B01__Draft_PWS_for_Sam_gov_Sources_Sought_1.pdf

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT (PWS)

Lahontan Basin Area Office (LBAO) Cultural Surveys Grazing Plan

Implementation Phase II March 2024

1.0 Background

Reclamation is the underlying landowner of the Newlands Project, a federal irrigation project in west central Nevada that comprises of various water storage and conveyance features.

Additionally, as part of the Newlands Project, Reclamation owns multiple land parcels of neighboring lands originally withdrawn or acquired for the Newlands Project. Livestock leases have historically been issued on many of these parcels under Reclamation jurisdiction in Lyon and Churchill counties.

Reclamation has established that the issuance of each grazing permit constitutes an undertaking as defined in 54 United States Code (U.S.C.) § 300320 and 36 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 800.16(y). It is anticipated that the proposed work will have the potential to cause an effect to historic properties and therefore, Reclamation, as the underlying landowner, is responsible for ensuring compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA; 54 U.S.C. § 300101, et seq.) for such undertakings, as outlined in the implementing regulations at 36 CFR Part 800).

In anticipation of the above, Reclamation has a need for a contractor to assist in the identification and evaluation of historic properties within the identified parcels and the development of cultural technical studies reporting on the findings of these efforts.

2.0 Scope

Cultural resources investigation services will be performed under this purchase order. Services include environmental compliance for archaeological and architectural history investigations;

cultural resources archival research and records reviews; field surveys; resource recordation;

reporting; evaluations of cultural resources to determine eligibility for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places (National Register); collection and processing of global positioning system (GPS)/geographic information system (GIS) data; and Grazing Management Plans.

The proposed services are to be conducted on approximately 25,676 acres on six (6) pastures (or sub-areas) of Reclamation-owned land of varying sizes. The acreage is divided and organized for management purposes by each pasture. Specifically, these areas are referred to as Grimes Point (1,801 acres), Mahala Slough East (144 acres), Mahala Slough West (300 acres), Soda Lake (23,000 acres), Massie Slough (108 acres), and Hazen Area (323 acres) with the option of additional acreage within the Newlands Project dependent on Reclamation priorities (see optional tasks 4.3 and 4.4).

It is possible that surveys and subsequent reporting for each area may be phased dependent on Reclamation priorities. This may involve the production of multiple reports describing results of the various sub-areas. The number of reports executed as part of this purchase order would be determined by the contractor in coordination with the Contracting Officer’s Representative

(COR).

3.0 Type of Contract

The government intends to award a Time and Materials (T&M) type purchase order.

4.0 Period of Performance

The period of performance for this purchase order shall be for one (1) Base Period and four (4) 12-month option years. The period of performance reads as follows:

Base Period: Date of award through March 31, 2025 Option Year 1: April 1, 2025 through March 31, 2026 Option Year 2: April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2027 Option Year 3: April 1, 2027 through March 31, 2028 Option Year 4: April 1, 2028 through March 31, 2029

The anticipated award date is July 1, 2024.

5.0 Administrative Information

5.1 Recognized Holidays

In rare instances and as determined by the COR, the contractor may be required to perform work on recognized Federal holidays, including the following:

New Year’s Day Labor Day Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples’ Day Presidents’ Day Veterans’ Day Memorial Day Thanksgiving Day Independence Day Christmas Day Juneteenth

5.2 Hours of Operations

Work shall be conducted between the hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday when on private property. Work may be conducted outside of these hours through mutual agreement between the contractor and Reclamation on an as-needed basis (e.g., conducting a 10-day field rotation). Work hours on Reclamation-owned property can be conducted outside of these hours through mutual agreement between the contractor and Reclamation.

The contractor must maintain an adequate workforce for the uninterrupted performance of all tasks defined within this PWS at all times. When hiring personnel, the contractor shall keep in mind that the stability and continuity of the workforce is essential.

5.3 Place of Performance

The work shall be performed at the contractor’s facilities and field locations as listed in Table 1.

Table 1. Field Locations

Pasture Name Township (T) & Range (R)

7.5’ USGS Topo Map Name(s)

Section(s)

Grimes Point T. 18 N., R. 29 E.

Grimes Point, NV

T. 18 N., R. 30 E. 18, 19, 29, 30, 31

Mahala Slough East T. 19 N., R. 27 E. Soda Lake West, NV 8

Mahala Slough West T. 19 N., R. 26 E. Hazen, NV 6

T. 19 N., R. 27 E. Soda Lake West, NV 6

Soda Lake

T. 21 N., R. 28 E.;

Upsal Hogback, NV;

12, 14, 22, 24, 26, 28, 32, 34, 36

T. 20 N., R. 28 E. 2, 4

T. 21 N., R. 27 E.

Soda Lake NW, NV

T. 20 N., R. 27 E. 2

T. 20 N., R. 27 E.

Soda Lake West, NV

2, 10, 12, 14, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 32, 34, 36

T. 20 N., R. 28 E. 6, 18, 30

T. 19 N., R. 27 E. 2

T. 20 N., R. 27 E. Hazen, NV 30

T. 20 N., R. 28 E. Soda Lake East, NV 2, 4, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 20, 22, 28, 32

Massie Slough T. 20 N., R. 27 E. Soda Lake West, NV 16, 20

Hazen T. 20 N., R 26 E. Hazen, Nevada 34

Notes: USGS – United States Geographic Survey; N – North; E – East; Topo – Topographic

5.4 Security

No security clearances are required.

The contractor shall be responsible for safeguarding all government equipment, information, and property provided for their use by Reclamation.

5.5 Delivery

The number of reports executed as part of this purchase order would be determined by the contractor in coordination with the COR. Table 2 below summarizes the anticipated deliverables and schedules outlined in the tasks.

Table 2. Schedule of Major Milestones

Task Deliverable Due Date

1.7 Progress reports with schedule updates Monthly

3.4 Draft background research narrative 45 business days after request

4.1.1 Identification/inventory work plan 45 business days after request

4.1.2 Cultural resource survey(s) and mobilization 60 business days after request to proceed, weather dependent due date

4.1.4 Summary brief of inventory efforts 45 business days after surveys completed

4.2.1 Cultural resource site recordation production 90 business days after surveys completed

4.2.2 Draft cultural resources technical report 90 business days after surveys completed

4.2.3 Final cultural resources technical report 15 business days after approval of draft report from Reclamation

4.2.4 Grazing effect assessment analysis 90 business days after surveys completed

4.2.5 Geospatial data 120 business days after

surveys complete

6.0 Government-Furnished Property

6.1 Materials

The government will not provide any materials beyond information required for the completion of tasks. Information provided includes GIS shape files of the project area and general access information.

7.0 Applicable Publications (Current Editions)

The contractor shall obtain appropriate reference materials and regulations, as referenced in this PWS, at their own cost. Laws and regulations to be followed as part of this purchase order include the following:

NHPA: 54 U.S.C. § 300101, et seq.

Section 106 implementing regulations: 36 CFR Part 800 National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA): 42 U.S.C. § 4321, et seq.

NEPA implementing regulations: 40 CFR § 1500-1508 Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA; 25 U.S.C. § 3001, et seq.)

Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Archeology and Historic Preservation (48 Federal Register [FR] 44716) National Register (36 CFR Part 60; 36 CFR Part 63)

8.0 Objectives

The objective of this purchase order is to provide services to Reclamation to meet their Section 106 of the NHPA and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) obligations for LBAO’s Cultural Surveys Grazing Plan Implementation Phase II.

9.0 Tasks

The contractor shall assist Reclamation with cultural resources investigations for the proposed project which will include historic property (prehistoric and historic archaeological resources;

built environment resources) identification, evaluation for National Register eligibility, and findings of effect. The proposed work may include archival research, surface inventory, geoarchaeological desktop analysis, site/resource recordation, archaeological testing, National Register evaluations, application of the Criteria of Adverse Effect, and development of findings of effect. This PWS is intended to support the historic property identification efforts for compliance with Section 106 of the NHPA (54 U.S.C. § 300101, et seq.) and its implementing regulations at 36 CFR Part 800 (see Appendix A).

Although the cultural resources and historic property identification and treatment may be similar for NEPA and Nevada cultural resources legislation (see Nevada Revised Statutes [NRS] 381.195-227 [Preservation and Protection of Historical Sites], 383.189 [Protection of Indian Burial Sites], 383.435 [Protection of Historic and Prehistoric Sites], and 206.330.9b [Graffiti and Defacement of Property]) to Section 106, the laws are considered mutually exclusive requiring different standards of documentation and review. In general, the level of effort to identify cultural resources, evaluate resources for listing in the National Register, and determining the finding of effects for undertakings under Section 106 will meet Nevada cultural resources regulatory and NEPA compliance standards; however, cultural resources identification and evaluation efforts under Nevada cultural resources statutes and NEPA often do not satisfy compliance thresholds established within Section 106’s implementing regulations.

The contractor shall take into consideration both archaeological and built environment resources utilizing appropriate professional and documentation standards. The contractor shall fully develop, as appropriate, a ground surface cultural resources report for the project as described.

Reclamation will review and provide comment on the methodology/work plan for the requested project prior to the contractor conducting a cultural resources inventory. The contractor shall also provide recommendations on resource determinations of eligibility and an undertaking’s finding of effect on historic properties to satisfy compliance with Section 106 as it relates to the grazing lease activities. Reclamation will submit the contractor -prepared report to the Nevada State Historic Preservation Officer (NVSHPO) as part of the cultural resources identification, National Register evaluation, and findings of effect efforts. The contractor will be provided a project tracking number by Reclamation cultural resources staff. This number is to be put on all reports in the subtitle and in the subject line on formal correspondence.

As part of the Section 106 process, as outlined in 36 CFR Part 800, Federal agencies are required to make a “good faith effort” to identify cultural resources within the undertaking’s area of potential effect (APE) (36 CFR § 800.4[b][1]). The contractor shall make a good faith effort to understand the geoarchaeological contexts of a project area and develop a subsurface identification strategy commensurate to the context and the scope of the project. Reclamation requires a meaningful discussion on relevant geoarchaeological contexts in an effort to identify both historic properties and potential risks which could affect the cost and/or schedule of project implementation. This geoarchaeological analysis should be included in the subsequent inventory/evaluation report(s) completed as part of this purchase order.

Mandatory Task 1 Project Management and Compliance

The contractor shall provide general project management/administration activities in support of this purchase order including but not limited to the following:

Task 1.1 Project Master Schedule

Developing a master schedule of all research, documents, analysis, permitting tasks for the current list of projects with a project-specific schedule for each.

Task 1.1.1 Update Project Master Schedule

The contractor shall update the project master schedule as needed throughout the duration of the project.

Task 1.2 Project-Specific Schedule

Develop schedule(s) for survey and reporting package. The contractor shall create a more detailed project-specific schedule for each major fieldwork and reporting effort.

Task 1.3 Monthly Expense Estimate

Provide a monthly expense estimate for proposed services projected out in two (2) month increments.

Task 1.4 Coordination and Communication with Reclamation Project Team

Coordination with Reclamation’s Project Manager and/or technical cultural resource specialist(s) to communicate when delays or cultural resource requirements may prove a critical path item to the completion of the overall project.

Task 1.5 Daily Project Task Activity Coordination

Coordination of daily task order activities by the contractor’s staff and contractor team, document review, and quality assurance/quality control of work prepared for this purchase order.

Task 1.6 Management and Maintenance of Electronic Documents

Management and maintenance of an electronic document library providing bound hard copies of reporting and documentation upon request.

Task 1.7 Progress Reports with Schedule and Budget Updates

Preparation of monthly Progress Reports outlining activities of the previous month by sub-task, activities anticipated for the current month by sub-task, an updated master schedule, issues or topics of concern, estimated expenses projected out by month for two (2) months out, a monthly invoice, and quarterly accruals.

Task 1.8 Project Meetings

The contractor’s Project Manager and Project Coordinator shall be available to participate in purchase order status and coordination calls every two (2) to four (4) weeks to review progress (or as needed) and plan for upcoming activities with the Reclamation Project Manager and other Implementing Agency staff as appropriate. The contractor’s Project Manager and/or Project Coordinator shall attend periodic in-person meetings on an as needed basis in lieu of the purchase order status and coordination call in order to review progress and plan for upcoming activities with the Reclamation Project Manager, Regional Cultural Resource Officer, cultural resources specialist(s), and other Reclamation staff. Meetings can be conducted in-person, via telephone, or via computer-based program, such as Microsoft (MS) Teams, Zoom, etc.

Task 1.9 Acquisition of Authorizations

The contractor shall acquire all permits, permissions to enter, or other required authorization prior to the commencement of fieldwork.

The contractor is expected to carry personal identification and when adjacent to private property and approached will explain the visit with utmost politeness to landowners. Further, when adjacent to private property the contractor staff shall conduct all work between the hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, unless other arrangements were previously agreed upon. Equipment fuel, oil, breakdown, and maintenance is the responsibility of the equipment owner and should be included in the submitted hourly rate.

The contractor shall comply with all applicable regulations including those regarding human remains, Reclamation’s visual identity standards, and permit requirements necessary to complete the tasks below. Permits for subsurface investigations with excavation could include NEPA and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, as well as potentially coordinating with Reclamation to comply with Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA; 25 U.S.C. § 3001, et seq.).

Human Remains: There are different laws regarding the disposition of human remains on private and State-owned lands versus those lands under the ownership of Reclamation. It is important to understand who owns the property prior to conducting fieldwork. Reclamation often retains the fee title or land ownership jurisdiction over a parcel of land while another entity (e.g., County, State, or Water District) manages the land or facilities on Reclamation’s behalf. The following is a summary of the applicable laws that govern how human remains are managed on Reclamation lands.

Federal lands: Human remain discoveries identified on Reclamation-owned lands fall under the purview of NAGPRA (25 U.S.C. § 3001, et seq.).

Source data, including datasets, geospatial data, mapping files, spreadsheets, field notes, and artifact analysis shall be made available to agencies for review, approval, and delivery at each step, in a digital format.

Table 3. Mandatory Task 1 – Project Management and Compliance Deliverable Timeline

Task Deliverable Delivery Method & Format Due Date

1.1 Master schedule Via email or FTP; in Adobe

Acrobat (.pdf) and/or Microsoft (MS) Word (.docx)

30 business days after purchase order kick-off meeting

1.1.1 Updated master schedule Via email or FTP; in Adobe

Acrobat (.pdf) and/or MS Word (.docx)

As needed

1.2 Project-specific schedule Via email or FTP; in Adobe

Acrobat (.pdf) and/or MS Word (.docx)

30 business days after purchase order kick-off meeting

1.3 Monthly expense estimate Via email or FTP; in Adobe

Acrobat (.pdf) and/or MS Word (.docx)

Monthly, projected out in two-month increments

1.7 Progress reports Via email Monthly

1.9 Acquisition of permits, permissions to enter, or other required authorizations

Not applicable Prior to the commencement of any fieldwork

Mandatory Task 2 Delineation of the Area of Potential Effects

Task 2.1 Delineation of Project-Specific APE

The APE should include the footprint of the project as well as all access roads, material lay-down areas, staging areas, etc. The contractor shall create a standardized professional location and vicinity map using the relevant 7.5-minute United States Geological Survey (USGS) topographic map (typically at a 1:24,000 scale) and an APE map on a photographic aerial background. The narrative description of the APE in the reporting (i.e., contained within deliverable under tasks 4.2.2 and 4.2.3) shall include the vertical APE in addition to the horizontal APE (i.e., maximum depth of ground disturbance for the project).

Task 2.2 Submittal of Draft Mapping

As part of the coordination effort, the contractor shall produce draft vicinity, location, and APE maps per discussions with Reclamation for Reclamation cultural staff review. These maps must be completed and agreed upon prior to the commencement of the record search or fieldwork.

Table 4. Mandatory Task 2 – Delineation of APE Deliverable Timeline

Task Deliverable Delivery Method & Format

Due Date

2.1 Delineation of APE Not applicable Prior to the commencement of record search or fieldwork and in consultation with the COR

2.2 Submittal of draft location, vicinity, and APE maps

Via email or FTP; in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) and/or MS Word (.docx)

Prior to the commencement of record search or fieldwork

Mandatory Task 3 Archival Research, Records Review, and Background Research

Task 3.1 Record Search of APE

The contractor shall analyze available geological and archaeological publications, maps, and digital databases relevant for developing a temporal and spatial understanding of the major depositional landforms within the project APE. Available archaeological and ethnographic data within the study area shall also be analyzed. In addition, the contractor shall conduct a records search of the APE at the appropriate state facility (i.e., Nevada Cultural Resource Information System [NVCRIS]). A records search shall include no less than a ½-mile buffer around the APE dependent on the size and scope of the undertaking. Other appropriate pre-field and archival research sources shall be conducted, which may include university and public libraries, city halls, county courthouses, historical societies, museums, and historic maps. Other research resources, such as Reclamation’s cultural resources files, may also be utilized.

Task 3.1.1 Summary Brief of Record Search Results

The contractor shall provide Reclamation with a summary of their record search results for the project 45 business days from original request.

Task 3.2 Develop Background Contexts

The contractor shall develop comprehensive background contexts for the following relevant topics:

• Archaeological;

• Geoarchaeological;

• Historic;

• Built environment/architectural history; and

• Ethnographic.

Note that the historic context should be applicable to the cultural resources identified during the inventory efforts to provide relevant background material to inform National Register-eligibility of those identified resources. Built environment features, such as buildings, water conveyance systems, manipulated natural landscapes, roads, bridges, and other culturally-modified objects and structures, will be identified, evaluated, and considered. A list of buildings, structures, and/or objects is to be included in the cultural resources report that could be considered for National Register eligibility consistent with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Archeology and Historic Preservation (48 Federal Register [FR] 44716).

The historic context guides the research design and the historical context/archival research and records review deliverable should:

• discuss themes that can be studied within the APE;

• present research questions specific to the region;

• summarize the results of the records review and historic context for all five (5) general topics discussed above;

• describe methods to identify and record cultural resources in additional field studies (if recommended), which may include both surface and subsurface resources;

• discuss the criteria by which all cultural resources will be evaluated for possible inclusion in the National Register; and

• describe attributes by which buried resource sensitivity will be determined.

Task 3.3 Geoarchaeological Sensitivity Model Development and Analysis

As stated previously, what qualifies as a comprehensive identification effort under Nevada state law and/or NEPA does not meet the same standards under Section 106. In order to meet Reclamation’s standard of a good, faith effort to identify potential historic properties, we require the development of a geoarchaeological sensitivity model and a narrative of the analysis conducted for each project. The model should include variables such as the distance to water factor, surface soil and landform age, known archaeological site locations, historic water coarse mapping and other historic mapping, etc. These variables should be incorporated into a model that helps guide the contractor towards a buried site sensitivity model to aid in the selection of locations for subsurface testing. See Appendix C for Reclamation’s General Scope of Work for Cultural Resource Investigations: Identification of Buried Cultural Resources for additional guidance.

If a lack of buried site potential can be supported through a desktop geoarchaeological model, the buried site investigation section of the cultural resources report will be complete with a discussion of this model analysis. Criteria may include:

• No potential for buried deposits (such as all Pleistocene-aged or older sediments);

• The proposed disturbance is so shallow (generally less than 12 inches) that a surface survey will show an adequate surface manifestation of any shallowly buried deposit;

• The proposed disturbance is entirely within historically-deposited fill that can be documented as such (e.g., a canal berm, earthen dam, documented area of fill, historic-era sedimentation not in-situ, etc.);

• If the assessment determines that there is the potential for buried deposits or subsurface manifestations of a surficial archaeological site and the project scope suggests there is a potential to disturb these resources, surface or subsurface ground truthing may be required to investigate those landforms that are likely to contain buried archaeological resources within the vertical APE or area of direct impact.

Task 3.3.1 Desktop Geoarchaeological Analyses

Prior to the commencement of fieldwork, the contractor shall conduct desktop analyses of the subject project area to help guide their identification and inventory efforts.

Task 3.4 Draft Background Research Narrative

Thirty (30) business days after request, the contractor shall submit a draft narrative describing the methods and results of the background research, record search results, and geoarchaeological modeling analyses to Reclamation cultural staff.

Table 5. Mandatory Task 3 – Background Research Deliverable Timeline

Task Deliverable Delivery Method & Format Due Date

3.1 Conduct record search of APE Not applicable One month prior to commencement of fieldwork

3.1.1 Summary brief of record

search findings

Via email or FTP; in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) and/or MS Word (.docx)

45 business days after request

3.2 Draft background context(s)

for subject project

Via email or FTP; in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) and/or MS Word (.docx)

To be determined

(TBD)

3.3 Geoarchaeological sensitivity

model development and desktop analysis

Not applicable One month prior to commencement of fieldwork

3.4 Draft background research, record search results, and geoarchaeological modeling report narrative (for eventual inclusion in tasks 4.2.1, 4.2.2, and 4.2.3)

Via email or FTP; in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) and/or MS Word (.docx)

30 business days after request

Mandatory Task 4.1 Cultural Resources Surveys

Task 4.1.1 Identification Work Plan

The contractor shall produce and submit to Reclamation for review a cultural resources survey and historic properties identification work plan describing the proposed methods, schedule for fieldwork and deliverables.

Tasks 4.1.2 Cultural Resource Survey(s) and Mobilization

The contractor shall conduct pedestrian survey(s) for the 25,676 acres of Reclamation lands proposed for this project. Also noted here is that surveys and subsequent reporting for the overall project area may be phased dependent on Reclamation priorities. Field notes will be taken during all pedestrian surveys and provided to Reclamation with the draft cultural resources inventory/evaluation report(s). The inventory will be consistent with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Archeology and Historic Preservation (48 CFR 44716- 44742). Although entire survey area is Reclamation land, access to some locations may require coordination with the Reclamation regional office or LBAO.

Task 4.1.3 Field Resource/Site Recordation

All archaeological and architectural resources identified during surface and/or subsurface surveys will be recorded on the appropriate NVSHPO forms. The inventory will be consistent with the Secretary of Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Archeology and Historic Preservation (48 CFR 44716-44742).

Task 4.1.4 Summary Brief of Inventory Efforts

The contractor shall provide Reclamation with a summary of their survey results for the project.

Approximately 45 business days after fieldwork is complete, the contractor shall submit an inventory summary brief to the assigned Reclamation cultural staff discussing the preliminary findings of the inventory effort.

Example Cultural Resources Inventory Report Outline I. Introduction: description of the project, purpose and goal of the investigation, the project vicinity, location and the APE (includes associated mapping)

II. Background Contexts: Geographic, prehistoric, ethnographic, historical, geoarchaeological contexts

III. Methods: proposed approach for historic properties identification, National

Register evaluation, including research questions, themes, buried resources potential criteria and National Registry eligibility criteria

IV. Records Results: records review inventory

V. Field Results: field inventory, subsurface investigation results (if applicable)

VI. Conclusions and Recommendations: determinations of National Register eligibility, application of Criteria of Adverse Effect, finding of effect analysis, recommendations for treatments, etc.

VII. Field Visit Documentation Appendix: attendees, data collected, field notes, tracking documentation, and photos

VIII. Numerical Analysis Appendix: computations, GIS layers (see Geospatial Data section below) and results

IX. Record Search Results Appendix: Site records, mapping, correspondence, study inventory, etc.

X. Newly Identified Site Records Appendix: NVSHPO forms for all newly identified or updated resources

Table 6. Mandatory Task 4.1 - Cultural Resources Surveys Deliverable Timeline

Task Deliverable Delivery Method & Format Due Date

4.1.1 Identification work plan Via email or FTP; in Adobe

Acrobat (.pdf) and/or MS Word (.docx)

45 business days from request

4.1.2 Fieldwork mobilization and

cultural resources inventory survey(s)

Not applicable 60 business days after request

4.1.3 Field resource/site recordation Not applicable Conducted during pedestrian survey(s)

4.1.4 Summary brief of inventory

efforts

Via email or FTP; in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) and/or MS Word (.docx)

45 business days after fieldwork complete

Optional Task 4.2 Cultural Resources Surveys Reporting

Task 4.2.1 Cultural Resource Site Record Production

Site records and mapping will be typed and written to a professional standard on the appropriate NVSHPO forms and submitted to the Reclamation cultural technical specialist(s) for review. If built environment resources are identified, the associated site records should include a full evaluation effort of the resource, including appropriate historic contexts. Mapping should include location, vicinity, and APE maps using the appropriate USGS topographic maps and aerial photography. NVSHPO forms submitted for review should be subject to a quality assurance/quality control review prior to transmittal to the COR. Approximately 45 business days after fieldwork is complete, the contractor shall submit a cultural resources summary brief to the assigned Reclamation cultural staff discussing the preliminary findings of the inventory effort.

Tasks 4.2.2 and 4.2.3 Draft and Final Cultural Resource Technical Reporting

The contractor shall write a standardized professional report detailing the results of the inventory and National Register evaluation efforts, including the archival research, records search, application of National Register criteria, surveys, investigations, findings, and recommendations for finding of effect on historic properties pursuant to 36 CFR § 800.4. This report should meet the Secretary of Interior Standards and Guidelines, NVSHPO’s reporting guidelines, and Reclamation’s Directives and Standards for cultural resource management (LND 02-01 [http://www.usbr.gov/cultural/recpolicies.html]). Recommendations regarding Section 106 findings of effect will be developed following 36 CFR § 800.4. Reporting submitted for review should be subject to a quality assurance/quality control review prior to transmittal to the COR.

National Register eligibility determinations should be based on information available in the historic context of the report and utilize the National Register criteria as outlined at 36 CFR §

60.4 (see Appendix B). Note that additional National Register eligibility guidance is available in the National Register Bulletins available on the National Park Service website (https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/publications.htm). Application of the 50 year or younger criterion for National Register evaluation, including the criteria outlined in 36 CFR § 60.4(g), shall take into consideration whether or not the cultural resources have achieved exceptional significance in the last 50 years.

For each final report (task 4.2.3), the contractor shall provide three (3) to five (5) bound hard copies (exact number TBD) through coordination with the COR and digital files in MS Word and PDF, photographs, and maps. All documents and data will be transferred to Reclamation via email, FTP, and/or CD/DVD.

Task 4.2.4 Grazing Effect Assessment Analysis

The contractor shall be required to provide recommendations on resource determinations of eligibility and an undertaking’s finding of effect on historic properties to satisfy compliance with Section 106 as it relates to the Grazing Effect Assessment (GEA). A GEA shall be required for each pasture or subarea subject to this PWS. Considerations will include the locations of any Livestock Congregation Areas (LCAs) and/or other High-Impact Grazing Activity Areas (High-

Impact Areas) within the site boundaries and the relative sensitivity of the site or instability of the site sediments. High Impact Areas may include corrals, loading chutes, handling structures, water stations, feeding troughs, salting areas, stock ponds, or fence lines. A Low-Impact Grazing Activity Area (LIA) on sites, other than general grazing locations, will also be considered as will geologic stability of site sediments. The GEA will be used to document the potential for adversely affecting the identified site and subsequently the level of historic property identification efforts required for the recorded resource. Based on the anticipated intensity of potential impacts or effects from grazing activities, Reclamation will determine if additional historic property identification efforts are required in order to avoid, minimize, or mitigate any identified adverse effects from grazing. If an LCA or LIA cannot be identified, the GEA will assume the site is situated in an LIA.

Task 4.2.5 Geospatial Data

Geospatial data will be generated for Reclamation, including representations of the project APE, survey coverage, and all identified cultural resources within and/or adjacent the project APE. For cultural resources previously recorded but not updated/relocated as part of the current project effort, the contractor should generate/digitize the most recently documented site boundary (these files can be requested during the record search from the NVCRIS website and provided to Reclamation). Except for isolated finds—which may be represented in a single GIS layer by point feature(s)—each cultural resource should be a single feature and must be represented by a polygon. Spatial data representing specific resource components (e.g., artifacts, features, etc.)

may also be submitted as point, line, and/or polygon features, but are not required. Reclamation will accept geospatial data delivered in an appropriate digital format, as well as direct electronic submission via email or FTP site. Other delivery methods may be allowed if these requirements present a significant burden or as technology changes.

The preferred format for vector data submitted to the Reclamation is Esri ArcGIS Pro file format.

Other vector data formats (e.g., Google Earth .kmz files) may also be acceptable but must be approved by the COR in advance. All deliverable spatial data shall be in the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) coordinate system (either UTM Zone 10N or 11N, as appropriate) and referenced to North American Datum 1983 (NAD83). Horizontal units should be provided in meters, while vertical units (if employed) should be in US feet. Geospatial data deliverables will be delivered preferably as individual shapefiles (packaged via WinZip as a .zip file) but may be delivered as an Esri geodatabase (.gdb).

Attribute tables for feature types must minimally include the data fields, appropriately populated, as described in Table 8.

Optional Task 4.3 Cultural Resources Surveys Additional Efforts – Surveying

Task 4.3.1 Additional Identification Efforts: Surveying

There may be a possibility of identification efforts needed for up to 10,000 additional acres within the Newlands Project area, generally around Fernley and Fallon Nevada. See attachment 1 Figure 4 for location information. If Reclamation chooses to exercise this optional task, the contractor would be required to complete all items under mandatory task 4.1 (subtasks 4.1.1 through 4.1.4) for these additional pasturelands. The need for these additional identification efforts would be dependent on Reclamation’s priorities.

Optional Task 4.4 Cultural Resources Surveys Additional Efforts – Reporting

Task 4.4.1 Additional Identification Efforts: Reporting

There may be a possibility of identification efforts needed for up to 10,000 additional acres within the Newlands Project area, generally around Fernley and Fallon, Nevada. See Attachment 1, Figure 4 for location information. If Reclamation chooses to exercise this optional task, the contractor would be required to complete all items under optional task 4.2 (subtasks 4.2.1 through 4.2.5) for these additional pasturelands. The need for these additional identification efforts would be dependent on Reclamation’s priorities.

If this additional survey work is reported separately from identification efforts described in reporting completed under tasks 4.2.2 and 4.2.3, the contractor shall provide three (3) to five (5) bound hard copies (exact number to be determined) through coordination with the COR and digital files in MS Word and PDF, photographs, and maps. All documents and data will be transferred to Reclamation via email, FTP, and/or CD/DVD.

Table 7. Optional Tasks 4.2, 4.3, and 4.4 - Cultural Resources Surveys Reporting and Additional Efforts Deliverable Timeline

Task Deliverable Delivery Method & Format Due Date

4.2.1 Cultural resource site record

production Via email or FTP; in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) and/or MS Word (.docx)

90 business days after notice to proceed for Task 4.1.2 (or Task 4.2.1), after surveys complete

4.2.2 Draft cultural resources

technical report

Via email or FTP; in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) and/or MS Word (.docx)

90 business days after notice to proceed for Task 4.1.2 (or Task 4.2.1), after surveys complete

4.2.3 Final cultural resources

technical report

Via email or FTP; in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) and/or MS Word (.docx)

Within 15 business days upon Reclamation’s approval of the report for finalization

4.2.4 Grazing effect assessment

analysis

Via email or FTP; in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) and/or MS Word (.docx)

90 business days after notice to proceed for Task 4.1.2 (or Task 4.2.1), after surveys complete

4.2.5 Geospatial data Via email or FTP, in Esri

ArcGIS Pro

120 business days after notice to proceed for Task

4.1.2 (or Task 4.2.1)

4.3.1 Additional fieldwork

mobilization and cultural resources inventory survey(s)

Not applicable 60 business days after request

4.4.1 Additional identification

reporting

Via email or FTP; in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) and/or MS Word (.docx)

90 business days after notice to proceed for Task 4.3.1, after surveys complete

Table 8. GIS Data Meta Data Cataloguing

Area of Potential Effects

Field Type Definition

BOR_Pr_ID Text Contains Reclamation project tracking designation, without spaces or special characters (e.g. 20LBAO025)

Acres Double Set Field Properties as follows: Precision=10; Scale=5

Survey Coverage

Field Type Definition

BOR_Pr_ID Text Contains Reclamation project tracking designation, without spaces or special characters (e.g.

20LBAO025)

Acres Double Set Field Properties as follows: Precision=10;

Scale=5

Year Short Integer Contains four-character year of survey (e.g. 2020)

Survey Method

Text Contains coded survey method, as follows:

1 – Pedestrian / surface survey 2 – Shovel testing 3 – Excavation units 4 – Geomorphological survey 5 – Geophysical survey 6 – Other survey method 7 – Not surveyed 8 – Not surveyable (e.g. wetland, steep slope, etc.)

9 – No access 10 – Literature/map search, but no field survey

Contract Text Name of agency, organization, or contractor performing survey

Cultural Resources

Field Type Definition

BOR_ID Text Contains sequential project-based Reclamation resource designation without spaces or special characters (e.g. 20LB025001). Reclamation Resource designation instructions provided upon project award.

Other_ID Text Contains other state/agency/organization conferred resource designations, if applicable.

Acres Double Set Field Properties as follows: Precision=10;

Scale=5

Era Text Contains coded resource period, as follows:

1 – Prehistoric 2 – Historic 3 – Protohistoric 4 – Multi-Component 5 – Other

Description Text Includes short summary of site type and components

10.0 Performance Assessment and Disincentives

a) Monitoring Performance: During the course of the evaluation period, the COR will track the contractor’s performance. Interim (mid-term) evaluations may be provided to identify strengths and weaknesses in the contractor's performance during the period being evaluated. At the end of the period, the COR will assess the contractor's performance in accordance with the Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) and report to the Contracting Officer (CO).

b) Contractor Self-Assessment: Following each evaluation period, the contractor may provide a written self-assessment of their performance to the COR to be considered in its report to the CO. The self-assessment shall be submitted no later than five (5) working days after the end of each evaluation period. The self-evaluation shall not exceed one page per Performance Requirement Summary (PRS) element. The self-assessment shall address both the strengths and weaknesses of the contractor's performance during the evaluation period. Where deficiencies in performance are noted, the contractor shall describe the actions planned or taken to correct such deficiencies and avoid their recurrence. The self-assessment itself will NOT be the basis for the disincentives determination.

c) COR Recommendation: The COR will consider all evaluations and any other pertinent information, including the contractor self-assessment, and will prepare a report to the CO with findings and recommendations. The contractor will be provided a copy of the draft findings and recommendations of the COR and will be afforded the opportunity to identify factual errors. The COR's draft recommendation is not subject to negotiation and the COR will not engage in discussions with the contractor. Any errors identified by the contractor will be addressed by the COR in its final report. The contractor will be provided a copy of the final COR report at the same time the report is submitted to the

CO.

d) Payment Determination: The CO may meet with the COR to discuss the COR's report. The CO will make a final determination in writing as to the percentage of work successfully completed and the resulting payment to be made. A copy of the determination will be provided to the contractor no later than forty-five (45) calendar days after the end of the period being evaluated. All CO decisions regarding disincentives are unilateral decisions made solely at the discretion of the government.

e) Deduction: Notwithstanding any other clause of this purchase order, deduction of the disincentive will be made within of sixty (60) calendar days after the end of the evaluation period or thirty (30) calendar days after receipt of an approved invoice.

f) Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan: The QASP is one evaluation method the government uses to surveil performance to determine whether the contractor meets the standards of performance as defined in the PWS. The absence of a QASP for any purchase order requirement, however, shall not detract from its enforceability or limit the rights or remedies of the government under any other provision of the purchase order in determining the quality of the contractor’s performance.

PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS SUMMARY AND

QUALITY ASSURANCE SURVIELLANCE PLAN

Performance Requirement Summary

Acceptable Quality Level

Method of Surveillance

Deduction

Timeliness

Deliverables are provided in a timely manner and are submitted by the date required 98% of the time.

Comparison of the submittal date to the need date.

Periodic COR surveillance.

Contractor does not meet 98% timeliness threshold in “Acceptable Quality Level,” or a deliverable has to be substantially revised to meet Section 106 requirements.

2% deduction to the month’s invoice.

Quality Deliverables do not require rewriting by the government to meet Section 106 standards, guidelines, and regulations as

Review of deliverables by Reclamation cultural resources staff.

Periodic COR surveillance.

A deliverable has to be substantially revised to meet Section 106 requirements.

Rejection of the month’s invoice for failing to described in the tasks above.

meet the terms of the purchase order.

11.0 Attachments

Attachment 1 - Maps Attachment 2 - Appendix A Attachment 3 - Appendix B Attachment 4 - Appendix C