SCOPE_OF_WORK_-_El_Camino_Real_IP_RFP_FINAL.pdf

Interpretive Planning Request for Proposals El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail

PROJECT BACKGROUND

The El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro is approximately 1500 miles long, extending from Mexico City to the Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo in Northern New Mexico. It represents the primary route between the

Spanish capital of Mexico City and the Spanish provincial capitals at San Juan de Los Caballeros (1598-

1600); San Gabriel (1600-1609); and then Santa Fe (1610-1821). The El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro

National Historic Trail (NHT, or the Trail), as designated, extends 404 miles from El Paso, Texas, to

Ohkay Owingeh, New Mexico. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the National Park Service

(NPS) jointly administer the Trail established by Congress in October 2000 as part of the National

Trails System. Today the public can visit sites and follow segments of the Trail at various locations throughout New Mexico, Texas, and Mexico.

A NHT is a long-distance historic route that shaped the development of the U.S. and whose still existing Trail segments and historic sites allow visitors to experience these defining places of U.S.

history and the stories they tell. NHT’s are different than the hiking trails most of us are familiar with;

NHT’s have not been preserved intact; the underlying story of the historic route is visible and told at sites and segments owned and managed by cooperating federal, state, and local agencies and private organizations and landowners. The NPS only manages one site near the NHT; the New Mexico

Historic Sites (NMHS), the BLM, other agencies and private entities manage the majority of sites.

In April of 2004, The Department of the Interior NPS and BLM agencies developed a Comprehensive

Management Plan (CMP)/ Environmental Impact Statement for the Trail. Key planning objectives established include: management strategies; administrative objectives, policies, and processes; and management actions to fulfil the preservation and public use goals for the Trail. The CMP identified significant visitor and recreation resources, maps, alternative use plans, and high potential historic sites and segments. The CMP represented the best administrative decisions and practices for the protection, use, and enjoyment of visitors and recreation resources along the Trail at the time.

In 2017 the El Camino Real Heritage Center, located on BLM land, and managed by NMHS, closed permanently. Due to this closure the NPS, BLM, NMHS, and Texas Historical Commission (THC) began meeting to discuss how to collaboratively interpret the Trail. While the CMP provides some guidance, missing is comprehensive interpretive guidance. This Request for Proposal for an interpretive plan is one result of these discussions. Funding for this contract is provided by the NPS and the BLM; NMHS and THC are also contributing in other ways. The NPS, BLM, NMHS, and THC are jointly referred to as the “core team” throughout this document and the planning process.

PURPOSE

The purpose of the Request for Proposal (RFP) is to solicit sealed proposals to establish a contract through competitive negotiations for the procurement of interpretive planning services for a

Comprehensive Master Interpretive Plan for the El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic

Trail. The Interpretive Plan will create the basis for a unified approach to interpretation for use by the many agencies, partners and stakeholders along the Trail over the next 5-10 years. The plan shall assist communities along the Trail with the development of their own interpretive activities and media while providing a regional interpretive framework. Developing synergy between the partners and communities along the Trail is key to project success.

SCOPE OF WORK

The interpretive plan will be developed by an interpretive planning & design firm, led by a project manager, and shall be created in accordance with established interpretive planning guidelines, such as: Attachment A, NPS Comprehensive Interpretive Planning; Attachment B, NPS Interpretive Process

Model; the National Association for Interpretation Interpretive Planning guidelines; and

Attachment C, HFC Editorial Style Guide.

The contractor shall provide all services including labor, materials, equipment, facilities, and travel

(except as otherwise specified in this contract) necessary to provide interpretive planning services.

The contractor shall provide the services listed below which support the interpretive planning and/or educational needs of the Trail. Contract administration shall be through the NPS. The contractor shall coordinate planning efforts to include core team.

The contractor shall recognize the variety of resources that make up the Trail, and the mosaic of interpretation currently provided at physical sites and through other means such as digital and social media.

Contractor shall arrange, facilitate, and record all meetings and workshops and provide documentation to the COR, at a minimum, within one week of each event.

All graphics, media, and documents created during this contract shall become the property of the US

Government and shall be in the public domain.

Core Line Item Tasks:

1. Participate in an initial two-day National Historic Trails orientation originating in Santa Fe, NM.

2. Arrange and facilitate an initial one–day project-scoping meeting in Santa Fe, NM.

3. Arrange and facilitate a minimum of three public planning workshops in communities defined in coordination with the core team to gather public input to guide the development of the interpretive plan.

4. Arrange and facilitate a minimum of two virtual public planning workshops to provide planning effort background information and gather public input from those unable to attend in-person meetings.

5. Recommend a portfolio of interpretive media options to expand capacity for telling the Trail stories in a manner that is inclusive to all Trail perspectives and relevant to diverse audiences of mixed race, age, economic status, ancestral connection etc. Contractor will use data collected at public meetings, from core team (which will include information collected through agency consultation with Pueblos and other tribal Nations), and from other stakeholders. The contractor will consider all types of media, including digital and social media; and will consider heritage tourism partnerships relevant to the Trail, in the states of

New Mexico and Texas, while recognizing the need for preservation and the mix of land ownership.

6. Develop strategies to raise local, regional and national visibility and awareness of the significance of the Trail and engagement with it. Recommendations shall address how to reach out to local communities to cultivate awareness, engagement, and to foster appreciation, stewardship values, and support for the historic places along the Trail.

Recommendations shall also address outreach to individuals that will never have the opportunity to visit the Trail (sometimes referred to as "virtual" visitors).

7. Develop strategies that seek to connect the historic sites and segments with existing museums, visitor and interpretive centers, and significant Trail locations and increase interpretive connections between locations along the Trail.

8. Review existing interpretive themes from the 2004 CMP document, and refine and update, as necessary to include missing stories and themes and reflect current interpretive theories.

Develop a simple interpretive theme matrix to help apply the themes in interpretive programming and media to partners and agencies across the Trail.

9. Develop an Excel spreadsheet database of potential new sites and attractions, including potential locations for interpretive media or programming.

10. Develop foundation of potential secondary-level partners that could work together with the core team to implement the results of this planning effort.

11. Coordinate all activities with the core team who will be actively involved in the interpretive planning process. NPS staff will lead the core team. The team will actively share natural and cultural resource expertise, information, and materials (reports, plans, collections, etc.). The core team will review and approve all progress and will submit consolidated comments.

12. Prioritize all recommendations and develop implementation plan based on greatest need, greatest impact, ease of accomplishing, public, agency and stakeholder support, and ease of acquiring needed funding both in short and long term.

Optional Line Items

A. Recommend a portfolio of interpretive media options and heritage tourism partnerships relevant to the Trail that connect to current or future interpretive opportunities in Mexico.

B. Identify target education audiences along the Trail and recommend consistent strategies, products, and services that could be developed to serve these audiences, and focus partner efforts in collaboratively creating, implementing and promoting school curriculum

C. Inventory existing visitor contact points, staffed and unstaffed, along the Trail and develop a

Excel Spreadsheet database of sites and attractions, including any existing waysides or other interpretive media. Database shall include information about use of NHT logos or NHT administering agency as well as condition assessments for interpretive media.

D. Create an online platform where the public can provide comments and feedback outside of the public and virtual meetings. Contractor will propose method of accomplishing and managing this. Proposal shall include period over the life of the project that this platform will be available to the public.

E. Arrange and facilitate more than three public and a maximum of six planning workshops in communities defined in coordination with the core team to gather public input to guide the development of the interpretive plan.

TRAVEL and MEETINGS

The contractor shall provide a trip report to the Contracting Officers Representative outlining the results of all meetings, including minutes of the meeting and highlighting significant decisions.

Post-award Conference Calls:

The contractor shall participate in a post-award conference call with the Contracting Officer and

Contracting Officers Representative (COR) to review the contract and prepare for the project. This conference call shall last no more than one hour.

The contractor shall participate in a minimum of two post-award conference calls with the COR and core team in order to make site-visit planning arrangements. These conference calls shall last no more than one a half hours each.

Orientation Meeting:

The contractor’s project manager and interpretive planners will travel to Santa Fe, NM for a minimum of two 7-hour workdays to attend an orientation to national historic trails administration, introduction to the core team and their unique roles with the Trail. Orientation may include a day visiting trail sites around the Santa Fe area. THC members may join by phone call.

Scoping Meeting:

The contractor’s project manager and interpretive planners will travel to Santa Fe, NM for a minimum of one 8-hour workday to conduct a project-scoping meeting with the core team in Santa Fe, NM at the beginning of the project. THC members may join by phone call. The purpose of this meeting will be to clarify for the contractor the core team’s desires for the project, and address contractor’s concerns or questions about the project and process.

Public Meetings:

Arrange and facilitate from three to six public planning workshops, lasting no more than one day each, to be held at various locations along the Trail that allow for maximum public participation across the length of the US portion of the Trail. The purpose of the workshops will be to gather public input to guide the development of the interpretive plan.

Meetings may be held in vicinity of Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Socorro, and Las Cruces, NM, and El Paso, TX

Virtual Meetings:

Arrange and facilitate a minimum of two virtual planning workshop with the same goal as the public planning workshops that allow public input for those unable to attend the in-person meetings.

Online Participation (Option Item):

Create an online platform where the public can provide comments and feedback outside of the public and virtual meetings.

DELIVERABLES and DESTINATION POINTS

The contractor shall submit to COR by email for review the following items one through twelve:

1. Trip Reports from initial trip (s) to attend orientation and scoping meetings in Santa Fe

- One PDF copy

2. Public Meeting Reports, from both in-person and virtual meetings

- One PDF copy per meeting

3. Portfolio of media options at 50% and 90% completion

- One PDF copy for 50% and 90% submittals

4. Strategies to raise local, regional and national visibility and awareness of the significance of the

Trail and engagement with it at 30%, 60% and 90% completion

- One PDF copy for 30%, 60% and 90% submittals

5. Strategies that seek to connect the historic sites and segments with existing visitor centers and significant sites at 30%, 60% and 90% completion

- One PDF copy for 30%, 60% and 90% completion

6. Interpretive theme matrix at 50% and 90% completion

- One PDF copy for 50% and 90% completion

7. Database in Excel Spreadsheet of potential new sites and attractions, including existing interpretive media at 50% and 90% completion

-One PDF copy at 50% and 90% completion

8. Foundation of potential secondary-level partners that could work together with the core team to implement the results of this planning effort at 50% and 90% completion

-One PDF copy at 50% and 90% completion

9. Prioritized recommendations and implementation strategy at 50% and 90% completion

-One PDF copy at 50% and 90% completion

10. Comprehensive Interpretive Plan Draft and Final Package combining elements of all of the above, with summaries of items one through three.

-One PDF copy of draft

-One PDF copy of final package

-One print-ready version of final package

- One 508-Accessible version for posting online

- All native/raw files organized by category (images, meeting notes, data, maps etc.)

11. Short, colorful, engaging executive summary of the final interpretive plan contents to inform current and future partners about the Trail and encourage implementation of the interpretive planning goals.

- One PDF copy of draft

- One print-ready PDF of final summary

- One 508-Accessible version for posting online

12. Return of:

- All Government-Furnished items

- Any partner furnished items loaned to the contractor

OPTIONAL LINE ITEM DELIVERABLES

A. Recommended interpretive media options and heritage tourism partnerships in Mexico at 50% and

90% completion

- One PDF copy at 50% and 90% completion.

B. Prioritized education recommendations and implementation strategy at 30%, 60% and 90% completion

- One PDF copy at 30%, 60% and 90% completion

C. Database in Excel Spreadsheet format of existing visitor contact points, sites and attractions, including existing interpretive media at 50% and 90% completion

- One PDF copy at 50% and 90% completion

D. Online platform reports.

- One PDF copy summarizing online participation at beginning and end of project

THE CONTRACTOR SHALL SEND DELIVERABLES TO:

NPS Contracting Officers Representative: To be designated

NPS Chief of Interpretation: Carole_Wendler@nps.gov

Return of government- furnished items or any hard-copy materials should be sent attention to the above individuals at::

National Trails Intermountain Region

National Park Service

PO Box 728

Santa Fe, NM 87504-0728

PROVIDED SERVICES AND MATERIALS

As part of the project the core team will plan to provide the following materials or services for the project:

Site to hold initial scoping meeting in Santa Fe, NM

Possible sites to hold some or all public meetings

Historical research materials and subject matter content

GIS services for map development

Content & interpretive experts for review of all content for interpretive approach, historical accuracy, and archeological sensitivity

Core team comments and feedback will be consolidated by NPS, and provided to the contractor in one voice.

NPS and BLM will conduct Pueblo and Tribal consultation with federally recognized tribes simultaneously to the interpretive planning contract. Content from consultation will be provided to contractor as it is received by the agencies

BID SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS

A letter of transmittal and the firm’s proposal with information organized in the same order as requested herein are required.

Name, address, and brief description of the firm

Resumes of the firm’s key personnel and personnel to be assigned to this project

Statement of the firm’s abilities and qualifications to perform the services requested

Description of the proposed method to be used by the firm to complete each line item of the core scope of work and option items

Timeline for completion for the required scope of work, which will include minimum three-week review and approval period by the core team

Proposed cost of providing each line item in scope of work, including option items and referencing deliverables

Description of applicable other projects, complete with references, in evidence that the firm has provided similar services

A maximum of five (5) pages of other information not included above, which may be useful and applicable to providing the requested services

SELECTION CRITERIA

The following selection criteria will be used:

The firm’s history and resources demonstrating capacity and ability to perform the required services.

Related experience of key personnel and of personnel assigned to this project.

Ability to relate to project requirements and NHT unique situations.

Ability to perform the services in a timely manner.

A reference check of previous clients.

CONTACT DETAILS

Direct any specific questions about this project to:

Carole_Wendler@nps.gov or 505 660 3242 or Jeff_Denny@nps.gov at 505 988 6665 mailto:Carole_Wendler@nps.gov mailto:Jeff_Denny@nps.gov

REFERENCES

El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail (U.S. National Park Service) https://www.blm.gov/visit/el-camino-real-nht https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/El_Camino_Real_de_Tierra_Adentro/

Trail management plan

New Mexico Historic Sites: http://www.newmexicoculture.org/historic-sites/

Texas Historical Commission: www.thc.state.tx.us https://www.nps.gov/elca/index.htm https://www.blm.gov/visit/el-camino-real-nht https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/El_Camino_Real_de_Tierra_Adentro/ https://www.nps.gov/elca/learn/management/management-plans.htm http://www.newmexicoculture.org/historic-sites/ http://www.thc.state.tx.us/