C04 Attachment 1-Statement of Work 2026_01_NM Cultural Resources.pdf

Cultural Resources Inventory of Proposed NRCS Conservation Practices in De Baca, Guadalupe, San Miguel, and Torrance Counties, New Mexico

Natural Resources Conservation Service 100 Sun Avenue NE, Suite 602, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87109

Voice: (505) 761-4400 Fax: (855) 538-6003 An Equal Opportunity Provider, Employer and Lender

STATEMENT OF WORK FOR TASK ORDER No. 2026-01:

CULTURAL RESOURCES INVENTORY OF PROPOSED NRCS

CONSERVATION PRACTICES IN De BACA, GUADALUPE, SAN

MIGUEL, AND TORRANCE COUNTIES, NEW MEXICO

Part I: General Information It is the mission of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to provide leadership in a partnership effort to help people conserve, maintain, and improve our nation’s natural resources and environment. The NRCS accomplishes this mission by providing technical and financial support through a number of federal programs.

A. Introduction/Background

The NRCS is soliciting proposals from Contractors for the completion of an intensive pedestrian cultural resources inventory of four (4) proposed task orders where undertakings are planned. The task orders (project areas) occur on private lands and New Mexico State Trust lands located in De Baca, Guadalupe, San Miguel, and Torrance Counties, New Mexico. For these undertakings, the NRCS New Mexico is providing technical and financial assistance to agricultural producers to implement conservation practices that have potential to affect cultural resources within the delineated project areas. The project areas range in size between 170 and 1,091 acres, with a combined acreage of 2,647 acres. The proposed conservation practices in the project areas are intended to improve overall range conditions, reduce soil losses, improve wildlife habitat, and increase forage production. Because these projects will receive Federal funding from the NRCS through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Bill, the proposed conservation practices are considered undertakings subject to review for potential impacts to historic properties under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). Identification of cultural resources within the area of potential effects (APE) is therefore necessary before implementation of the proposed conservation practices may occur.

B. Scope

Contractors will complete an intensive pedestrian cultural resources inventory of the indicated APEs to identify historic properties that may be adversely affected as a result of the proposed undertaking(s). As stated previously, and as shown on the attached project maps, the APE’s for the projects total 2,647 acres of private and New Mexico State Trust lands located in De Baca, Guadalupe, San Miguel, and Torrance Counties, New Mexico. The planned conservation practices and standard buffers guided the development of the APE for the purposes of these projects.

Prior to commencing the pedestrian inventory, Contractors will complete a review of records for information for each task order regarding previous cultural resources inventories and previously recorded cultural resource sites. Contractors must also notify the New Mexico State Trust Lands Cultural Resource

Officer of planned surveys on State Trust lands with the required 15-day notice of intent to survey. All cultural resources identified within the APE’s shall be documented according to professional standards and identified cultural resources shall be evaluated for listing on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Contractors will be required to complete and submit to the NRCS all appropriate cultural resource documentation, as well as separate written reports detailing the inventory of each task order.

Reports shall be completed to professional standards following guidance outlined in New Mexico Administration Code (NMAC) 4.10.15. Contractors will also be required to submit all electronic data (e.g., GIS shapefiles, digital images, etc.) collected during the pedestrian inventory.

C. Applicable Documents

Procedures for complying with the aforementioned mandates are outlined in the following references:

• Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), as amended.

• 36 CFR 800; Protection of Historic Properties

• Archaeology and Historic Preservation: Secretary of Interior’s Standards and Guidelines

• NRCS National Cultural Resources Procedures Handbook

• NRCS General Manual 420, Part 401

• NRCS National Environmental Compliance Handbook

• New Mexico Cultural Properties Act

• New Mexico Administrative Code 4.10.8 and 4.10.15

Information on Section 106 of the NHPA, 36 CFR 800 and the Secretary of Interior’s Standards and Guidelines is available from the following National Park Service website:

http://www.cr.nps.gov/linklaws.htm. The NRCS documents may be obtained from the National Cultural Resources website: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/cultural.html. State of New Mexico documents can be accessed from the New Mexico Historic Preservation Division website:

http://www.nmhistoricpreservation.org/

Part II: Work Requirements Contractors shall provide sufficient information for each project to enable the NRCS to remain in compliance with Federal and state cultural resources laws for the completion of these undertakings.

Contractors shall warrant that the provided cultural resources services will comply with all applicable Federal, State, and local laws and requirements, and shall be consistent with NRCS cultural resources program goals and objectives. All work must be performed in accordance with the “Secretary of Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Archaeology and Historic Preservation” and NMAC 4.10.15 (Standards for Survey and Inventory). The NRCS retains the responsibility for all decision-making and consultation required of Federal agencies related to compliance with cultural resources protection laws and regulations.

Contractors must meet the Secretary of Interior’s professional standards as specified in Section 112(a)(1)(A) of the NHPA and in the implementing regulations for Section 106 of the NHPA at 36 CFR 800.2(a)(1) and 36 CFR 800.2(a)(3). Contractors shall be used in accordance with 36 CFR 800.2(a)(3) (“Use of Contractors”). The Contractor shall furnish all labor, equipment, supervision, materials and incidentals necessary to perform archaeological and historical surveying, recording, mapping, http://www.cr.nps.gov/linklaws.htm http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/cultural.html http://www.nmhistoricpreservation.org/ evaluations, and reporting. The Contractor shall also furnish a qualified Principal Investigator and field directors/crew chiefs in accordance with 36 CFR 61.5 and NMAC 4.10.8.10(A)(1). The Contractor shall ensure that all approvals, authorities, rights, permits, and easements necessary for conducting the cultural resources survey on private land and State Trust lands be obtained prior to initiating fieldwork.

Part III. Technical Requirements A. Pre-Field Work Requirements

Prior to fieldwork, the Contractor will receive Geographic Information System (GIS) shapefiles from the NRCS for each task order that will delineate the area(s) needing survey. Upon receipt of the data, the Contractor shall complete a records review to identify previously recorded cultural resources and to determine the nature of previous archaeological research in the vicinity of the APE. The literature review will primarily focus on records in the New Mexico Cultural Resource Information System (NMCRIS) maintained by the New Mexico Archeological Records Management Section (ARMS), but should also include the NRHP online database, General Land Office (GLO) plat maps, and other sources and data repositories, as necessary and where appropriate. For the purposes of this Statement of Work, the literature review will be limited to cultural resources identified within One-Half Mile of the APE boundary.

Before beginning fieldwork, the Contractor will coordinate with the appropriate NRCS Field Office to schedule fieldwork and secure proper access to the project areas. The Contractor shall also notify the State Land Office’s Cultural Resource Office of the Intent to Survey State Lands, per NMAC 4.10.8.12, when applicable.

B. Pedestrian Inventory Requirements

The quantity of cultural resources inventories of the four task orders totaling 2,647 acres in De Baca, Guadalupe, San Miguel, and Torrance Counties, New Mexico. Contractors will be responsible for designing and completing an intensive pedestrian inventory of each project location to professional standards following standards established in NMAC 4.10.15. In brief, this will consist of using transects spaced no more than 15 meters apart.

The pedestrian inventories shall result in the identification and recordation of cultural resources observable on the surface and in exposed subsurface profiles. For each identified cultural resource, the Contractor shall provide NRCS New Mexico with an overall assessment of site condition and shall also provide NRHP eligibility recommendations following criteria outlined in 36 CFR 60.4. When applicable, limited subsurface survey-level testing is encouraged to assist and support evaluation of subsurface information potential. Determinations of NRHP eligibility will be made by the NRCS in consultation with the New Mexico SHPO, New Mexico State Land Office, and other consulting parties as appropriate.

These consultations will lead to a determination of project effects, and possibly, to the development of mitigation measures.

All field crews shall be directly supervised in the field by a qualified crew leader. Areas that present a potential hazard to the survey crew and/or are extremely unlikely to contain archaeological remains (i.e., excessively steep slopes (>30%), areas overgrown with virtually impenetrable brush, etc.) may be avoided. Areas of extreme health hazard (i.e., hazardous materials, burning fires, etc.) should be avoided, and the location of such areas and should be disclosed to the NRCS. Changes in survey strategy due to environmental conditions shall be discussed with the NRCS point of contact (POC).

Significant changes to the survey strategy shall be approved by the POC prior to making the change.

Artifacts shall not be collected. Recommendations of areas requiring further examination (e.g., subsurface testing or geophysical survey), if any, shall be made to the POC.

C. Cultural Resources Documentation Requirements Documentation for all cultural resources will adequately record the geographic location, physical characteristics, and scientific, historic, archaeological, architectural, traditional, educational, conservation, and interpretive values. For the purposes of this Statement of Work, archaeological sites and isolated occurrences (IOs) are defined using the following parameters:

• Archaeological Site: A site is “the location of a prehistoric or historic occupation or activity, or a building or structure, whether standing or ruined.” A site is anything that falls within the preceding definition and is more than an IO.

• Historic Structure: A historic structure means structures or buildings that are 50 or more years old or properties less than 50 years old that either meet the requirements of national register criteria consideration G or properties that are likely to meet the integrity and significance criteria in 30 CFR 60.3 within 5 years of the date of recording.

• IO: Any non-structural remains of a single event: alternately, any non-structural assemblage of approximately 10 or fewer artifacts within an area of approximately 100 square meters or less.

See NMAC 4.10.15.11 and 4.10.15.12 for guidance regarding recordation of archeological sites and historic structures and NMAC 4.10.15.13 for information regarding recordation of isolates.

If cultural resources are identified during the inventory that do not fall within the parameters noted above, the Contractor shall coordinate with the NRCS POC to determine whether the resource is an archaeological site or an IO.

The Contractor shall review and edit all resource documentation prior to submittal to the POC to ensure that all required forms are properly completed, and all information is legible. Special attention shall be paid to the accuracy of location data (road numbers, distances, directions, UTM, township, range, and section, etc.).

Archaeological Sites

Previously recorded archaeological sites located within project areas shall be revisited, and the site documentation updated and revised as appropriate. All new sites identified during the inventoried must be precisely located on a 1:24,000 scale topographical map and documented on New Mexico Laboratory of Anthropology (LA) archaeological site forms or New Mexico Historic Cultural Properties Inventory (HCPI) forms, as appropriate, according to New Mexico SHPO and ARMS standards. All formally recorded cultural resources will be evaluated for eligibility to the NRHP. Limited subsurface survey-level excavation tests are encouraged to assist and support evaluation of subsurface information potential. A GPS data collector shall be used to record the location of all sites.

Archaeological site documentation must include a detailed sketch map with a legend. Sketch mapping will include all site concentrations, diagnostic artifacts, tools, structures, excavated shovel tests, or features. Each sketch map will include a legend and legal location (i.e., Township, Range, & Section[s]).

Mapping by a transit, total station, tape and compass, or GPS is allowed. The provenience of all surface diagnostic artifacts and tools must be indicated on the site sketch maps. All diagnostic artifacts (chronologically or functionally) shall be photographed and/or drawn, as appropriate.

A minimum of two photographs, displaying different aspects, shall be taken of each site recorded and included in the site documentation. An overall site photo is required, and pertinent diagnostic artifacts should be photographed.

Historical archaeological sites are cultural resources that are likely or possibly 50 years old, even if this age cannot be conclusively proven. Historical archaeological sites shall be recorded, described and mapped in terms of the artifacts and features present (i.e., number and types of tin cans, bottles, wood and metal debris, structures, road or trail remnants, or other artifacts or features). Historic features, e.g., foundations, shall also be recorded as sites.

The Contractor shall review and edit all site documentation prior to submittal to the POC to ensure that all required forms are properly completed, and all information is legible. Special attention shall be paid to the accuracy of location data (road numbers, distances, directions, UTM, township, range, and section.

etc.).

See NMAC 4.10.15.11 for further guidance on recording archeological sites.

Historic Structures

Historic structures and buildings that are likely or possibly 50 years old, even if this age cannot be conclusively proven, shall be documented on appropriate HCPI base and detail forms. Newly reported irrigation ditches, historic trail ruts, railroad grades, or other historic routes, shall be recorded and mapped using appropriate HCPI base and detail forms.

Windmills and other farm/ranching features that are greater than 50 years in age and are not part of archeological sites shall be documented, at a minimum, on an HCPI base form with corresponding photographs, plan map, and location map.

See NMAC 4.10.15.12 for further guidance on recording historic structures.

IOs

Recorded information on an IO shall include the location of the IO (Township, Range and Section and UTM) and a brief description including spatial dimensions for isolates with multiple artifacts. Presentation of information on IOs in a table format within the NIAF and cultural resources report text (if applicable) is acceptable. The location of the isolate shall be marked on a USGS 1:24,000 scale topographic map.

Diagnostic artifacts shall be sketched or photographed, as appropriate.

See NMAC 4.10.15.13 for additional guidance on recording isolates.

D. Reporting and Deliverables Requirements

Upon completion of fieldwork of each task order, the Contractor shall produce a brief status cultural resources report that details the results of the pedestrian inventory. The status report will note the quantity of acres that were inventoried for cultural resources, the number of sites that were identified, and any difficulties that were encountered during fieldwork. The status report may be conveyed to the POC via email.

After submittal of the status report, the Contractor shall prepare a NMCRIS Investigation Abstract Form and separate cultural resource survey report (if required) for each individual task order according to the standards set in NMAC 4.10.15.18, 4.10.15.19, and 4.10.15.20).

The Contractor, as the performing agency on behalf of the NRCS, will be responsible for registering the survey activity into NMCRIS, acquiring any necessary LA or HCPI site numbers, entering the appropriate activity and resource information into NMCRIS, and uploading necessary GIS data into NMCRIS. The ARMS registration fee will be waived via data sharing agreement between NRCS and ARMS.

The Contractor shall furnish the POC with an electronic (pdf) Draft Final Report containing all sections required in the Final Report (see NMAC 4.10.15.18, 4.10.15.19, and 4.10.15.20) and appropriate attachments (completed LA and HCPI documentation) within 45 days following completion of fieldwork.

Delivery of the draft report and resource documentation via email will be accepted.

The Contractor shall provide the POC with electronic copies of the report, archaeological site forms, project photographs, and GIS data (i.e., cultural resources inventory area, archaeological site boundaries, datum points, diagnostic artifacts, IOs, features, etc.) collected during the inventory. The data shall be provided in common formats (.pdf/.doc for reports and resource documentation; .jpeg/.tiff for photographic documentation, etc.). The information can be submitted on CD, DVD, thumb drive, or via email. Contact the NRCS POC if additional information is needed.

E. Period of Performance and Payment

The Contractor shall deliver, for each individual task order, a draft and a final professional survey report and all site documentation as outlined above. The estimated period of performance for this contract is 180 days from date of award. The following performance schedule shall be used as a guideline:

• Fieldwork shall begin on the first task order within 30 days from award of contract. The Contractor shall notify the NRCS POC when the fieldwork is each task order is scheduled and when the fieldwork has been completed.

• A draft report and site forms (if applicable) shall be submitted to the POC for comment no later than 45 days after completion of fieldwork per task order.

• The final report and site forms will be submitted to the POC no later than 15 days after receiving comments from the NRCS.

• Upon approval of the final report, NRCS will submit the final report and site forms to the New

Mexico SHPO for review and concurrence.

• Exceptions for delays due to weather will be allowed, though work must be accomplished as soon as the weather allows. The Contractor shall immediately notify the CO and POC if exceptions to the schedule or specified tasks are required.

Natural Resources Conservation Service 100 Sun Avenue NE, Suite 602, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87109

Voice: (505) 761-4400 Fax: (855) 538-6003 An Equal Opportunity Provider, Employer and Lender

The Contractor shall submit payment request via the Invoice Processing Platform (IPP).

Partial payment may be submitted for each task order following completion of fieldwork (50%), submission of draft report (25%) and upon NRCS receipt, approval, and acceptance of final deliverables (25%).

Part III: Supporting Information A. Confidentiality

Information generated from cultural resource surveys completed on behalf of the NRCS is classified as CONFIDENTIAL. Its distribution and use is restricted. Publication or disclosure of any part of this information is prohibited without the written permission of the NRCS and the agricultural producer.

B. Place of Performance

As stated previously, the four Task Orders total 2,647 acres of private and State Trust lands in De Baca, Guadalupe, San Miguel, and Torrance Counties, New Mexico. Specifically, the Task Orders are located:

Task Order 2026-01A: 1,091 acres of private lands located in De Baca County; Sections 33 and 34 of Township 4 North, Range 20 East; Sections 3 and 4 of Township 3 North, Range 20 East; as portrayed on the El Morro Ranch SE, NM USGS 7.5' Quadrangle; planned by the NRCS Fort Sumner field office.

Task Order 2026-01B: 1,002 acres of private and State Trust lands (lease GT-2678) located in Guadalupe County; Sections 12, 13, and 24 of Township 6 North, Range 20 East; Sections 7, 18, and 19 of Township 6 North, Range 20 East; as portrayed on the Pastura SE, NM, Puerto Creek, NM, and Laguna de los Terrerros, NM USGS 7.5 Quadrangles; planned by the NRCS Santa Rosa field office.

Task Order 2026-01C: 384 acres of private lands located in San Miguel County; Sections 23, 26, 27, 34, and 35 of Township 12 North, Range 15 East; as portrayed on the San Juan,NM USGS 7.5’ Quadrangle; planned by the NRCS Las Vegas field office

Task Order 2026-01D: 170 acres of private lands located in Torrance County; Sections 28 and 29 of Township 2 North, Range 15 East; as portrayed on the Camaleon Draw West, NM and Camaleon Draw East, NM USGS 7.5’ Quadrangles; planned by the NRCS Estancia field office.

C. Special Considerations

The Contractor must advise the NRCS if there are any access restrictions which could delay the work.

NRCS will work with the Contractor and the landowner/administrator to resolve any access issues.

Technical cultural resource questions should be directed to the POC, William Volf, at 505-761-4423.

Contracting questions should be directed to the assigned Contracting Officer.

Changes to task order content, analysis approach, level of effort, schedules and deliverables shall be made in writing by a revision to the task order by the Contracting Officer. These changes must receive written approval from the Contracting Officer before the additional work is commenced.

Camping on the project properties will not be allowed.

This is a firm-fixed-price contract.

2026-01B 1002 ac

2026-01C 384 ac

2026-01D 170 ac

2026-01A 1091 ac

Sources: Esri, Airbus DS, USGS, NGA, NASA, CGIAR, N Robinson, NCEAS, NLS, OS, NMA, Geodatastyrelsen, Rijkswaterstaat, GSA, Geoland, FEMA, Intermap, and the GIS user community, Sources: Esri, TomTom, Garmin, FAO, NOAA, USGS, (c) OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS User Community, Sources: Esri, USGS

F 0 20 40 60 80 10010

Miles

Project areas

Scale: 1:2,000,000

CONFIDENTIAL- NOT FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

2026-01 Project areas - 2,647 acres De Baca, Guadalupe, San Miguel, and Torrance Counties, New Mexico

F 0 10.5

Miles

2026_01A_FTSU_CO

Scale: 1:24,000

CONFIDENTIAL- NOT FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

2026-01A - 1091 acres Fort Sumner Field Office

De Baca County, New Mexico T. 4N R. 20E Sections 33 and 34 T. 3N R. 20E Sections 3 and 4 El Morro Ranch SE, NM USGS 7.5' Quad.

Miles

2026_01B_SARO_AG

Scale: 1:24,000

CONFIDENTIAL- NOT FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

2026-01B - 1002 acres Santa Rosa Field Office

Private and State Trust lands (lease GT-2678) Guadalupe County, New Mexico T. 6N R. 20E Sections 12, 13, and 24 T. 6N R. 20E Sections 7, 18, and 19 Pastura SE, NM, Puerto Creek, NM, and Laguna de los Terrerros, NM USGS 7.5' Quads.

0 0.5 10.25

Miles

2026_01C_LAVE_JR

Scale: 1:24,000

CONFIDENTIAL- NOT FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

2026-01C - 384 acres Las Vegas Field Office

San Miguel County, New Mexico T. 12N R. 15E Sections 23, 26, 27, 34, and 35 San Juan, NM USGS 7.5' Quad.

Miles

2026_01D_ESTA_TC

Scale: 1:24,000

CONFIDENTIAL- NOT FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

2026-01D - 170 acres Estancia Field Office

Torrance County, New Mexico T. 2N R. 15E Sections 28 and 29 Camaleon Draw West, NM and Camaleon Draw East, NM USGS 7.5' Quads.