICITATION for offerors and related documents numbered and dated:

15A.

NAME AND ADDRESS

OF OFFEROR

CODE

FACILITY

OFFER (Type or Print)

15B. TELEPHONE NO. (Include area code and extension)

18. OFFER DATE

IS DIFFERENT FROM ABOVE - ENTER

FORMCHECKBOX

SUCH ADDRESS IN SCHEDULE.

AWARD (To be completed by Government)

22. AUTHORITY FOR USING OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

FORMCHECKBOX

10 U.S.C. 2304 (c) (

FORMCHECKBOX

41 U.S.C. 253(c) (

(Signature of Contracting Officer)

IMPORTANT - Award will be made on this Form, or on Standard Form 26, or by other authorized official written notice.

AUTHORIZED FOR LOCAL REPRODUCTION

STANDARD FORM 33 (REV.9-97)

Prescribed by GSA - FAR (48 CFR) 53.214(c)

PART I – SOLICITATION/CONTRACT FORM

SECTION A

This Request for Proposals and contract resulting from this solicitation shall be a Firm Fixed Price contract a Phase I intensive cultural resources survey on portions of the Andrew Pickens Loblolly Removal Project on the Sumter National Forest located in Oconee County, South Carolina. The contractor shall conduct a preliminary site evaluation of all newly recorded and previously recorded cultural resources within the inventory area to determine National Register of Historic Places eligibility. The Quality Assurance program addressed in Section C requirements of this solicitation/contract shall provide the Best Value to the Government; price notwithstanding.

PART I - SECTION B - SCHEDULE OF ITEMS, SUPPLIES OR SERVICES

Bid Items

No.

Supplies/Services Quantity Unit Unit Price Total Price 01.

Cultural Resource 1,942 Acre

Inventory

CONTRACT TIME: The contract time for the completion of the Andrew Pickens Loblolly Removal Cultural Resource Survey shall be 300 calendar days. Scheduling will be as follows: prework completed within 10 days of Notice to Proceed (NTP); fieldwork completed within 110 calendar days of NTP; management summary and site forms due at 140 days, draft report due within 180 calendar days of NTP; Forest Service and SC SHPO review within 230 calendar days of NTP; revised final report acceptable to the Forest Service within 30 calendar days of receipt of comments on draft report from the Forest Service and the SC SHPO. The draft and final reports shall be required as specified in Part I: Section C, Reports and Documentation. All artifacts and documentation shall be delivered for curation by 300 days from the NTP.

PERFORMANCE: Performance of the contract shall begin within 10 calendar days after the effective date of the Notice to Proceed, prosecute the work diligently, and complete all contract requirements, including final report, within 300 calendar days. The Notice to Proceed will be issued at the pre-work conference by the Contracting Officer.

PREOFFER INFORMATION: Offeror may contact:

Jim Bates Archeologist

Sumter National Forest

810 Buncombe Street

Edgefield, SC 29824 Telephone no. 803-637-5396 Electronic mail jbates@fs.fed.us SET-ASIDE STANDARD INFORMATION: Percent of Set-aside: 100%

(a) Type of Set-aside: Small Business/Small Purchase

(b) Small business size standard or other criteria: Average annual receipts for the last three years does not exceed $17.0 million The North American Industry Classification system (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 541990 Contractors must complete and return the following:

SF 33 - page 1

Schedule of items – page 3

Representations and Certifications – pages 38-39 Experience Questionaire – Attachment 4 Technical Proposal – See Section L & M – pages 40-43

SECTION C – DESCRIPTION/SPECIFCATIONS/WORK STATEMENT

STATEMENT OF WORK:- CULTURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ON THE SUMTER NATIONAL FOREST

GENERAL

1.1 Scope of Work

1.1.1 Authority. The investigations to be conducted under this Scope of Work are initiated and influenced by a number of Federal requirements. These requirements include, but are not limited to National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended; the National Environmental Policy Act; Executive Order 11593 (Protection and Enhancement of the Cultural Environment); the Archeological and Historic Preservation Act of 1974; the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act; the Archeological Resources Protection Act; the USDA Forest Service Southern Region Programmatic Agreement; and the Memorandum of Understanding between the Francis Marion and Sumter National Forest, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and the South Carolina State Historic Preservation Office.

1.1.2 Purpose. The inventory will be conducted within a number of timber stands across the Andrew Pickens Ranger District of the Sumter National Forest. The Forest Service proposes to selectively harvest trees within each stand.

1.1.3 General Requirements. The Contractor shall provide all personnel, supervision, equipment, tools, supplies, materials, transportation, facilities, and incidentals necessary to performance the cultural resource inventory and evaluation on the Sumter National Forest in Oconee county, South Carolina. This statement of work consists of completing the tasks/subtasks in section V the performance requirements of section VII.

1.1.4 Description of Services. The USDA Forest Service, Francis Marion & Sumter National Forests is in need of professional archeological services for an inventory of cultural resources in support of management activities on national forest lands in South Carolina. Tasks include, but are not limited to, archeological survey, evaluation, artifact analysis, collections management, cultural resource recording, prehistoric and historic synthesis, cultural resource management plans, report preparation, documents written for the lay audience, global positioning system (GPS) and geographical information systems (GIS) mapping, digital image processing, scanning, digitizing, locating and marking archeological sites located on national forest lands in South Carolina.

1.2. Personnel

1.2.1 Contract Manager. The contractor shall provide a contract manager (Principal Investigator or Archeologist Field Director) who shall be responsible for the performance of the work. The name of this person and an alternate(s) who shall act for the contractor when the manager is absent shall be designated in writing to the contracting officer.

1.2.1.1 Authority. The contract manager or alternate shall have full authority to act for the contractor on all contract matters relating to daily operations of this contract.

1.2.1.2. Availability. The contractor manager or alternate shall be available to meet on the national forest with government personnel designated by the contracting officer to discuss problems areas.

1.2.2. Personnel. The Contractor shall assign to this contract key personnel who meet the minimum criteria established in the South Carolina Standards and Guidelines for Archaeological Investigations (2005). A contract proposal must include curriculum vitae for the Principal Investigator and the Field Director/Project Archeologist in support of their academic qualifications and experience. Employment under the terms of this contract for all individuals not identified at the time of the contract proposal is subject to approval of the Contracting Officer's Representative. The CO shall approve all changes in Principal Investigator and Field Director during the period of contract services in advance.

1.2.2.1 Substitutions. During the performance of the contract, the Contractor shall make no substitutions of key personnel unless the substitution is necessitated by illness, death, or termination of employment. The Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer and shall submit the information required by paragraph 1.2.2.2 to the Contracting Officer for approval prior to making any permanent substitutions.

1.2.2.2 Proposed Substitutions. The Contractor shall provide a detailed explanation of the circumstances necessitating the proposed substitutions, complete resumes for the proposed substitutes, and any additional information requested by the Contracting Officer. Proposed substitutes should have comparable qualifications to those of the persons being replaced. The Contracting Officer will notify the Contractor within 15 calendar days after receipt of all required information of the decision on substitutions. The contract will be modified to reflect any approved changes of key personnel.

1.2.3. Employees and Vehicles. Contractor personnel shall wear protective clothing while working on the national forest including bright orange safety vest or similar clothing during hunting season. While on the national forest contractor vehicles shall be clearly marked with distinctive signs or plaques identifying the name of the company. During fieldwork contractor personnel shall check in with the district office and the COR each day and give their intended work location and number of personnel and shall provide the Forest Service with emergency telephone numbers.

1.3 Quality Control Plan. The contractor shall establish and maintain a complete Quality Control Plan to ensure the requirements of the contract are provided as specified. One copy of the contractor’s Quality control Plan shall be provided to the COR at the prework meeting. An updated copy shall be provided the COR as changes occur.

1.3.1. Content. The plan shall include the following:

1.3.1.1. Inspection System. An inspection system covering all the services specified in this scope of work. It must specify the areas and items to be inspected on either a scheduled or unscheduled basis, how often inspections shall be accomplished, and the title of the individual(s) who shall perform the inspections.

1.3.1.2. Identification and Prevention. The methods for identifying and preventing defectives in the quality of service performed before performance becomes unacceptable.

1.3.2. Records. Documentation shall consist of on-site records of all inspections conducted by the contractor and necessary corrective action taken. This documentation shall be made available to the Government during the term of the contract.

1.3.3. Government Review. The Government will review the Contractor Quality Control Plan to determine if it is adequate. If the plan is adequate, the Government will accept the plan. If the plan is not adequate as submitted, the deficiencies will be identified to the contractor in writing. The contractor shall correct all identified deficiencies and submit a corrected Contractor Quality Control Plan within ten working days or contract start date, whichever is sooner. The Government will also periodically review the manner in which the contractor is conducting the quality control program by either reviewing the contractor’s records, observing actual performance or both.

1.4. Quality Assurance (QA)

1.4.1. Contracting Officer’s representative (COR), Project Inspector (PI).

Government personnel, with titles such as shown above shall be appointed to monitor contractor performance and to inspect and accept or reject the services as required by the contract. The name and telephone number of each such person under the contract shall be furnished to the contractor in writing by the contracting officer.

1.4.2. Government Evaluation. The Government will evaluate the contractor’s performance under this contract using the method of surveillance deemed appropriate. If Government QA reveals that any contract provision has not been met, a Contract Discrepancy Report (CDR) shall be prepared. The contractor shall respond to CDRs explaining: (1) why performance was unacceptable, (2) how performance will be returned to acceptable levels and (3) how recurrence of the problem will be prevented in the future.

1.4.3. Performance Evaluation Meetings. The contract manager may be required to meet periodically with the COR and/or the contracting officer during the contract. Meetings shall be as often as necessary as determined by the contracting officer. However, if the contractor requests, a meeting shall be held whenever a Contract Discrepancy Report is issued. The meetings shall focus on performance and actual or potential problems. A mutual good faith effort shall be made by all parties to resolve all issues. The written minutes of these meetings shall be signed by the contract manager, contracting officer, and COR. If the contractor does not concur with the minutes, then a notice of non-concurrence shall be provided to the contracting officer. This notice shall be in writing and provided within seven work days of receipt of the minutes.

1.5. Documentation and Records. All documentation, records and schedules as described in this SOW that is the responsibility of the contractor, are the property of the Government and shall be turned over to the Government upon completion or termination of the contract. All records may be subject to the Freedom of Information and Privacy Acts and any requests for release of any records shall be handled accordingly.

SECTION C-II

DEFINITIONS

2.1. Standard Definitions.

2.1.1. Acceptable Quality Level (AQL). The maximum allowable deviation from perfect performance that may occur before the Government will invoke payment deduction. An AQL does not allow a contractor knowingly to offer defective service, but limits reduced payment to circumstances in which defective performance results in a measurable reduction in the value of services rendered.

2.1.2. Defective Service. A unit of service which contains one or more defects, or nonconformance with specified requirements.

2.1.3 Performance Standards: Identifies the key service outputs of the contract that will be evaluated by the Government to assure contract performance standards are met by the contractor.

2.1.4. Quality Assurance. Those actions taken by the Government to assure services meet the requirements of the Performance work Statement (PWS)

2.1.5 Contracting Officer: The Contracting Officer (CO) has overall responsibility for the administration of the contract and for overseeing the overall performance of the contractor.

2.1.6. Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR). A Government employee appointed by the contracting officer to help the contracting officer with contract administration. This person may also be responsible for surveillance of contractor performance.

2.1.7. Government Inspector. A Government employee responsible for surveillance of contractor performance.

2.1.8. Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP). An organized written document used for quality assurance surveillance. The document contains specific methods to perform surveillance of the contractor.

2.1.9 Quality Control Plan: Those actions that will be taken by a contractor to control the performance of services so that they meet the requirements of the Statement of Work.

2.1.10. Random Sampling. A sampling method in which each service output in a lot has an equal chance of being selected.

2.1.11. Sample. A sample consists of one or more service outputs drawn from a lot. The number of outputs in the sample is the sample size.

2.1.12. Sampling Guide. The part of the surveillance plan which contains all the information needed to perform a random sample.

2.1.13. Business Day: For the purpose of this solicitation/contract, a business day is defined as a day which falls between Monday through Friday.

2.2. Technical Definitions Peculiar to this PWS

2.2.1 Archeological Inventory/Survey. For the purposes of this contract an archeological pedestrian survey is defined as the systematic intensive inspection of the land surface and subsurface inspection techniques using parallel transects spaced no more than 30 meters apart in areas of high potential fro archeological resources. Any proposed deviations from these methods must be identified and justified in the offeror’s technical proposal.

2.2.2 Site Potential Model. The project areas shall be divided into three site potential zones: High Site Potential, Moderate Site Potential, and Low Site Potential. Recent evaluations of archeological site potential zones in the Sumter National Forest indicate that efficient and effective intensive survey can be conducted using the following site potential definitions to structure survey coverage intensity.

Survey methods and strategy are based on a generalized model of site location for the South Carolina Foothills and Blue Ridge Physiographic Province. Classification of the project area into high, medium, and low potential for site location will be determined by examining USGS topographic quadrangle maps, county soil maps and other information obtain during the background and literature review. The Sumter National Forest Compartment and Stand maps provided by the Forest Service shall guide the Contractor in determining site potential for the purpose of work planning and cost estimation. However, final determination of the site potential for any survey area shall be made by the Contractor in the field based on the actual ground conditions within the stand at the time of the survey.

Prehistoric sites in the mountainous setting of the Andrew Pickens Ranger District are most often located on well drained low slope areas near water or on lower ridgetops, in saddles and gaps, and on lower ridge noses. Most floodplains of any size contain prehistoric sites. Prehistoric sites are also often located in the vicinity of lithic raw material sources regardless of slope or proximity to water. Prehistoric sites may be found on steep slopes when rockshelters are present. The Andrew Pickens District does not contain rock formations that regularly form rockshelters.

Historic sites are most often found on lower slope ridgetops and ridge noses near streams. House sites are often found adjacent to cultivable bottoms, streams, and old road beds which usually follow ridge crests. Cemeteries are usually located on lower ridgetops, or are in association with a nearby church. Historic liquor stills usually occur in drains where they are hidden and adjacent to water sources.

Survey areas in the foothills and mountainous section of the Sumter National Forest may be divided into three geographic zones.

Zone I - floodplains

Zone II - lower mountain slopes; areas of low topographic relief including areas at least 100 meters across with slopes of less than 15 percent

Zone III - mountain slopes and crests; areas of high relief containing slopes greater than 15 percent and well defined ridges and drainages.

The probability of historic or prehistoric sites being located in these areas is as follows:

High Probability:

Zone I - Floodplains or bottoms over 50 meters across.

Zone II - All ridgetops, noses, saddles, and crests and all well drained low slope areas within 150 meters of the nearest water source or areas within 150 meters of Zone I. Areas within 50 meters of old road beds or lithic raw material sources. Locations of former buildings and/or known previously recorded sites identified through archival research.

Moderate Probability

Zone II and III - Lower slope and mid-slope areas with less than 15 percent slopes more than 150 meters from water. In Zone III these are less than 100 meters across.

Low Probability

Zone I - Active floodplains with deep alluvial deposits formed in the past 100 years, swamps, and beaver ponds. Areas obviously deposited in the past 100 years following stream channel migration. Deeply alluviated bottoms may contain deep buried sites which can not be identified using shovel testing.

Zone II - Erosional gullies and drains; slopes where logging, agriculture and erosion have resulted in the loss of all topsoil.

Zone III - High mountain crests; ridge sideslopes of over 15 percent slopes; erosional gullies and drains.

Historic sites. Many historic sites, particularly late nineteenth and early twentieth century sites, have a strong association with current and abandoned roads. Areas within 50 m of such roads shall be considered zones of high site potential and shall be covered by transects no greater than 30 m apart with shovel test intervals not to exceed 30 m.

2.2.3 Site Definition

For the purposes of this contract, a site is defined as a locus of purposeful prehistoric or historic human activity. An activity is considered to have been purposeful if it resulted in a deposit of cultural material beyond the level of one or a few accidentally lost artifacts. Generally this will include three or more artifacts from a prehistoric or historic component within a 30 meter area. Loci of human activity not classifiable as sites by this definition should be considered and recorded as isolated occurrences. Historic landscape features, including agricultural terraces, agricultural rock piles, and old road beds, modern trash piles less than 50 years old are generally not considered sites.

2.2.3.1 Alternative Site Definitions. The definition of an archaeological site shall generally follow that included in the South Carolina Standards and Guidelines for Archaeological Investigations (2005). However, under certain situations a different site definition may be appropriate. If a different site definition is used, then the investigator shall justify their reasons for doing so. The Forest Service shall make all final determinations of site size and extent, and final National Register of Places eligibility.

2.2.3.2 Deviations in Site Definition. These criteria may be modified, where appropriate, based on a professional archeologist's judgment, and with the prior approval of the COR. Any deviation from the standard definition should be discussed in the resulting cultural resource report. As a general rule, site designations are reserved in the case of historic remains for those at least 50 years old.

SECTION C-III

GOVERNMENT-FURNISHED PROPERTY, MATERIALS, SERVICES

3.1 Government-Property Furnished

Copies of Andrew Pickens District administrative maps

Two copies of the USGS topographic quadrangle maps showing USFS property boundaries in the survey areas.

SECTION C-IV

CONTRACTOR FURNISHED CRITICAL ITEMS /SERVICES

South Carolina site forms

GPS Units (Trimble or equivalent)

Orange boundary marker spray paint

SECTION C-V

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT TASKS AND CRITICAL SUBTASKS

5.1 Project Objective and Plan of Action. The Contractor shall meet with the Contracting Officer and the Contracting Officer’s Representative prior to initiating field work for the purpose of (1) reviewing the undertaking and discussing the project objectives, proposing a Plan of Action, and coordination with Forest personnel, including the district ranger and his/her representatives; (2) reviewing Forest Service Cultural Resource Inventory information; (3) examining pertinent natural resource data, reports, maps, etc; (4) becoming acquainted with the natural and cultural features of the project area; (5) submitting the contractor's Quality Control Plan; and (6) providing maps showing how the contractor has divided the survey areas into probability areas based on the predictive site model.

5.2 Records Search. Prior to conducting any fieldwork, the contractor shall review all available publications, manuscripts, site records, state files, South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology library and files, regional and local libraries, archives and court house records, Forest Service files, historic land plats, historic soil survey maps, historic topographic maps, and historic highway maps. The Contractor shall review Forest Service land acquisition folders, maps and plats for the project areas and any additional materials pertinent to the project region. Literature and records review shall be conducted in accordance with the South Carolina Standards and Guidelines for Archaeological Investigations(2005) Documentary Research standards.

5.3 Inventory

5.3.1 Survey Intensity Level. The Contractor shall locate, identify, and describe/document all archeological sites and isolated occurrences which can reasonably be detected from an inspection of the ground surface and subsurface tests. In general inventory shall be an intensive field survey as defined in the South Carolina Standards and Guidelines for Archaeological Investigations (2005). The Contractor shall record sufficient data to determine time period, type/function, size, and preliminary National Register of Historic Places eligibility of each resource, so far as the data available will allow.

5.3.2 Identification efforts. Inventory shall consist of pedestrian survey through the proposed project area. Survey methods and strategy are based on generalized models of site location for the Sumter National Forest.

The entire survey areas shall be examined by parallel pedestrian transects spaced at an interval not to exceed 30 m (100 feet). A landform guided approach shall be used where initial discovery transects are placed through the center of high site probability areas. This is generally the center or crest of a ridgetop with initial transects following the spine of a ridge.. Broader ridgetops with high site probability areas wider than 30 meters will require additional discovery transects with shovel test pits at 30 meters parallel to the initial ridge crest transect. Additional transects in medium to low site probability areas on ridge slopes below the high site probability areas on the ridgetop will require less shovel testing.

Transects will generally follow the land forms within the stand and a strict, grid and baseline system shall not be used. Transects do not have to be straight lines, but should conform to local topography in order to best examine high site probability areas. Transects shall not run across ridge crests at right angles, but shall be oriented to follow the ridge crests. A standard grid of parallel transects through a survey area disregarding landforms and the orientation of site probability areas is not acceptable.

Shovel tests shall be placed along transects at intervals not to exceed 30 m across all high probability areas. Medium probability areas shall be surveyed with parallel transects not to exceed 30 m with shovel test pits at intervals not to exceed 60 m and judgmental shovel tests will supplement the grid shovel test when areas with greater site potential are encountered in the field.. Low site probability areas shall be surveyed with parallel transects not to exceed 30 m with shovel tests at judgmentally determined intervals. All shovel tests shall comply with the South Carolina Standards and Guidelines for Archaeological Investigations (2005).

5.3.3 Site Potential Model. The contractor shall review current models of site location for prehistoric and historic sites for the mountains of South Carolina. Unless otherwise specified each project area shall be divided into high, moderate, and low site probability areas prior to fieldwork in a manner that can be justified and relates to the results of previous research in the South Carolina. The model shall be explained in the report methods section. High, moderate, and low site probability areas require differing survey strategies.

At a minimum, summary statistics shall be included in the report which document the total acres determined to be high, moderate, or low site probability areas and the number of shovel test pits excavated in each area. Other methods, such as graphic figures, may be used to illustrate the model. All site probability areas shall be shovel tested to determine localized soil conditions, and the presence or absence of subsurface cultural deposits. Shovel test pit locations where shovel test pits were not excavated (no dig locations) shall not be designated, labeled or counted as shovel test pits.

Classification of the project area into high, medium, and low potential for site location shall be determined by examining USGS topographic quadrangle maps, county soil maps and other information obtain during the background and literature review. The Sumter National Forest compartment and stand maps provided by the Forest Service shall guide the Contractor in determining site potential for the purpose of work planning and cost estimation. However, final determination of the site potential for any survey area shall be suggested by the Contractor in the field based on the actual ground conditions within the stand at the time of the survey. The Forest Service shall be the final authority on site potential within any given area and the Contractor shall comply with the Forest Service’s assignment of site potential.A copy of the proposed division of site probability areas will be provided to the COR for review at the prework meeting prior to beginning of fieldwork.

5.3.4 Shovel Test Units

All shovel tests shall comply with the South Carolina Standards and Guidelines for Archaeological Investigations.

5.3.5 Performance Standards – Intensive Survey. The contractor shall conduct a complete 100% pedestrian survey of the project area in the manner specified in the South Carolina Standards and Guidelines for Archaeological Investigations.

5.3.6 Acceptable quality level: Full compliance with the standards and guidelines listed in SECTION VII.

5.3.7 Means of measurement: An arbitrary random field inspection of the survey area by the Government and the review of the contractor’s Quality Control records.

5.4 Site Recording. The contractor shall record all heritage resource sites located in the project area in accordance with the South Carolina Standards and Guidelines for Archaeological Investigations (2005) and South Carolina Institute of Archaeology guidelines. A State of South Carolina Site Inventory Record form will be completed for all new sites and a revisit form for all previously recorded sites in the project area.

5.4.1 Archeological Site Definition. The definition of an archeological site shall generally follow that included in the South Carolina Standards and Guidelines for Archaeological Investigations (2005). However, under certain situations a different site definition may be appropriate. If a different site definition is used, then the investigator shall justify their reasons for doing so. The Forest Service shall make all final determinations of site size and extent, and final National Register of Historic Places eligibility.

5.4.2 Site Mapping. When a site is located in the field it shall be recorded on a State of South Carolina Site Inventory Record (site form).Visible surface remains and artifacts, local topographic features, and systematic shovel testing shall assist in determining the site extent, stratigraphy, integrity, and content. Site descriptions shall include maps showing the locations of pedestrian transects, shovel test pits, surface remains, topographic features such as large rocks, dirt roads, water drains or gullies; and site boundaries such as to aid in locating the site on the ground from the map and surface features.

Historic sites may be identified by structural or landscaping remains such as chimney bases, eroded building outlines, foundation piers, graves, prospecting pits, ornamental plants, dams, quarries, and wells. The dimensions of raised house outlines shall be measured in feet and sketch mapped with the placement of chimneys and other above ground features noted. These natural and cultural features shall be included on site maps.

5.4.3 New Site Delineation. All site boundaries shall be determined by subsurface excavation units excavated in a grid oriented along cardinal or transect grid directions. The shovel tests shall be dispersed between transect (site discovery) tests in such a way as to create a uniform grid

Sites less than 60 meters in diameter. Intervals between shovel test units shall not exceed 15m on sites 60 meters or less in diameter.

Sites greater than 60 meters in diameter. A modified shovel test grid may be used on sites greater than 60 meters in diameter. One base line of shovel test pits shall be excavated at 15 meter intervals through the center of the site along the highest elevation (ridge crest). Radial lines of shovel test pits at 15 meter intervals shall be excavated perpendicular to the base line every 30 meters. One of these radial lines shall cross the base line near the center of the site.

All positive shovel test units shall have additional shovel tests excavated around until at least two negative tests are reached. Surface materials shall be treated as positive shovel tests and need not be excavated if subsoil clay is exposed. All shovel test units; both site discovery and boundary definition units, shall be included on site and isolated find maps. Judgementally located shovel test pits shall be placed in the interior of all recognized building foundations and raised building outlines in order to obtain nails or other artifacts to determine the structure age.

The midpoint between the last positive shovel test and the first of the two negative tests shall constitute a boundary. Most sites will have roughly ovoid boundaries. Complex shaped sites based on the content of shovel test pits should be round to conform to land forms. Questions about appropriate systematic shovel testing procedures must be directed to the COR before completion of fieldwork, and any changes from the above described procedures must be approved in writing by the COR. For previously recorded site see section 5.6 below.

5.4.4 Private Land. If an archaeological site extends onto private land, the Contractor shall make observations of surface remains and exposed surfaces, but the Contractor shall not excavate on or collect artifacts from private land unless prior permission is obtained by the Forest Service. The Contractor shall make an estimate of the site dimensions on private land from surface indications and topography. However, if the site extends outside of the project boundary but on national forest lands, the Contractor shall continue surface and subsurface investigations to determine the overall site limits.

5.4.5 Site Forms. Temporary field numbers will be assigned according to the Forest Service designations: County abbreviation - Compartment number - Site number. For example,OC65 - 10 (number provided by COR) is the tenth site recorded in Compartment 65 in Oconee County. The original and one copy of the site forms shall be delivered to the COR for review. The Forest Service shall examine the Contractors site forms and recommendations make final determinations of National Register of Historic Places eligibility. The original form shall be sent to SCIAA for a state site number. If the COR finds the site forms unacceptable, then the COR will return the forms to the Contractor for correction. The Contractor shall not submit forms directly to the SCIAA.

5.4.6 Performance Standards – Site Recording. The contractor has recorded all sites in accordance with the South Carolina Standards and Guidelines, the SC Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology site form guidelines, and Forest Service requirements as stated in the contract.

5.4.7 Acceptable quality level. 100% compliance with the South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology guidelines and standards for site recording.

5.4.8 Means of measurement. A field inspection of the newly recorded sites and/or previously recorded sites and the review and verification of the contractor’s Quality Control records.

5.4.9 Exceptions to the SC Standards and Guidelines for Archaeological Investigations (2005). For inventory level fieldwork a written representative description of soil characteristics and stratigraphy for the site is required. However, the Contractor is not required to use Munsell soil color charts on shovel test units. The Contractor is not required to draw or photograph individual shovel test pit profiles. Drawing and photographing of excavation units is only required on units 50x50 cm or larger.

5.4.10 Isolated Finds. Single artifacts identified during the surface or subsurface inspection of the project area shall be considered an isolated find or occurrence unless two additional artifacts of the same temporal component or associated surface features are identified within a 30 meter radius of the initial find, either on the ground surface or in subsurface test unit. Isolated finds shall not be considered a site and will not be given a state site number.

5.4.10.1 Performance Standards – Recording Non-Site Cultural Remains. All isolated occurrences that were encountered during the survey have been documented.

5.4.10.2 Acceptable quality level. 100% documentation of encountered isolated occurrences.

5.4.10.3 Means of measurement. An arbitrary random field inspection by the COR or inspector, the verification of the contractor’s Quality Control records, and the data documented in the contractor’s report.

5.5 Site Marking. The Forest Service shall review all National Register eligibility recommendations and make the final determination on eligibility. Once the final eligibility determinations have been made the Contractor shall be required to return to the project areas and mark all newly recorded and previously recorded National Register eligible or sites considered possibly eligible but unevaluated. The Contractor shall be required to prominently mark each Class 1 or Class 2 sites and all historic period cemeteries using orange tree-marking paint with two (2) rings, not less than 6-inches wide each, all the way around the trunk of the tree at breast height to delineate the boundary. Marking shall be in such a manner that a person who has not previously seen the site can easily identify it. Paint on trees on the perimeter of the site should be visible and not obscured by branches or foliage. Intervals between painting shall not exceed 15 meters unless there are no suitable trees to mark. Site boundaries marked on the ground should correspond to the boundaries as mapped. Any deviation from this system shall be approved in advance by the Contracting Officer’s Representative and documented in the report. The Contractor shall return to the field and remark any sites that the COR determines were not adequately marked.

5.6 Previously Recorded Sites. There may be previously recorded cultural resources within the project area. The Contractor shall attempt to relocate all previously recorded sites using the same field methods as noted above for general field survey. However, if a previously recorded has been adequately defined in previous surveys, i.e., sufficient shovel test were excavated to ensure overall site dimensions, components present, integrity, and potential for features, then additional shovel test excavations may not be required. The Contractor shall check with the COR to determine if the current site recording is adequate or if additional close order shovel testing will be needed. A new SC state site inventory record (revisit form) shall be completed for each previously recorded site.

5.7 Global Positioning System (GPS). The Contractor shall record all sites using a differentially corrected global positioning system (GPS) receiver capable of at least ±3-meter accuracy. For sites less than 225 m squared (15 m x 15 m) they shall be recorded as point data. For sites greater than 225 m squared (15 m by 15 m) they shall be recorded as polygons. Site boundaries are to be accurately located on project maps and USGS 7.5 minute quadrangle maps provided by the Contractor. Several base stations are located within the state that can be used to produce differential corrections for exact locations in either real time or as part of post field processing. The Contractor shall state in the report the type of equipment used and whether the data was corrected using real time correction or post field processing.

5.7.1 Digital Data.

Data shall be provided in UTM Zone 17 N, NAD83 Datum with units in meters.

Deliverables

The contractor shall deliver the following products:

The original GPS receiver files

The corrected, post processed GPS files

Metadata for the GPS files including PDOP (precision dilution of precision), SNR (signal-to-noise ratio) values, and RMS values

The GPS data should be processed to a USDA Forest Service GIS compatible format

Digital data shall be collected in a manner that meets or exceeds USDA Forest Service GPS accuracy standards and delivered in a compatible format suitable for incorporation into the USDA Forest Service's GIS. This GIS data shall include attributes identified in the USDA Forest Service's archaeological GIS feature class data dictionary (this data schema will be provided).

Digital GIS files are to be named in the following format:

Year_ForestUnit_Compartment#_Stand#_ContractorName_pt, pl or ln (point, polygon or line)

5.8 Analysis

5.8.1 Artifacts. After fieldwork is completed, all recovered artifacts shall be cleaned and sorted. At a minimum, artifacts shall be analyzed by provenience unit and classified into raw material, technological, and functional categories based on accepted southeastern typologies and artifact classifications used in the project vicinity.

5.8.2 Site Assessment. As with fieldwork, the analysis shall, at a minimum, be sufficient to document National Register eligibility and should address research questions and issues in the Sumter National Forest Cultural Resources Overview (2006) and those developed as part of the project research design. For archaeological sites, analysis shall typically include an assessment of cultural periods represented, general site function, site boundaries, and stratigraphic condition. Historic sites may require architectural analysis, including periods represented, and documentation of ownership and function.

5.9 Research Design. As stated in the South Carolina Standards and Guidelines for Archaeological Investigations (2005) research designs should be problem oriented and should include explicit statements of theoretical approaches and methods. It should address research issues framed in the Sumter National Forest Cultural Resources Overview (2006) including issues such as:

1. Issues relevant to the significance of the site

2. New or previous research questions and existing knowledge

3. Interpretive potential

4. Historic context

5.10 National Register Eligibility. Evaluate each cultural resources site and make a recommendation regarding its eligibility to the National Register of Historic Places using all criteria listed in 36 CFR 60.6, USDI-National Register Bulletin 15, and provide all appropriate site, feature, and artifact documentation needed to support a determination of eligibility. An eligibility recommendation of “Undetermined” may be made, with justification, when eligibility is inconclusive based on field observations.

5.10.1 National Register Eligibility Recommendations. The Contractor shall make recommendations to the Forest Service on the National Register of Historic Places eligibility of each cultural resource located within the project area. Sites will be assigned a Forest Service National Register Eligibility rating:

Class 1. - Listed in or determined eligible for the NRHP.

Class 2. - Possibly eligible but unevaluated for the NRHP, further testing required.

Class 3. - Not eligible for listing in the NRHP.

5.10.2 Information Disclosure. Under no circumstances shall the contractor reveal to anyone outside of the Forest Service information concerning National Register eligibility of a site or building without prior approval of the COR.

5.10.3 National Register Eligibility Justification. Where no further work is recommended the contractor shall give reasons for arriving at this conclusion. Similarly, where further work is recommended, it will not be adequate to write simply that the work is necessary. Recommendations should include statements about what information is to be expected to result from further research and why this information would be significant to the area's history or prehistory. These recommendations shall be framed as a series of research questions, which the data contained in the particular site, can possibly answer. In other words, National Register recommendations should be justified.

5.11 Report. Most activities performed under the terms of this contract shall require the contractor to submit a report that describes the activity and any finding. The report shall be used to document all tasks performed.

5.11.1 Management Summary. Two copies of a management summary shall be delivered to the COR within 40 days of the completion of fieldwork. The management summary shall include copies of topographic maps at a 1:24,000 scale showing the locations of all sites found and their approximate shapes and sizes. A list of all sites using temporary numbers will be included with site type and identified components included. A preliminary National Register eligibility recommendation for each new and revisited site will be made.

5.11.2 Documents. The report must be accompanied by all artifact recording forms, with diagnostic artifact drawings, isolated find information, and all other appropriate recording forms, as well as the necessary number of 7.5 minute USGS topographic maps required to show clearly the locations of all heritage resources found, the survey boundaries, and the project location. All site forms, photo logs, prints, negatives, and unused government-furnished property shall be returned to the Contracting Officer’s Representative with the report.

5.11.3 Report Production. The report shall follow the format and content specified in the South Carolina Standards and Guidelines for Archaeological Investigations (2005). Draft reports requiring extensive proofreading or lacking the minimum content required by the state standards and guidelines and this Scope of Work will be returned to the Contractor as unacceptable. Payment for the draft report shall not be processed until an acceptable document is received. The contractor shall address all comments and concerns provided in writing by the Forest Service in the final report. Revised draft reports may be required, if substantial revisions are required as a result of the review of the draft report.

5.11.3.1 General Information. The report shall include a description of past archaeological research in the project vicinity, a discussion of local culture history, an explanation of the project predictive model, the field methods, evaluation methods, findings, conclusions, and recommendations.

5.11.3.2 Additional Report Requirements. In addition to the state standards and guidelines the report shall include the following:

5.11.2.2.1 Title Page. – Print Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests Cultural Resource Management Report # (assigned by Forest Service) and the contract number.

5.11.3.2.2 Maps and Drawings. All identified cultural resources shall be shown on a project base map using USGS topographic quad maps. Project maps shall be reproduced at a scale of 1:24,000 or 1:12,000. The scale shall be included on all maps and drawings. No foldout maps or pages larger than 8.5 x 11 inches shall be used in the report.

Project report maps shall include stand and compartment boundaries.