Capacity and collab SOW FINAL 08232022 FINAL.pdf

DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK

Capacity Building and Collaboration with the Aquinnah and Mashpee Wampanoag Tribes

1. PURPOSE

The passage of the 2005 Energy Policy Act has increased interest in renewable energy development on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), and BOEM has issued leases for offshore wind. To better understand the potential impacts that BOEM-approved actions may have on submerged cultural landforms, science-based analysis of these resources, in addition to the involvement of Tribal communities, is necessary. The purpose of this study is to engage through capacity building and collaboration with the Mashpee and Aquinnah Wampanoag tribal nations (the Tribes) in a meaningful way so that they may actively participate in the monitoring and management of sites of archaeological and cultural importance. There are three critical elements that will facilitate BOEM’s further engagement while providing the tribes the requisite tools, training, and support while building upon and improving avoidance and mitigation measures for sites either eligible or listed to the National Register. The three critical elements include support for the formal nomination of Nantucket Sound as a National Landmark District, technology and equipment to develop GIS based mapping products and databases to monitor the location of archaeological sites and traditional cultural properties, and training in the monitoring and documentation of submerged archaeological sites identified as a result of high-resolution remote sensing surveys submitted in support of Construction and Operations Plans (COPs).

2. BACKGROUND

BOEM, an agency of the U.S. Department of the Interior, is charged with considering the effects of its approved actions on cultural resources that are listed or eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). The most pertinent of these laws are the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966 (as amended), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (as amended), and the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) of 1978. Through Section 106 and Government to Government Consultations with the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head Aquinnah (Aquinnah) and the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe (Mashpee) have identified areas of importance and concern in areas where Wind Energy development is expected to occur.

Moreover, high-resolution remote-sensing surveys have identified the presence of ancient, submerged landforms that correlate with both tribes' oral histories and traditions. Further work is necessary to enable the Tribes to actively monitor and manage archaeological and cultural sites that may be impacted by BOEM approved activities. BOEM will work with and provide support to the Tribes so that research methodologies may be developed to manage and monitor places of cultural and archaeological importance in Areas of Potential Effect. This will include three critical tasks: the development of a GIS database based on technical data from COPs, and the incorporation of traditional knowledge and oral histories; providing support in the formal nomination of Nantucket Sound as a National Historic Landmark; and provide formal training in the identification and documentation of archaeological sites once construction operations are completed.

3. OBJECTIVES

The overall goal of this cooperative agreement is to develop and provide capacity to the Tribes so that they have the capabilities to manage and analyze the requisite environmental information supplied to them by offshore wind energy developers. Moreover, this will facilitate more effective collaboration between BOEM and these tribes. The specific objectives that will enable BOEM to accomplish this goal during this study are:

1) To develop pro-active, best practices for the management of data and information concerning cultural and archaeological places important to both the Tribes. These will include the review and analysis of technical data provided by offshore wind energy developers in support of their COPs for projects located offshore of Aquinnah and Mashpee lands. This information will be used to inventory and monitor adverse effects to those ancient, submerged landforms and traditional cultural properties and associated areas of significance that BOEM must consider during future scoping efforts of the offshore renewable energy developments.

2) Incorporate indigenous knowledge and language with remote-sensing and bathymetry data collected from these areas into a model depicting the preservation potential of submerged ancient cultural landforms and associated archaeological resources, as appropriate.

3) To work and collaborate with tribal nations to train them to actively participate in the scoping, monitoring and documentation offshore cultural and archaeological resources that may be impacted as a result of BOEM’s approval of activities and undertakings.

4. STATEMENT OF WORK

Information acquired from this project will assist BOEM under its historic preservation mandates with identifying and preserving cultural heritage sites and traditional cultural properties along the northeast coast of the US relative to the North Atlantic OSW lease area. A five (5)-year project proposal shall be developed to address the objectives listed above and the tasks listed below.

BOEM estimates a maximum of $490,000 will be available for this project. This amount includes preparing a research design; logistics, communications, administration, and project management; obtaining any necessary permits or approvals; scheduling, conducting, and managing Tribal consultation meetings; acquisition of technology and tools; research cruise planning, mobilization, performance, and demobilization; and report writing, all of which are the responsibility of the Recipient.

5. TASKS

1) Schedule and host a workshop(s) with the Tribes to discuss project goals and specific technological needs,

2) Identify a process for the Tribes which will facilitate the completion of the nomination of Nantucket Sound as a National Historic Landmark. At a minimum, BOEM working with the tribes, will identify what is required to complete the National Historic Landmark application, provide support to complete the requisite research, and if needed supply assistance to the Tribes to finalize the nomination.

3) Identify technological and training needs for the Tribes to develop and maintain databases and GIS platforms to inventory, analyze, and monitor submerged ancient landforms located offshore on ancestral lands. This task will enable tribes to utilize data sets provided to the Tribes and BOEM by developers in support of COP submittals.

4) Facilitate training and equipment needs to the Tribes so that they may conduct diver visual inspections of landforms identified in the Developer’s COP submittals.

6. SCIENTIFIC INTEGRITY POLICY

Scientific integrity is vital to Department of the Interior (DOI) activities under which scientific research, data, summaries, syntheses, interpretations, presentations, and/or publications are developed and used. Failure to uphold the highest degree of scientific integrity will result not only in potentially flawed scientific results, interpretations, and applications, but will damage DOI's reputation and ability to uphold the public's trust. All work performed must comply with the DOI Scientific Integrity Policy posted at https://www.doi.gov/scientificintegrity or its equivalent as provided by their organization or State law.

7. DESCRIPTION OF MEETINGS, REPORTS, AND OTHER DELIVERABLES

All deliverables shall be submitted, and meetings held in accordance with the schedules specified below in Section 8. The Recipient is responsible for editing and proofreading all material in order to prepare error-free products prior to their delivery to BOEM. Materials submitted to BOEM with errors will not be accepted and will be returned as unsuitable. All deliverables should be submitted in electronic (.pdf and Microsoft Word .docx) versions unless indicated otherwise in the following descriptions.

Post-Award Meeting and Summary: Both the Tribes and BOEM shall hold a Post-Award Meeting at a mutually-agreeable location or through a virtual meeting or by phone no later than fourteen (14) calendar days after award at a time and day that is mutually-agreeable to BOEM and the Recipient. Additionally, both BOEM and the Tribes will submit a Meeting Agenda no later than seven (7) calendar days prior to the meeting to allow for review by all involved.

Finally, both BOEM and the Tribes shall prepare and submit a draft Meeting Summary including action items such as suggested changes, modifications, and other items of discussions, along with suggested actions or remedies within one (1) calendar month of adjourning the meeting. Any changes that might affect the Agreement are subject to approval in writing by the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) Contracting Officer (CO). A copy of the final Meeting Summary will be supplied to both the Tribes and BOEM within fourteen (14) calendar days.

Field Data: Detailed field notes will be maintained by both BOEM and the Tribes to ensure the methods and analyses used are clearly documented and methodology used recorded.

Copies of the field notes will be shared between BOEM and the Tribes and a memo to file detailing the activities conducted in the field will be submitted to both parties. Both BOEM and the Tribes shall share copies of all data, images, and analyses. Given the sensitive nature of some material, the identification of archaeological site locations must remain confidential and therefore withheld from publicly accessible data sources.

Any shipwreck locations or other underwater cultural heritage discovered during this project are classified as sensitive information and therefore can NOT be publicly indulged with the submitted data.

Georeferenced materials must include appropriate metadata. The metadata records shall conform to the Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata (ISO 19115-1) by the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) or to any format that supersedes it as determined by the FGDC http://www.fgdc.gov/metadata/csdgm. Profiles and extensions to the standard that have been endorsed by the FGDC shall be used if they are applicable to the data or data products. The metadata records shall contain any and all elements, including those that are considered optional, wherever applicable to the data or data product. The metadata record shall contain sufficient detail to ensure the data or data products can be fully understood for future use and for posterity.

The metadata records shall be delivered free of errors in both content and format. The metadata and records will be subject to review and approval prior to final acceptance by the Government.

Final Summary Document: Both BOEM and the Tribes will prepare a 2-page summary of the tasks were accomplished, a list of purchased equipment, and a table listing individuals who participated in the respective GIS and field training. This information will be shared between all involved parties.

8. DUE DATES AND DISTRIBUTION OF DELIVERABLES

Deliverable Distribution Due Date A.1. Post-Award Meeting

Summary(Draft) PO: one (1) electronic copy;

CO: one (1) electronic copy;

ESP Representative:

one (1) electronic copy;

Chief, DES – one

(1) electronic copy

One (1) calendar month after the Post-Award Meeting

A.2. Post-Award Meeting Summary (Final)

PO: one (1) electronic copy;

CO: one (1) electronic copy;

ESP Representative:

one (1) electronic copy;

Chief, DES – one

(1) electronic copy

Fourteen (14) calendar days after receiving any further BOEM comments

B. Copies of field data, images, and analyses

PO: one (1) electronic copy;

CO: notice of transmittal only;

ESP Representative:

notice of transmittal only

To be submitted with the Final Summary Document

C. Final Summary Document PO: one (1) electronic copy;

CO: notice of transmittal only;

ESP Representative:

one (1) electronic copy

Sixty (60) months after award.

All activities and deliverables will be complete within sixty (60) months of award.

9. ADDRESSESS FOR DELIVERABLES

Chief, Division of Environmental Studies

(DES):

environmentalstudiesprogram2@boem.gov

Contracting Officer(CO):

Dominique Bruce-Morton Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 45600 Woodland Road, VAM-OEP Sterling, Virginia 20166 Tel: 703-787-1342 Email: Dominique.Bruce- Morton@bsee.gov

Project Officer (PO):

Dr. Christopher Horrell Marine Archaeologist Office of Renewable Energy Programs Bureau of Ocean Energy Management 45600 Woodland Road, VAM-OEP Sterling, Virginia 20166 Tel: 571-328-4521 Email: Christopher.horrell@boem.gov

Environmental Studies Program (ESP) Representative:

Dr. James Moore Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Environmental Sciences Division 45600 Woodland Road, VAM-OEP Sterling, Virginia 20166 Tel: 703-787-1651 Email: James.Moore@boem.gov

References:

King JW, Robinson DS, Gibson CL, Caccioppoli BJ.

2020 Developing protocols for reconstructing submerged paleocultural landscapes and identifying ancient Native American archaeological sites in submerged environments: final report. Sterling (VA): US Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Office of Renewable Energy. OCS Study BOEM 2020-023. 24p.

Robinson, DS, Gibson CL, Caccioppoli BJ, King JW.

2020. Developing protocols for reconstructing submerged paleocultural landscapes and identifying ancient Native American archaeological sites in submerged environments:

geoarchaeological modeling. Sterling (VA): US Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. OCS Study BOEM 2020-024. 175 p.

Robinson DS, Gibson CL, King JW.

2018. Developing protocols for reconstructing submerged paleocultural landscapes and identifying Native American archaeological sites in submergedenvironments: best practices.

Sterling (VA): U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of OceanEnergy Management, Office of Renewable Energy Programs. OCS Study BOEM 2018-055. 55 p.

mailto:James.Moore@boem.gov