Attachment 1.pdf

WAYNE NATIONAL FOREST HERITAGE SURVEY CONTRACT

STATEMENT OF WORK

Scope of Services: The Contractor shall provide all services, equipment, facilities, materials, and supplies required for the performance and completion of a Phase I cultural inventory survey of portions of the Wayne National Forest.

Location: The work may be conducted in the following southern Ohio counties within the Athens and Ironton Ranger Districts: Athens, Gallia, Hocking, Jackson, Lawrence, Monroe, Morgan, Noble, Perry, Scioto, Vinton, and Washington. All National Forest System Lands designated within the attachments are included in this contract. The subject project area or site will be identified on Geographic Information Systems (GIS) shapefiles or 7.5’ topographic maps included with each task order.

Objectives: (1) to locate and identify all cultural resources judged to be over 50 years of age; (2) to provide a complete inventory of the defined project area; and (3) to make preliminary statements of site significance (e.g. National Register eligibility). To accomplish these objectives, the Contractor shall review existing sources of information on cultural resources pertaining to the project area, conduct a complete coverage field survey, analyze all findings, and prepare a written report documenting such information.

This contract will provide the U.S. Forest Service with technical services related to cultural resource inventory on National Forest System Lands. These technical services will assist in compliance by the Wayne National Forest with the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended, and the Archaeological Resource Protection Act, as amended, and various other statutes and regulations. Potential vendors must evidence familiarity with these Acts and the Forest Service’s compliance program.

Archaeological investigations must comply with the Archaeology Guidelines as issued by the Ohio Historic Preservation Office (OHPO).

http://www.ohiohistory.org/ohio-historic-preservation-office/survey-and-inventory

Government-Furnished Property: The Government shall deliver to the Contractor the following listed materials, supplies, property or services (hereinafter referred to as "Government-furnished property") at the places and time specified below. The Contractor shall be liable for all loss or damage of such delivered Government-furnished property until completion and final acceptance of work required under this contract. If the Government fails to make timely delivery of such Government-furnished property suitable for its intended use, and upon written request from the Contractor, the Contracting Officer shall make an equitable adjustment of contract delivery or performance dates or contract price, or both, pursuant to the "Changes" clause of the General Provisions of this contract.

Property, Data and Services: The Forest Service shall allow the Contractor to review such information in its possession as the Forest Service deems pertinent to the project, including archaeological and historical inventory data, environmental data and reports, aerial photos, maps, land acquisition files, land management plans, and other relevant http://www.ohiohistory.org/ohio-historic-preservation-office/survey-and-inventory information. This shall include the availability of Forest Service personnel and resource specialists for technical consultation as needed for the orderly and efficient development of the project.

The Forest Service shall provide the Contractor with one (1) set of Forest Service topographic maps and/or GIS Shapefiles of the areas of undertaking, showing ownership and major features.

Prior to initiating the work under each task order, the Contractor shall meet with Forest Service personnel in order to:

a) review the undertaking and discuss objectives;

b) review Forest Service cultural resource records and information;

c) examine pertinent natural resource data, reports, maps, etc;

d) become acquainted with the cultural and natural features of the subject project area; and

e) discuss project schedule and coordinate with Ranger District personnel, if needed.

The Contractor shall provide updates (written or verbal) on the progress of all open task orders to the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR - Forest Archaeologist) on a weekly basis.

Confidential Nature of Information: The Contractor shall not divulge, and shall take all reasonable steps to insure that no member of their staff or organization divulges information on specific sites or their locations to any person other than a duly authorized representative of the Forest Service unless otherwise authorized in writing by the Forest Supervisor. All services, reports, documents and material required by this contract shall become the property of the Forest Service. The results of this research may be used for thesis, dissertations, research projects and publication subject to prior, written approval of the Forest Service.

Curatorial Responsibilities: The Contractor shall provide acceptable arrangements at The Ohio History Connection Curation Facility (O.H.C.) in Columbus, Ohio for curation of artifacts, records, and photographs collected during the course of the subject undertaking. All such materials must be processed according to O.H.C. standards in a “shelf ready” condition. Curation arrangements are the responsibility of the Contractor, as coordinated with the Forest Archaeologist (COR). Actual curation fees will be paid by the Forest Service.

Archaeological Resources Protection Act Violations: Should the contractor observe or obtain knowledge of violations of the Archaeological Resources Protection Act, these shall be reported as soon as possible to the Forest Archaeologist (COR) or a Forest Service Law Enforcement Officer. Areas in which violations are detected must be left alone because these are potential crime scenes. No contract work is to be conducted in these areas until the Forest Archaeologist and Forest Service Law Enforcement Officer are consulted.

Human Remains: In the event human remains are discovered, work in the area will cease and the Contractor will immediately notify the COR. The COR will notify the county coroner and the appropriate federal Tribal Representatives and will work in accordance with the processes set forth in the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) and the Eastern and Southern Regions of the USDA Forest Service Policy for the Treatment of Human Remains.

Qualifications of Key Personnel: Contractor key personnel assigned to the subject project must meet the minimum professional qualifications for prehistoric and historic archaeology, history, architectural history, or historic architecture as identified in 36CFR61, the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines-Professional Qualifications Standards (http://www.nps.gov/history/local-law/arch_stnds_9.htm). Key personnel are those who function in the Principal Investigator and Field Director roles.

Field/laboratory crew members directly supervised by these key individuals must demonstrate completion of (or satisfactory progress toward) a bachelor’s degree in archaeology, history or a closely related field, with at least one year of relevant field experience.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Background Research

Phase I background research will consist of a broad-based review of relevant existing information to determine what types of sites may be expected within the project area.

The Contractor shall conduct an appropriate records and interview search to identify previously known or recorded cultural resource information pertaining to the subject project area including, but not limited to:

a) Forest Service cultural resource files;

b) Ohio Historic Preservation Office files;

c) the Forest Archaeologist and the cultural resource paraprofessional(s) on the appropriate Ranger District; and

d) other pertinent records, publications, or informants (e.g., historic maps and atlases).

Phase I Field Investigation

The contractor shall conduct a complete coverage field survey sufficient to identify all existing cultural resources within the project boundaries, including both confirmation of previously known sites and identification of unrecorded sites. The survey will address high and moderate site probability areas including: (1) areas that have less than 15% slope; (2) stream terraces, floodplains, and confluences; (3) ridge tops, ridge spurs, saddles, benches, and watershed divides; and (4) cave and rock shelter areas.

Complete field coverage will consist of a series of on-the-ground transects via systematic subsurface testing to determine the presence or absence of cultural remains in areas http://www.nps.gov/history/local-law/arch_stnds_9.htm where the ground surface is obscured. The Contractor will use GPS devices or similar tracking equipment to document areas covered. Intensity of complete field coverage may vary in accordance with known or suspected cultural resource sensitivity and geographic features or obstacles encountered. Transects and subsurface testing intervals shall not exceed 15 meters. Subsurface test units shall be a minimum size of 50 cm x 50 cm and a description of strategy noted. Depth of shovel tests will vary by local geologic conditions but should be adequate to detect potential subsurface archaeological materials. Upon discovery of cultural materials, the testing interval shall be reduced by half or less with transects radiating from the positive unit in order to determine the site boundary. Upon discovery of above ground remains, walk-over or visual examination intervals shall be reduced in order to adequately observe and record the remains. Sediment and materials removed from all subsurface test units shall be screened through 1/4" mesh hardware cloth.

The size of test pits, testing interval, and the use of a screen may be altered, dependent upon approval from the Forest Archaeologist (COR) in accordance with an appropriate research design.

Subsurface investigation of cemeteries and suspected burial mounds will not be conducted, but above ground recording of features and their dimensions shall be performed.

Should extensive alluviation be detected during investigation along stream floodplains, the contractor shall make recommendations pertaining to the potential for deeply buried cultural deposits in these areas and the need for future mechanical deep testing. Such recommendations shall be based on systematic subsurface shovel-test investigation and soil coring in these areas.

The contractor shall conduct visual walk-over field coverage of the remaining areas (slopes that exhibit a gradient exceeding 15 percent). Visual walk-over field coverage consists of systematic transects to identify surface features such as burial mounds, foundations, rock shelters, lithic source areas, etc. Visual transect intervals shall range from 15 to 30 meters, depending on the season (leaf-on/off) and the archaeological sensitivity of the project tract(s).

Rockshelters shall be investigated for cultural occupation as follows: a) if cultural materials over 50 years of age can be identified and collected from the surface of the shelter floor, then no subsurface investigation is to be conducted; b) if such materials are not evident on the surface, then a minimum of two subsurface test units is to be excavated

- one inside the shelter, and one either in the drip line or on the talus slope; c) if the rock shelter exceeds 15 meters in length, additional units at the prescribed 15 meter interval will be necessary; d) subsurface test units shall measure 50 cm X 50 cm, and the contents of each shall be screened through 1/4" mesh hardware cloth; e) if the rock shelter is defined as a cultural resource site, then test units must be accurately located on mapping so that they can be relocated.

Sites which exhibit standing structures shall be investigated as follows: a) the archaeological components shall be investigated utilizing the standard prescribed methodologies - systematic subsurface investigation and visual inspection; b) if enough of the above-ground structural remnants exist to discern the type and configuration of the structure (coupled with pertinent information obtained during the literature search), then an "Ohio Historic Inventory" form must be generated; c) if no above-ground structures remain, then an "Ohio Archaeological Inventory" form must be used. The C.O.R. must be consulted should questions arise pertaining to the methodology to be implemented at these types of historic sites.

When eroded or disturbed soils are encountered, the likelihood of identifying significant sites is greatly diminished. In this instance, a reduction in the shovel testing interval may be made with approval from the C.O.R. Upon field verification of substantial erosion/disturbance, a visual walk-over survey is generally adequate. Shovel tests must be periodically attempted in an effort to define intact soils. If/when an historic or prehistoric site is located, shovel testing must resume as described above to determine the nature and extent of the site.

The Contractor shall keep standard field and laboratory records including field notes, field maps, GPS data, photographs, laboratory analysis records, along with coverage maps showing the location of areas actually examined and the intensity of survey coverage (location, number, and interval between shovel tests). The Contractor shall provide to the Forest Service all ArcGIS shapefiles of all shovel test locations and survey tracks. The Contractor shall obtain state site numbers for all sites and record each site on the appropriate state site form: "Ohio Archaeological Inventory", "Ohio Isolated Find Form", or "Ohio Historic Inventory." Such forms must be generated and submitted to the Ohio Historic Preservation Office through their internet-based I-Form program. Potential vendors must show familiarity with this program. http://www.ohpo.org/iform.

The use of Global Positioning System (GPS) technology with at least 2-5 meter accuracy using the NAD83 datum is required for obtaining locations of all sites investigated. This data should be presented in a GIS (i.e. ArcMap) shapefile.

No artifact samples will be collected from the surface of historic or prehistoric sites unless: (1) identification is not possible in the field; (2) items possess a high degree of scientific value or are of museum quality; (3) are at risk due to theft or vandalism; or (4) were recovered from shovel tests. Historic material observed, but not recovered, will be described, recorded, and mapped, or photographed. With the exception of fire-cracked rock (number and provenience to be noted) all prehistoric materials will be collected and bagged separately by site location, identified, cleaned, and analyzed.

Phase I Written Report

The Phase I report shall conform to the Ohio Historic Preservation Office's Archaeology Guidelines (a sample of the general format of the report is outlined below). The report shall be typewritten and bound in a durable cover with an identifying label on the face http://www.ohpo.org/iform thereof. The paper shall be archival quality bond of size 8-1/2 x 11 inches. All pages shall be numbered. The report format and contents shall include the following:

Title Page - Include: (1) name and location of project area; (2) name and address of the Forest Service unit to which the report is sent; (3) Forest Service Report Number, as assigned by the Forest Archaeologist (C.O.R.); (4) contract number and date; (5) name and address of Contractor(s); (6) name of Principal Investigator(s); (7) date of report; (8) author's signature and title.

Abstract - In one page summarize the project objectives, size, methods, findings, and all site recommendations. List site names and assigned state numbers when discussing recommendations.

Table of Contents - Arrange topical headings in sequence in accordance with corresponding page numbers. Include a list of figures, tables, and appendices.

Introduction - Include: (1) description of the purpose of the investigation;

(2) description of project objectives; (3) location and general description of project area keyed to vicinity map(s); (4) project administration, staff, and dates of the investigation; and (5) general discussion of the methods and techniques utilized.

Prefield Research - Discuss prefield investigations conducted by the Contractor.

Include: (1) dates of prefield research; (2) Forest Service cultural resource information; (3) archive and record information; (4) pertinent publications; and

(5) informant information. Relevant data derived from these sources shall be discussed.

Research Design - Develop a research design based primarily on the findings of the prefield research, or known data pertaining to the project areas. If the known data allows, this design should present goals and hypotheses, direct the field methodology, provide an evaluative framework for identified resources, and suggest expected results of the investigation.

Cultural and Environmental Settings - Provide a review of relevant culture histories, previous research, settlement/subsistence patterns, site types, physiography, geomorphology, soils, hydrology, flora, fauna, climate, and geology.

Field Research - Discuss the field investigation, by each survey area, and include:

(1) date(s) the area was surveyed and description of survey conditions;

(2) description of the physical features of each survey area, including topography, soils, water features, vegetation cover, ground surface visibility, and evidence of past land use or disturbance;

(3) cultural resources identified in prefield research;

(4) description and rationale for field methods used in each survey area, including placement of transects, areas shovel tested, transect and shovel test intervals, surface collection methodology, and description of any areas not examined. This information shall be keyed to the field coverage maps noted above;

(5) provide selected test unit profiles

(6) description of each cultural resource identified, including:

(a) type of site

(b) physiographic location

(c) surface and subsurface features

(d) size, and methods utilized to define site limits

(e) depth (and method of, or reason for depth estimate)

(f) density and distribution of cultural materials, and methods utilized to determine such

(g) types and quantities of cultural materials

(h) cultural affiliations, if discernible

(i) site map indicating boundaries, salient features, and methodologies utilized (e.g test unit locations, areas of surface collection, etc.)

Preliminary Evaluation - When sufficient data are available, include a discussion of the significance of each identified cultural resource and provide a preliminary opinion on the eligibility of each site for the National Register of Historic Places:

e.g., sites which clearly meet National Register criteria, sites which do not appear to meet eligibility criteria, and sites where further investigation is warranted to determine significance. Opinions on the significance/eligibility of each site shall be explained and justified by applying the National Register criteria, as outlined in 36 CFR Part 60.4.

Recommendations - Include for each site recommendations for no further investigation, proceed with caution, avoid, or further evaluation.

Conclusions - Provide a management summary to include a brief discussion of the scope and location of the project, methodology, evaluation of the research design, and a summation of the findings and recommendations.

References - List the sources of non-field data incorporated in the report, including published and unpublished documents, records, and individuals interviewed or consulted. The format shall follow the American Antiquity style guidelines.

PHASE I REPORT AND EXHIBIT SUBMISSION AND PERFORMANCE

SCHEDULE

Review Draft Report: Within the period of time specified in the task order, the

Contractor shall prepare, furnish, and deliver one hard copy and one electronic copy (MS Word format) of the review draft of the final report to the COR before the final report is required. An electronic copy will be forwarded by the COR to the Ohio Historic Preservation Office for review. The Government shall submit a compilation of both reviews to the Contractor within 45 calendar days from the date it is received. The necessary corrections and changes shall be made by the Contractor in the final report.

TABLE 1 – SCHEDULE OF DRAFT REPORT SUBMISSION*

ACRES SUBMISSION DUE

<100 25-30 days 100-150 25-30 days 150-200 30-35 days 200-250 35-40 days 250-300 40-45 days 300-350 45-50 days 350-400 50-55 days 400-450 55-60 days 450-500 60-65 days

*The estimates provided in Table 1 are based on past contract performance history and the following assumptions:

• one archaeologist can cover 10 acres per day on Forest property

• field crews consist of 6-8 archaeologists

• 2-3 individuals compile the draft report and exhibits

Exhibits: At the same time the review draft is submitted, all recorded sites must be submitted to the Ohio Historic Preservation Office through their internet-based I-Form program by the Contractor. The Contractor shall deliver to the Contracting Officer's Representative the following Exhibits: one hard-copy archival set of "Ohio Archaeological Inventory", "Ohio Isolated Find Form", or "Ohio Historic Inventory" forms for each site discovered.

Final Survey Report: Within 30 calendar days from the date the draft report comments are received from the COR, the Contractor shall provide to the COR one (1) hard copy and two (2) electronic copies (in both MS Word and PDF format) of the revised and completed Final Survey Report.

ACCEPTANCE, MEASUREMENT, AND PAYMENT

The payment schedule shall be as follows:

50% Payment - shall be made after receipt of the contractor's invoice, and upon submission and acceptance by the C.O.R. of maps documenting field survey and preliminary site information.

Final Payment - shall be made after receipt of contractor's invoice, and upon submission and acceptance by the C.O.R. of the Final Survey Report.