SOL.docx

PART I - THE SCHEDULE

SECTION A – SOLICITATION/CONTRACT FORM (SF – 1449) 1-2

TABLE OF CONTENTS 3

SECTION B – SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICES/COSTS (Schedule of Items) 4-6

NOTICES

SECTION C – DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK 7-30

SECTION D – PACKAGING AND MARKING (NONE) 31

SECTION E - INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE 31

SECTION F - DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE 32-33

SECTION G - CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA 33-37

SECTION H - SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENT 37-38

PART II - CONTRACT CLAUSES

SECTION I - CONTRACT CLAUSES 39-56

PART III - LIST OF DOCUMENTS, EXHIBITS, AND OTHER ATTACHMENTS

SECTION J - LIST OF ATTACHMENTS 57

SD Wage Determination Number WD 15-5367 (REV.1)

SD Wage Determination Number WD 15-2485 (REV.1)

NE Wage Determination Number WD 05-2323 (REV. 18)

NE /WY Wage Determination Number WD 05-2587 (REV. 16)

PART IV - REPRESENTATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS

SECTION K - REPRESENTATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS, AND OTHER

STATEMENTS OF OFFERORS OR RESPONDENTS 58-74

SECTION L - INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS

OR RESPONDENTS 75-77

SECTION M - EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD 78-80

BLACK HILLS NATIONAL FOREST

Base Period Award Date – 06/01/2017

TOTAL

Opt. Period. 1 – 05/31/2017 – 06/01/2018

TOTAL

Opt. Period 2 – 05/31/2018 – 06/01/2019

TOTAL

BLACK HILLS NATIONAL FOREST

NEBRASKA NATIONAL FOREST & GRASSLANDS

Base Period Award Date – 06/01/2017

TOTAL

Opt. Period 1 – 05/31/2017 – 06/01/2018

TOTAL

Opt. Period 2 – 05/31/2018 – 06/01/2019

TOTAL

NEBRASKA NATIONAL FOREST

MEDICINE BOW NATIONAL FOREST &

THUNDER BASIN NATIONAL GRASSLAND

Base Period Award Date – 06/01/2017

TOTAL

Opt. Period 1 – 05/31/2017 – 06/01/2018

TOTAL

Opt. Period 2 – 05/31/2018 – 06/01/2019

TOTAL

MED BOW NATIONAL FOREST

OVERALL COSTS OF (3) FORESTS

1. Proposals shall be valid for 60 days after the date of receipt for the solicitation. If additional time is needed, an extension will be requested.

1. The amounts shown on the schedule of items are estimated quantities.

1. Provide Total Cost Pricing on each schedule.

1. Unit Price Prevails

Please complete and submit the following:

DUNNS #

Non Discrimination Statement The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, ect.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Cultural Resource Inventories Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity

PERFORMANCE BASED SERVICE CONTRACT

BLACK HILLS NATIONAL FOREST, MEDICINE BOW NATIONAL FOREST AND THUNDER BASIN NATIONAL GRASSLANDS, AND NEBRASKA NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS

SECTION C. PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT

C.1 GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Scope of work for cultural resource inventories and National Register of Historic Places site evaluations within project areas located on the Black Hills National Forest (South Dakota and Wyoming), the Medicine Bow National Forest and Thunder Basin National Grasslands (Wyoming), and the Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands (Nebraska and South Dakota).

C.1.1 OVERVIEW

C.1.1.1 This Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract is for cultural resource inventories, National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) site evaluations, and site monitoring as designated in individual task orders.

C.1.1.2 The IDIQ contract (contract) will primarily assist the Black Hills National Forest, the Medicine Bow National Forest and Thunder Basin National Grasslands, and the Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands (Forests and Grasslands) with compliance mandates established in Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA).

C.1.1.3 Contracted projects may include, but are not limited to, timber sales, road construction or reconstruction, land exchanges, prescribed burns, mechanical thinning, range allotments, and range-improvement projects.

C.1.1.4 The contractor may be responsible for any of the following tasks:

· Class/Level I (nomenclature and definitions vary by state—see Section C.11 Glossary of Terms) pre-field literature reviews

· Class/Level II stratified sample survey

· Class/Level III intensive field inventories

· Subsurface testing to identify buried cultural components

· Site evaluations to determine NRHP eligibility—both initial evaluations and NRHP re-assessments

· Preparation of inventory reports

· Completion of site condition assessments utilizing appropriate site monitoring forms

· Submission of collected materials (where permitted or requested) for curation

· Collection and transfer of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) spatial and tabular data

· Post-fire damage assessments

C.1.1.5 The purpose of the field inventories is to identify, record, and evaluate for the NRHP, all cultural resources (historic or prehistoric cultural manifestations 50 years or more of age) within project areas as defined in each task order.

C.1.1.6 Data derived from each project will be used to comply with mandates established in the NHPA, as amended, and the Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA), as amended, pertaining to potential effects on cultural resources.

C.1.1.7 It is estimated that inventory needs will average approximately $330,000 per year for each of the next three years. Inventories may include multiple planning areas and may, therefore, result in the need for multiple task orders each year.

C.1.2 DESCRIPTION OF CONTRACT AREA

The area covered under this contract will include the Black Hills National Forest (South Dakota and Wyoming), the Medicine Bow National Forest and Thunder Basin National Grasslands (Wyoming), and the Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands (Nebraska and South Dakota). The Black Hills National Forest is currently divided into four ranger districts including the Bearlodge, Hell Canyon, Mystic, and Northern Hills Districts. The Medicine Bow National Forest includes the Brush Creek/Hayden Ranger District, Laramie Ranger District, and Douglas Ranger District (which includes the Laramie Peaks Unit and the Thunder Basin National Grasslands). Collectively, the Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands includes two national forests (Nebraska and Samuel R. McKelvie) and three national grasslands (Buffalo Gap, Fort Pierre, and Oglala), in addition to the Charles E. Bessey Nursery, the nation’s oldest federal tree nursery.

C.2 TO ACCOMPLISH THE CONTRACT PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES THE CONTRACTOR SHALL:

C.2.1 Obtain and provide any and all labor, equipment, supplies, services, permits, and licenses necessary to perform cultural resource inventories, NRHP site evaluations, site monitoring, artifact curation, and all documentation and report preparation covering project or analysis areas designated on the task order for each project on the Forests and Grasslands during the period of performance which will be clearly stated in the task orders.

C.2.2 Commence and conduct all operations in a timely manner so as to complete all work and submit all deliverables in accordance with the completion schedule set forth in each task order.

C.2.3 Be available for formal field inspections as requested by the Contracting Officer Representative (COR). Field inspections by the COR and/or Contract Inspector shall be conducted in order to allow the COR to determine that all fieldwork has been completed according to the terms of the appropriate task order. The COR will notify the contractor with a request to conduct a formal field inspection no less than three working days prior to the proposed inspection date. Informal field inspections may be conducted at the discretion of the Contract Inspector, the COR, or the Contracting Officer (CO), at any time with or without the contractor's knowledge of or attendance at these informal inspections.

C.2.4 Be required to obtain a U.S. Forest Service Region 2 Organic Act Permit for Archaeological Investigations on National Forest System lands.

C.2.5 Ensure personnel performing the work meet the following criteria for the permit:

Principal Investigator: In addition to the following minimum professional qualifications, the Principal Investigator (PI) must meet the professional qualifications standards in the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Archeology and Historic Preservation. Standards for this contract include:

Field Supervisors/Crew Chiefs: A minimum of a bachelors degree in anthropology, archaeology, history or a closely related field with a minimum of six months general archaeological field experience in addition to three months of field experience serving in a supervisory capacity on an archaeological crew.

Field or Laboratory Crew: Completion of, or satisfactory progress toward, a bachelors degree in anthropology, archaeology, history or a closely related field, or six months previous experience conducting archaeological field or laboratory work. Completion of an archeological field school is considered satisfactory qualification for an initial position (first archaeological job) if that individual will be continually supervised by a higher qualified individual (i.e., Crew Chief or Principal Investigator).

C.2.6 Provide the agency with a list of the personnel in Section C.2.5 prior to initiating fieldwork for each project and notify the agency if and when any substitutions in personnel are made at any stage of the project.

C.3 APPLICABLE LAWS, REGULATIONS, AND DIRECTIVES

The contractor shall ensure that the procedures and standards of all work performed under this contract conform to the current versions of the applicable laws, implementing regulations, and guidelines including, but not limited to, the following:

· National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, Public Law (PL) 91-190, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 4321–4347.

· The National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, PL 89-665; 16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.

· Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979, as amended, PL 96-95; 16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.

· Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) of 1990, as amended, PL 101-601; 25 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.

· American Indian Religious Freedom Act (AIRFA) of 1978, as amended, PL 95-341, 42 U.S.C. 1996 and 1996a

· Department of Interior, National Park Service: Archeology and Historic Preservation, Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines

C.4 GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY (MAPS, DRAWINGS, SPECIFICATIONS, ETC.)

Furnished by the Government for the Literature Review:

Government Furnished Property, Services, Data, etc.

Furnished by the Government for Task Order Administration:

Government Furnished Property, Services, Data, etc.

Furnished by the Government required for Deliverables:

Government Furnished Property, Services, Data, etc.

C.5 CONTRACTOR FURNISHED CRITICAL ITEMS/SERVICES

C.6 PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT TASKS & CRITICAL SUBTASKS

C.6.1 PRE-WORK MEETING

After the award of the task order, at least one member of the contractor’s key personnel (Principal Investigator or Field Supervisor/Crew Chief) that is assigned to the specific project shall be required to attend a pre-work meeting with the COR. At the pre-work discussion, numerous subjects will be discussed including, but not limited to, a review of:

· Time frames for project completion as identified in the task order

· Terms and conditions of the U.S. Forest Service Region 2 Organic Act Permit for Archaeological Investigations including the Operating Plan.

· Specific details of the undertaking, including a clear definition of the Area of Potential Effect and project objectives

· Location of the project

· Field inventory methods

· Standards for recordation and delivery of data

· Scope of expected analyses and evaluations

· Current policies governing the collection of material artifacts

· Specific access to survey areas, for example, issuance of keys or and temporary authorization permits issued by the District Ranger to access Forest Service land behind Forest Service locked gates for administrative purposes.

· Expectations regarding standards and deliverables

· Start work date and performance period defined in the task order

· Methods and GIS requirements for recording small sites and linear features

· Number of copies of the final report

· Identification of key contractor personnel assigned to the project in addition to relevant contact information.

· Any other issues or concerns relating to the project not noted above

C.6.2 NOTICE TO PROCEED

Work on the contract shall commence after the CO issues a Notice to Proceed following the pre-work meeting. No work shall be completed on the contract prior to the issuance of the Notice to Proceed.

C.6.3 PLAN OF WORK

Prior to commencing fieldwork, the contractor shall submit to the COR for review and approval, a proposed Plan of Work that describes the schedule for submission of deliverables, estimated number of person-days needed to complete fieldwork, a task-order specific safety plan, and strategies for accomplishing the scope of work defined in each task order issued under this contract.

C.6.4 PRE-FIELD FILE/RECORDS SEARCH REPORT

C.6.4.1 Prior to commencing fieldwork, the contractor shall submit to the COR for review and approval a report summarizing the results of the records and files background search.

C.6.4.2 If the record and file search produced no results, the contractor shall document the negative findings with a written narrative documenting that all pre-field file searches and historic records data searches are complete.

C.6.4.3 The COR will have twenty (20) working days from receipt of the pre-field background report to review and approve the content and adequacy of the pre-field report.

C.6.4.4 Following COR review, the contractor shall revise any errors, inconsistencies, or inadequate components of the document and re-submit the revised version(s) for additional review and approval.

C.6.4.5 The contractor shall accomplish the revision, and re-submittal of documents within ten (10) working days following notification by the COR of the rejection of the submittals.

C.6.4.6 At minimum, the pre-field file and records search shall include literature and data reviews from the following sources:

· The appropriate State Cultural Records Office(s).

· The Forest Supervisors Office or Ranger District Office(s) as appropriate. Background searches shall include a review of the Forest’s cultural resources spatial data, Heritage Resources report files, land status maps and files, General Land Office Plat maps, Homestead Entry Survey Maps, and Mineral Survey Entry Maps. Appointments to view these records shall be made at least five working days in advance.

· The current NRHP listings for historic properties located in the project area.

· Courthouse records when data from the above searches indicate a need.

C.6.5 FIELDWORK

C.6.5.1 Initiation of Fieldwork

Work on an individual task order shall commence after the pre-work meeting has been completed, after the CO has issued a Notice to Proceed, and after the COR has accepted the results of the records/files background search and the contractor’s Plan of Work.

The contractor shall notify the COR prior to initiating fieldwork on the Forest.

C.6.5.2 Survey Methodology

The contractor shall conduct Class/Level II and III surveys as defined in the task order and following the appropriate state guidelines for survey methodology.

C.6.5.3 Documentation of Cultural Resources

1. Narrative descriptions, maps, photographs, soil profiles, and other methods shall be used to document cultural resource sites and isolates to a standard acceptable to the appropriate state guidelines. Geographic Positioning System (GPS) units shall be used to record locations of all cultural features, subsurface test locations, and site boundaries.

1. If cultural resources are identified during the inventory that extend outside the defined inventory area it will be necessary to investigate the full extent of the site on lands administered by the Forest Service for the purpose of site evaluation. Any exceptions (e.g., unusually lengthy linear sites such as railroad grades) shall be discussed with and approved by the COR.

1. If the boundaries of cultural sites first identified on U.S. Forest Service lands extend onto non-federal lands, the contractor shall, without physically entering the non-federal lands, make a good-faith effort to estimate the extant site boundary. The contractor shall make it clear on the site records and site maps that, under those circumstances, site boundaries have not been verified. Exceptions may be made where the proposed project may extend to non-federal lands and where permission has been obtained in advance from the non-federal land owners to identify and record cultural properties on the non-federal lands.

1. Recordation standards for artifacts that qualify as “Isolated Finds” pursuant to State definitions shall be recorded, at minimum, to standards provided in State guidelines or standards.

C.6.5.4 Evaluation of Cultural Resources for NRHP Significance

Site evaluations for NRHP significance are required by 36 CFR §800.4(c), the implementing regulations for Section 106 of the NHPA. The contractor shall evaluate all identified cultural properties for NRHP eligibility according to procedures in 36 CFR §60 and by applying National Register criteria pursuant to 36 CFR §60.4.

1. This stipulation may necessitate the preparation of historic contexts for structures and/or groups of structures under evaluation. In some cases, the State may have thematic historic contexts available and it will be the contractor’s responsibility to identify, utilize, and cite those resources when making their NRHP recommendations.

1. For each site evaluation, the contractor shall submit recommendations for each site of either “eligible” or “not eligible” in a statement for each criterion found in 36 CFR 60.4 (a,b,c,&d). All newly identified sites must include this justification statement. No site shall be left unevaluated.

1. In addition, all previously identified sites included in the task order as NRHP re-assessments must have recommendations submitted for each site of either “eligible” or “not eligible” in a statement for each criterion found in 36 CFR 60.4 (a,b,c,&d). All re-assessments must include this justification statement. No site shall be left unevaluated.

C.6.5.5 Evaluation of Previously Identified Cultural Resources for NRHP Significance

The contractor may be asked to test and/or evaluate previously recorded sites located within the Area of Potential Effect (APE), but not necessarily within identified survey locations. The passage of time, changing perceptions of significance, or incomplete prior evaluations may require the agency to re-evaluate properties previously evaluated for the NRHP (36 CFR §800.4(c)(1)). Where re-evaluation is deemed necessary, the specific sites to be re-evaluated for the NRHP will be identified in individual task orders.

C.6.5.6 Sub-Surface Testing to Determine Site Boundaries and NRHP Significance

1. The contractor shall conduct limited test excavations, where necessary, to determine NRHP eligibility of historic and prehistoric sites.

1. The locations of all test units and/or shovel tests shall be recorded with a GPS unit (capable of five-meter or less accuracy). Each test unit shall be plotted and labeled on the appropriate site maps.

1. If state guidelines/standards for subsurface testing have been developed, the contractor shall use the state guidelines/standards as minimum requirements. The Forest reserves the right to provide additional stipulations at the pre-work meeting or in the Notice to Proceed.

1. In some states, guidelines and standards have not been drafted to govern the quantity and depth of shovel tests considered adequate to determine the presence/absence and nature of subsurface cultural deposits. Consequently, it is important that the contractor provide a full description of, and justification for, the quantity and location of shovel tests completed at each site. Justifications will necessarily include a qualified description of soil/sediment types and estimated depths across the site.

1. Soils and sediments excavated in test units shall be sifted through screen with a maximum mesh size of one-quarter inch. The excavation of all test units shall continue beyond the last sedimentary unit to produce evidence of cultural deposits according to the appropriate state standards. If no state standards or guidelines exist, units should extend to bedrock or regolith. The methods used are at the discretion of the Principal Investigator, but should be clearly identified in the report and justifiable. If bedrock or regolith has not been exposed, the contractor shall provide a full explanation for terminating the test unit prior to doing so. The purpose of this requirement is to reasonably demonstrate that no additional cultural deposits exist at lower depths.

1. At minimum, soil and sediment descriptions should include Munsell© color code(s), a description of soil texture, and gravel content.

1. The policy governing the collection of artifacts encountered during subsurface testing is specified below in Section C.6.5.8.2.

1. When artifacts are encountered in subsurface test units or shovel tests collection is discouraged, but the following data shall be collected, where applicable, for artifact assemblages encountered in each test unit or shovel test:

· Three dimensional measurements and photographs of all diagnostic artifacts.

· A general count and description of non-diagnostic artifacts.

· Photos of non-diagnostic artifacts (can be grouped by test/shovel unit or stratigraphic unit).

· All artifacts that are not collected as per criteria found in Section C.6.5.8.2 below shall be returned to the test/shovel unit and reburied.

C.6.5.7 Monitoring of Previously Identified Sites

If the task order stipulates that NRHP-eligible sites are to be revisited, a Forest Service Site Monitoring Form shall be thoroughly completed in the field for each site and the completed forms shall be submitted with the inventory report. If changes to site boundaries, conditions, or content are noted, an updated site form will be completed with a thorough description of the changes noted according to specifications listed in Section C.6.8.

C.6.5.8 Collection of Artifacts

Collection of archaeological or historical materials during the field inventory is discouraged unless the artifact can be demonstrated to be diagnostic of a particular cultural group or chronological period. Diagnostic artifacts may be collected for analytical purposes to prevent probable loss or destruction from the proposed undertaking, or due to suspected potential for unlawful removal. More detailed stipulations covering collection directives may be included in individual task orders.

All artifacts collected shall be handled and properly curated according to stipulations in Section C.6.5.9.

1. Surface Collections

1. The contractor shall include a full inventory of all collections made in the project report. The inventory shall include, at minimum, U.S. Forest Service site number, Smithsonian designations, catalog numbers, accession numbers, artifacts descriptions and quantities, names of curatorial facilities, and evidence that collections processing is complete. Collection inventories can be included as report appendices where appropriate.

1. The location of diagnostic artifacts collected shall be recorded with a GPS unit capable of five-meter or less accuracy and indicated on the appropriate site map.

1. Diagnostic artifacts shall be photographed, measured, and digital images shall be included in the reports (draft and final) and site records.

1. A preferred alternative to the collection of non-diagnostic artifacts is the taking of "in situ" photographs. A scale bar should be included with each image taken.

1. Sub-Surface Collections

The stipulations for collecting artifacts encountered in sub-surface test units or shovel tests are the same as those for surface collections with one exception. Three-dimensional measurements must be recorded for each diagnostic artifact identified in subsurface contexts. The location of test units shall be accurately recorded as per Section C.6.5.6.2.

C.6.5.9 Curation of Artifacts

1. Unless otherwise specified in individual task orders, the contractor is responsible for the cost of initial curatorial processing fees for all records and material collections in the appropriate repository for the states of Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming, depending on job location.

1. The contractor shall follow the curatorial requirements of the appropriate facility.

1. The handling and curation of all archaeological and historical materials shall comply with standards and guidelines established in 36 CFR §79, Curation of Federally Owned and Administered Archaeological Collections.

1. Negotiation of, and compliance with, a curation agreement between the contractor and the curatorial facility shall be the contractor’s responsibility. The contractor’s curatorial agreement is in addition to any existing agreements entered into between the Forests and Grasslands and the repository.

1. It is the contractor’s responsibility to ensure that, in the initial transfer of federal archaeological collections to a repository, the transfer is completed in compliance with any and all existing curation agreements between the Forests and Grasslands and the repository.

1. The contractor shall sign a written and dated Receipt of Collections supplied by the curatorial facility. The receipt must be provided to the COR prior to the submission of the Final Payment invoice.

C.6.5.10 Geographic Positioning System (GPS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) Standards

1. Site information (site boundaries, features, testing locations,) and survey/inventory areas shall be recorded in the field with GPS units.

1. At a minimum, two digital files will be required for each project: one file will contain site locational data (if applicable); the other will contain the survey area locational data. If the area(s) surveyed is the same as that originally provided, the original data may be submitted. If the area(s) surveyed is additional to, or substantially different from the originally provided survey area(s) then that data would also need to be provided.

1. Preferences vary from forest-to-forest regarding the digital format in which smaller and linear sites are recorded (i.e., point, line, or polygon). Individual Forests and Grasslands specifications will be clearly defined at the pre-work meeting (Section C.6.1).

1. The contractor and U.S. Forest Service personnel shall discuss at the pre-work meeting requirements regarding the recordation of linear sites. These features can be recorded as either lines or polygons and U.S. Forest Service preferences may differ from task order to task order. Examples of potential linear sites include roads, railroad lines, flumes, or irrigation ditches.

1. All GIS data shall be provided to the Forests using the NAD83 datum and projected using the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) System, using the appropriate UTM Zone for the project area.

C.6.5.11 Treatment of Unanticipated Human Remains

Identification and location of prehistoric or historic human remains triggers stipulations mandated by the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). Should a human burial(s) or skeletal remains be encountered, fieldwork must terminate immediately and the integrity of the skeletal remains secured. The contractor must notify the COR immediately if any remains of this nature are found. Once an initial determination regarding possible age and affiliation has been made in consultation with the County Coroner and other responsible authorities, agency personnel will then begin consultation with the appropriate American Indian Tribes pursuant to the process mandated by the NAGPRA. Before the contractor or any member of the contractor’s crew returns to the field, the contractor shall discuss a modified plan of action with the COR to accommodate the new circumstances. If necessary, the task order that the contractor was working under at the time the human remains were identified will be amended to include any additional—or reduced—responsibilities on the part of the contractor as a result of the new circumstances.

C.6.6 PROGRESS REPORTS

The contractor shall submit biweekly progress reports to the COR in electronic format (email files, disk, or flash drives) for each assigned task order. The start date for the first two-week period shall be the day that fieldwork is initiated, as per the contractor’s notification to the COR (see Section C.6.5.1). The bi-weekly reports shall contain the following information:

· Contractor’s assessment of the amount of work completed and time remaining for task completion.

· Contractor’s documentation of the number of days (if any) field crews were not able to work due to conditions beyond their control such as weather, road conditions, or wildlife concerns (excluding scheduled closures for elk birthing, etc.).

· Topographic maps at the 1:24,000 scale clearly showing all areas in which inventory has been completed—with site locations indicated.

· A list of sites and isolates that have not yet been evaluated for the NRHP, if identified in the task order.

· Site and survey GIS spatial files in a format according to Section C.6.5.10 (in order to insure accuracy and compatibility with the Forest database standards).

· Bi-weekly reports shall include the contract number, task order number, U.S. Forest Service project number, and project name at the top of the first page.

· Bi-weekly reports shall be submitted to the COR within five working days of the last day of the two-week reporting period.

C.6.7 DRAFT INVENTORY REPORTS

C.6.7.1 The contractor shall submit one paper copy of a final written draft inventory report to the COR for review and comment. The draft report shall:

1. Be a complete report that includes all text, maps, site forms, site eligibility recommendations, a detailed assessment of project effects, and management recommendations for all proposed undertakings in the project area.

1. Follow the guidelines established by the appropriate SHPO. The draft report must consist of a narrative report, and supporting documentation describing the location of all survey coverage areas, methods employed, results of the field survey, and all site record forms.

1. Include an inventory report cover page, table of contents, and any other summary tables per specific state guidelines (e.g., the Wyoming Survey Report Cover Page/Site Summary Table).

1. Include the permit number under which the work was conducted and the Forest-supplied project number which retains a specific format (e. g., R2016020300001).

1. Follow the appropriate SHPO guidelines.

1. Include a description of field survey methods including the type of work.

1. Include the names of individuals employed in actual fieldwork.

1. List the dates the fieldwork was conducted.

1. Define the Area of Potential Effect as agreed to at the pre-work meeting (Section C.6.1).

1. Indicate the number of acres inventoried and the number of acres within the project area that were not inventoried.

1. Identify the number of cultural resource sites and isolates located.

1. Place all references to specific site localities and other data considered sensitive in detachable appendices separate from the main report.

1. Include the results of the pre-field literature and historic records search, maintaining compliance with Section C.6.4.

1. Include a catalog list of all artifacts or other materials collected and their current location and disposition. The report shall include an index of all accession and catalog numbers assigned by the curatorial facility. A Receipt of Collections received by the contractor from the repository shall be provided to the COR at this time as per Section C.6.5.9.6. If no collections were made, a statement should be included in the report to that effect.

1. Include an assessment of the NRHP significance of the identified resources and their potential for contributing information about the cultural heritage of the project area including descriptions and maps showing the relationship to the proposed project area.

1. Include a succinct description of site testing and/or evaluation methods employed to sufficiently justify recommendations regarding NRHP eligibility.

1. Provide definitive NRHP recommendations as “eligible” or “not eligible” according to the four criteria cited in Section C.6.5.4. Documentation shall be provided in sufficient quality and quantity to support NRHP recommendations.

1. Include supporting documentation in the form of cultural and/or historical contextual discussions with reference to the appropriate state contexts, the appropriate Forest’s Cultural Resource Overview, and other relevant sources.

1. Recommendations stating that additional investigations are needed to determine NRHP eligibility are not acceptable.

1. Suggest a recommended program of measures to realistically mitigate potential adverse effects (where required) to historic properties for the specific undertaking.

1. Include a minimum of three maps that meet the appropriate state standards. The maps shall include at a minimum:

1. A general project location map at a 1:24,000 scale showing the relationship of the project area(s) to the greater Forest or Grassland boundaries, and local features such as towns or major landscape features.

· Including proper labels with areas previously surveyed clearly distinguished.

1. Survey coverage map, including new survey coverage completed as a result of the present inventory, previous surveys completed within the project area, and any areas never surveyed.

· Survey coverage as illustrated shall clearly distinguish between Class/Level III intensive survey and Class/Level II sample survey coverage for all applicable surveyed locations.

1. Project area site location maps with topographic backgrounds produced at a 1:24,000 scale that indicate the locations of all sites in the APE. Individual site maps, which are distinct from the project and/or survey map(s), shall be provided with the site form in separate, detached appendices in both the draft and final reports.

C.6.7.2 The contractor shall be notified in writing or by email of the results of the COR’s review. If the report is unacceptable, the COR shall discuss the deficiencies with the contractor and the correction must be made to the satisfaction of the COR.

· The COR shall have twenty-one (21) working days to review the final draft report and provide comments to the contractor.

· The contractor shall have fourteen (14) working days to complete the required changes.

· If additional edits are needed following the second review, the contractor will have five (5) working days to complete them.

C.6.8 SITE FORMS

The contractor shall submit one paper copy of all draft site records to the COR for review and comment. The draft site records shall:

C.6.8.1 Include accurate and complete site and/or other property forms, pursuant to the appropriate state standards and guidelines, for all newly recorded or updated cultural resources identified during field survey. The following stipulations apply:

· Site forms must be included with the report as appendices, but not be bound with it.

· Updated site forms shall be completed and submitted for each previously recorded site which was evaluated under the task order and exhibits significant changes in the location, content, eligibility status or condition when compared with the most recent records.

· All site forms shall include site location data accurate to less than 5 meters.

· The Forest monitoring form shall be used to document previously recorded sites that do not exhibit evident changes in physical conditions or site boundaries.

· All references to specific site localities shall be displayed in the inventory reports following the specific state guidelines for display of sensitive site location information.

C.6.8.2 Include digital photographs as per the appropriate state guidelines. Photographs should include images of sites, general project overviews, cultural features, artifacts, and other objects as necessary to provide adequate visual representations.

C.6.9 GIS DATA

Digital files of all GPS and GIS data must be provided to the COR for review with the Draft Inventory Report. The spatial files should indicate the locations of the areas surveyed, newly recorded site locations, re-evaluated site locations, and site boundaries.

· GPS data will include all original and post-corrected GPS data files.

· GIS files will be provided in the format of the geodatabase schema provided to the contractor (Section C4) with all applicable data accurately populated in the attribute table.

Digital data supplied by the contractor will be reviewed by the COR or Contract Inspector and any corrections or changes shall be done by the contractor following the prescribed timelines cited in Section C.6.7.2.

C.6.10 FINAL DELIVERABLES

C.6.10.1 The final report and data files shall include all revisions requested in the draft report review. The final report and/or data files will not be accepted until identified deficiencies have been corrected.

C.6.10.2 Printed photographs and maps in the final draft shall be of original quality. The contractor shall furnish the COR with one digital copy of all material contained in the report, including editable text and site forms. Digital copies are required of all GPS data, GIS files, tabular data, photographs, and photologs. All project and site photographs obtained under terms of this contract shall be accompanied by typed photologs. Digital files will be furnished to the COR on CD or other current digital medium as appropriate.

C.6.10.3 The contractor shall provide the COR with a copy of all documents and publications resulting from the project including theses, dissertations, published articles and monographs, unpublished manuscripts, etc. The distribution of site locations or other sensitive data is prohibited without written authorization from the COR.

C.6.10.4 The COR will have fifteen (15) working days from receipt to review the Final Report and supporting data submitted by the contractor. At the end of the 15 working-day review period the COR will accept or reject with comments the Final Report. If additional edits are needed, the contractor will have five (5) working days to complete them.

C.6.10.5 Task Orders will state the numbers of copies and format (printed versus digital) of the final approved inventory report that shall be furnished to the COR.

C.7 CONSULTATION

Forest personnel shall be responsible for initiating consultation with the SHPO, Tribal Historic Preservation Officers (THPO), and any other consulting parties as required by law. Reports produced under the terms of this contract shall be provided to the SHPOs, THPOs, or other appropriate parties by Forest or Grassland Heritage Resources personnel and not by the contractor.

C.8 PAYMENT SCHEDULE

Payment of each task order will be divided into three (3) progress payments and one final payment according to the payment schedule enumerated below. The contractor will submit all invoices in the Forest Service’s Invoice Processing Platform (IPP) system.

1. The final report has been accepted and NRHP eligibility recommendations have been concurred on by the COR.

1. The contractor has provided the COR with a receipt from the appropriate curation facility documenting acceptance of artifact collections from the project and completion of all curation processing by the repository according to 36 CFR §79 standards.

1. The GIS digital files containing site and survey data with associated metadata have been received and accepted by the COR.

C.9 GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS/INDUSTRY STANDARDS/STATE

STANDARDS/GOVERNMENT STANDARDS/TECHNICAL EXHIBITS

C.9.1 All reports shall meet the appropriate SHPO Standards. State site forms, in addition to standards and guidelines can be obtained from the following sources (web addresses are subject to change).

C.9.2 State Historic Preservation office contact information

a. Nebraska:

Web Site: Some forms, standards, and guidelines associated with the recordation of cultural resources located in the State of Nebraska are available on the SHPO’s website. The Nebraska SHPO Section 106 guidelines can be found at the following website: www.nebraskahistory.org/histpres/publications/Sec-106-Guidelines.pdf. The Nebraska Site Record form can be obtained at: www.nebraskahistoric.org/archeo/resource.htm. It may be necessary to obtain some forms directly from the Nebraska SHPO. At the time of this writing, for example, the Historic Building Survey form and the Nebraska Collections and Curation document were not available on the internet.

b. South Dakota:

Web Sites: Forms, standards, and guidelines associated with the recordation of cultural resources located in the State of South Dakota are available on the State’s Archaeological Research Center website. At the time of this writing the State of South Dakota SHPO was working on draft standards that will govern testing for potential buried sites. It is the contractor’s responsibility to research this topic and adhere to the standards once the State’s policy is finalized. The draft standards are currently located at: http://history.sd.gov///preservation/PresLaws/SD%20Guidelines%20for%20Sec.%20106%20and%2011.1%203-15.pdf

At the time of this writing, useful websites can be accessed at: http://www.sdsmt.edu/wwwsarc/resources.html; http://history.sd.gov/Preservation/OtherServices/SHPODocs.aspx; and; http://history.sd.gov/Preservation/OtherServices/HistoricSitesSurvey.aspx

c. Wyoming:

Web Site: http://wyoshpo.state.wy.us

AG-67T0-S-16-0020 HERITAGE SERVICES NATIONAL FOREST SRVICE

C.10 QUALITY ASSURANCE PLAN/REQUIREMENTS

Task/ Critical Subtask

Quality/Performance Standards Acceptable Quality Level Means of Measurements

C.6.3, C.6.4