DRAFT_PWS_-_Environmental_and_Cultural_Resource_Services_10_24_2023_1.docx

Environmental and Cultural Resource Services Performance Work Statement (PWS) 140R1024R0007 Contents

Environmental and Cultural Resource Services Performance Work Statement Solicitation 140R1024R0007 Environmental and Cultural Resource Services Performance Work Statement Solicitation 140R1024R0007

Draft Revision 7, Edited 10/24/2023 8:50 AM10/13/2023 Draft Revision 7, Edited 10/24/2023 8:50 AM Overview The setting for this Indefinite Deliverable/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract is in the Bureau of Reclamation’s (Reclamation) Columbia-Pacific Northwest (CPN) Interior Region 9, including all or portions of lands and water managed by Reclamation, its partners or constituents, in Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Work may be performed on behalf of the Regional Office, Area, Power, or Field Offices in the CPN Region (Figure 1). Work may also be performed in Alaska as a part of Reclamation’s environmental compliance activities related to the issuance of grants in that state.

DRAFT

Figure 1. The CPN Region, Offices, and Facilities associated with the PWS.

Scope This contract will be a five (5)-year IDIQ contract to obtain a full range of environmental, cultural resources, and related services for projects within the CPN Region.

The scope of this IDIQ is for environmental and cultural resources support and services to include activities and compliance associated with, but not limited to the following:

· National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §§ 4321 et seq., as amended.

· Endangered Species Act (ESA) pursuant to Public Law (P.L.) 93-205, as amended, as applicable.

· Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act pursuant to P.L. 99-659, as amended, as applicable.

· Migratory Bird Treaty Act pursuant to 16 U.S.C. 703–712, as applicable.

· Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act pursuant to P.L. 85-624, as applicable.

· Clean Air Act pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq., as amended, as applicable.

· Clean Water Act (CWA) 33 U.S.C. 1251 (Sections 401, 402, 404), as amended, as applicable.

· Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (P.L. 96-510), and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (P.L. 94-580), as applicable.

· Wild and Scenic Rivers Act pursuant to P.L. 90-542.

· Environmental Justice pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 12898 (Environmental Justice) and other applicable E.O.s, and/or socioeconomic analysis as applicable.

· Indian Trust Assets (ITAs) pursuant to rights reserved by or granted to Indian tribes or Indian individuals by treaties, statutes, and E.O.s and Secretarial Order 3175 - Department Responsibilities for Indian Trust Assets, as applicable.

· Indian Sacred Sites pursuant to E.O. 13007, as applicable.

· Cultural resources pursuant to the Antiquities Act (AA) of 1906 (54 U.S.C. § 320301 - 320303), Historic Sites Act of 1935 (54 U.S.C. § 320101 - 320106), the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), as amended (54 U.S.C. § 300101 et seq.), the Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 as amended (ARPA) (16 U.S.C. 470aa-mm), the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) (25 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.), etc., as applicable.[footnoteRef:2] [2: For the purposes of this PWS only, the phrase “cultural resources” should be understood to refer to “historic property” as defined under NHPA, “human remains” and “cultural items” as defined under NAGPRA, “sacred sites” as defined under E.O. 13007, “archaeological resource” as defined under ARPA, and “paleontological resource” as defined under PRPA.]

· Paleontological resources pursuant to the Paleontological Resources Preservation Act (PRPA) of 2009 (16 U.S.C. § 470aa-470mm), as applicable.

Specific disciplines or resource analyses covered by this PWS include but are not necessarily limited to:

· Cultural Resources including Archeology, Historical Architecture, History, and Ethnography

· Paleontology, including vertebrate and invertebrate paleontology

· Air Quality

· Water Quality

· Terrestrial, Wetlands, and Aquatic Ecology

· Biology Including Threatened and Endangered species

· Economics/Socioeconomics

· Hydrology

· Geology

· Noise

· Visual Resources

· Climate Change / Greenhouse Gas Emissions

· Recreation

· Environmental Justice

· Health and Human Safety

· Transportation

· Utilities and Infrastructure

· Indian Trust Assets

· Indian Sacred Sites

· Geographic Information Systems (GIS) General Terms of the Contract All services required under this contract shall be described in detail within task orders issued from this contract. Services may include, but not be limited to, the following types of NEPA and ESA tasks:

· Preparation of complete or partial draft and final or supplemental draft or final Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) and associated Draft and Final Records of Decision (ROD).

· Preparation of complete or partial draft and final Environmental Assessments (EA) and associated draft and final Findings of No Significant Impact (FONSI).

· Preparation of complete or partial draft and final Biological Assessments (BA) (Draft or Final BA).

NEPA and ESA services may include tasks that are immediately pertinent or are procedural components to the production of draft documents including but not limited to: lead agency agreements, project management, Notices of Intent, public scoping, meeting management and materials, alternatives development, modelling/data collection, GIS Tasks, public involvement, commentary, and commentary review and response activities.

When required, the contractor shall provide documents to support compliance with cultural and paleontological resources management under NHPA, NAGPRA, ARPA, PRPA and other related laws, including the following:

· Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) covering lead agency status for NHPA compliance.

· Determination of Areas of Potential Effects (APE) and Level of Effort (LOE) for Identification of Historic Properties.

· Findings of No Historic Properties Affected (FNHPA), Findings of No Adverse Effects (FNAE), Findings of Adverse Effects (FAE).

· Draft Memoranda of Agreement (MOA), and Draft Programmatic Agreements (PA) under NHPA.

· Documentation and permit applications as required by related laws and regulations including (but not limited to) forms supporting nominations to the National Register of Historic Places, applications to conduct non-collection surveys, including research designs, under the AA, and applications and research designs to conduct archaeological excavations under ARPA. Other state or tribal permits may also be required for cultural resources investigations on private, state, or tribal lands being affected by Reclamation undertakings.

· Documents intended to support consultation under the NAGPRA, including written Plans Of Action, Notices of Inventory Completion, cultural affiliation studies, physical anthropology studies of human remains, and Comprehensive Agreements may also be required. This also includes documents intended to support repatriation under applicable state laws such as the Revised Code of Washington 27.44.

· Museum property management deliverables, including scope of collection statements, collection management plans, emergency action plans for museum property, housekeeping plans, pest management plans, annual inventories, accession records, catalog records, item-level and collection-level conservation plans, and related documents.

Other tasks may include field survey services and/or collection of information/data pertinent to the production of compliance documents or monitoring of projects for which compliance has established certain terms and conditions post-project. These may include but are not limited to: aquatic habitat surveys, instream flow analysis, fish sampling/survey, terrestrial habitat (vegetation) surveys, terrestrial wildlife/bird surveys, wetlands surveys, physical habitat survey, and environmental compliance monitoring and inspection, avian dissuasion, and advanced report writing affiliated with field surveys. Archaeological field surveys, surveys of the built environment (i.e., buildings, structures, landscaping, and other constructed features), and collection of ethnographic data related to the identification and evaluation of Traditional Cultural Properties, Historic Properties of Religious and Cultural importance to Indian tribes, and Sacred Sites. Other cultural resources related field services includes paleontological field services, research at museums to gather data relevant to museum property management deliverables, and research in the field or at museums to gather data relevant to NAGPRA compliance. Data collected on the surveys is required to be vetted through Quality Assurance (QA)/Quality Control (QC) practices, and the surveys may or may not require a draft or final report. All the reports related to cultural resources will require preparation of draft and final reports, as well as revised versions following the conduct of consultation.

The specifics for any of these actions, however, will be provided under individual task orders for portions of the complete project. Task orders will be provided as written contractual documents, with the Contracting Officer (CO) signature, with the geographic location where the work is to be performed (office or field), the period of performance, the deliverables required, PWS, and other pertinent data.

Prior to Reclamation approval of final products, no portion of the studies, findings, materials, conclusions, or recommendations shall be released to an outside party or otherwise publicized without expressed prior consent of the CO or the Contracting Officer Representative (COR). All required deliverables shall comply with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (P.L. 93-112).

Contractor Responsibilities The contractor shall comply with applicable laws, statutes, regulations, guidelines, and significant judicial decisions in preparation of any of the compliance documents, including changes to implementing regulations to NEPA, ESA, or the various cultural resources laws and including revisions, recensions, and fresh Executive or Secretarial Orders issued relating to tasking under this contract. The contractor shall furnish all technical expertise, labor, equipment, supervision, transportation, operating supplies, and incidentals (except those designated as Government-furnished) necessary to perform the work associated with tasks specified herein. The contractor shall furnish the necessary personnel, materials, services, equipment, facilities, and otherwise do all things necessary to the performance of the work specified in each task order issued under this contract in a manner consistent with accepted professional standards. The contractor shall be familiar with all the rules, regulations, and policies stated above and must comply with them in preparing the compliance document and any other documentation.

The contractor will be responsible for securing any permits necessary to conduct the environmental investigations, including AA, state, or tribal permits for non-collection archaeological surveys, ARPA, state, or tribal permits for archaeological excavations, and any permits that may be required for conduct of ethnographic investigations with members of Native American tribes.

Unless otherwise specified within individual task orders, all records, reports, models, data, etc., are property of Reclamation. The contractor is expected to organize, produce, and retain records for projects associated with task orders issued. Unless otherwise specified in individual task orders, data management is considered a material component of this PWS and is inherent to technical production and management of NEPA, ESA, and NHPA, and other laws, policies, Orders, etc., associated with this PWS (see section 7.0 Tasks and Task Order Services). Activities such as collection, storage, analysis and reporting of data and information related to the public participation, field survey, assessments, evaluations, and processes listed below (see section 7.0 Tasks and Task Order Services) may require dedicated personnel such as a Database Specialist (see section 4.0 Personnel and Professional Qualifications) or the contractor may suggest personnel for delegation of this responsibility to Reclamation’s CO and COR if appropriate.

Communication and Coordination The contractor will heed, respond to, and act on all official communications that are transmitted in writing from the CO or COR, as identified in the award announcement. Official communications that alter the scope or provisions of the agreement and all task orders stating work requirements will only be provided in the form of a written modification issued from the CO. Reclamation will require that the contractor's Program and/or Project Manager to maintain a close working relationship with the COR throughout all parts of this contract, including subsequent task orders, to ensure that all documents produced are acceptable to Reclamation and in compliance with all applicable federal statutes, regulations and guidelines. Reclamation will have final approval authority for any deliverables required under this contract.

The contractor shall establish processes and assign appropriate resources to effectively administer each requirement. The contractor shall respond to Government requests for contractual actions in a timely fashion. The contractor shall have a single Point of Contact (POC) between the Government and contractor personnel assigned to support contracts or task orders. The contractor shall assign work effort and maintain proper and accurate time keeping records of personnel assigned to work on the requirement.

The contractor shall successfully integrate and coordinate all activity needed to execute the requirements of the task orders. The contractor shall manage the timeliness, completeness, and quality of problem identification. The contractor shall provide corrective action plans, proposal submittals, timely identification of issues, and effective management of subcontractors. The contractor shall seek to ensure customer satisfaction and professional and ethical behavior of all contractor personnel.

Non-Personal Services The Government will neither supervise contractor employees nor control the method by which the contractor performs the required tasks. Under no circumstances will the Government assign tasks to, or prepare work schedules for, individual contractor employees. It shall be the responsibility of the contractor to manage its employees and to guard against any actions that are of the nature of personal services or give the perception of personal services. If the contractor believes that any actions constitute, or are perceived to constitute personal services, it shall be the contractor's responsibility to notify the CO immediately.

Contract Financing Under certain circumstances, the Contracting Officer may determine that it’s in the best interest of the Government to provide financing for work performed under individual task orders. Pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) subsection 32.202-1, Policy, the Contracting Officer’s determination will at a minimum consider: the task order price exceeds the simplified acquisition threshold; financing payments are appropriate, customary, and in the best interest of the Government; adequate security is obtained; and adequate consideration is obtained.

The Contracting Officer may preauthorize contract financing in the Request for Task Order Proposal, or the contractor may submit a request for contract financing in the proposal. All requests for financing, whether preauthorized or not, must include the proposed financing type, payment schedule, conditions of entitlement to financing payments, security to be provided, and any other pertinent information or requirements. Preauthorization does not constitute a commitment or approval for financing. The Contracting Officer has the sole authority to approve or deny the request for financing upon consideration of the aforementioned criteria pursuant to FAR subsection 32.202-1, Policy. Financing terms and task order pricing, in consideration of financing, are subject to negotiation.

Installment payments, progress payments, and payments based on cost are generally acceptable types of interim financing payments permitted under this contract. Unusual contract financing and advance payments are not permitted for task orders issued under this contract. Where progress payments are used, the payment schedule must be balanced, and payments must approximately reflect the percentage of project completion.

Travel Travel is required to conduct fieldwork and fulfill other various tasks under this contract. All labor categories are subject to the travel requirement. Travel arrangements and coordination of any equipment required in performance of task orders is the sole responsibility of the contractor. Unless otherwise specified in the Request for Task Order Proposal, the Government will pay only actual costs for travel expenses under a time and materials line item. Travel expenses will be considered reasonable and allowable only to the extent it does not exceed the maximum allowable travel rates in effect at the time of travel as set forth in WBR 1452.231-80. Any expense in excess of the established travel allowances or deviations from the proposed travel plan must be approved by the CO or COR prior to incurring the expense. The CO or COR has the sole discretion for approval of excess expenses or travel plan deviations. Receipts and all other documentation of allowable travel expenses shall be submitted to the task order administrating contract specialist and COR for review prior to invoice submission.

Personnel and Professional Qualifications The contractor shall accomplish the assigned work by employing and utilizing qualified personnel in accordance with the minimum qualifications (for each position) outlined below. The contractor shall utilize personnel with skills appropriate to the work or task with a minimum of under/over employment of resources. The contractor shall ensure the labor categories as defined below, labor rates, and labor hours utilized in the performance of each task order will be the minimum necessary to accomplish the task. The contractor must employ the following professional personnel to perform the services required under this contract (below). Positions identified as key personnel positions are subject to the Key Personnel Requirements clause. The contractor’s team of key personnel will be incorporated into the contract. All substitutions or changes to those key personnel shall be made in accordance with the Key Personnel Requirements clause and incorporated into the contract via unilateral modification. Throughout the following paragraphs, an asterisk after a position title (“*”) indicates that the position is subject to compliance with the Key Personnel Requirements clause.

Key personnel positions designated in this IDIQ PWS may be approved to work on task orders issued under this IDIQ. At the task order level, depending on Reclamation’s needs and project requirements, other individuals may be designated as key personnel for that specific project. Key personnel (or key personnel substitutions) designated for individual task orders are subject to Reclamation approval.

Program Manager* Description: The program manager shall serve as the project lead for EISs and other large-scale efforts. The person in this position shall possess a thorough understanding of the contractor’s ability to respond to orders in a manner that meets Reclamation’s schedule objectives and technical needs. The program manager shall have a sufficient understanding of the contractor’s programs to ensure proper coordination, operation, and management of this contract. The program manager shall be responsible for the overall management of multiple orders placed and performed under this contract and shall be the primary point-of-contact for contractual issues.

Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in a field related to environmental compliance and 20 years’ experience managing environmental compliance programs of similar scope and complexity as those outlined in this PWS.

Project Manager* Description: The project manager shall serve as the deputy lead for EIS, project lead for EA, BA, cultural and paleontological resources, and field survey services. The project manager shall be the lead for contract questions and communication with Reclamation CO or COR on EIS, EA, BA, cultural and paleontological resources, and field survey efforts. This position is responsible for evaluating the requirements of an order and developing and implementing a plan to meet those requirements. The project manager shall be the primary point of contact for individual orders and is responsible for project staffing and scheduling. The project manager also ensures that orders are completed on time and within budget and handles any administrative details.

Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in a field related to environmental compliance and 10 years’ experience working projects of similar scope and complexity as those outlined in this PWS. He/she shall have a Project Management Professional certification or similar accreditation.

Principal Engineer Description: The principal engineer shall serve as the lead engineer for EIS and lead subject matter expert for engineering. The Principal Engineer shall perform work on interpreting design or engineering concepts related to construction methods, construction sequences, and associated ground disturbance to assist the Project Manager, Environmental Specialists, Senior Planning Specialists, and others in formulating action descriptions, mitigations, and analyses of impacts caused by these activities. This person shall be technically skilled in applicable subject areas such as air and water quality analysis, hydrology, noise analysis, climate change, transportation, utilities, and health and human safety. The project requirements will dictate the engineering discipline required (civil, mechanical, electrical, etc.).

Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in a related field, possess a current Professional Engineer license, and 12 years’ experience working projects of similar scope and complexity as those outlined in this PWS.

Project Engineer Description: The project engineer shall serve as the deputy engineer for EIS, lead engineer and subject matter expert for EA, BA, and field survey services. This position shall serve as the lead QA/QC for engineering field survey services data collection such as instream flow and physical habitat monitoring. The project engineer shall be skilled in applicable subject areas such as air and water quality analysis, hydrology, noise analysis, climate change, transportation, utilities, and health and human safety.

Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in a related field, and five (5) years’ experience working on projects associated with federal infrastructure projects including water and power delivery, water storage, or similar.

Senior Environmental Specialist* Description: The Senior Environmental Specialist shall serve as the NEPA lead and POC for process and production on the EIS and ROD, EA and FONSI. The Senior Environmental Specialist shall facilitate large project efforts involving multiple tasks while leading a group of environmental professionals who are performing technical studies, preparing EAs, EISs, and other environmental compliance documents for mitigation, monitoring, implementation, permitting, and planning for infrastructure development, water management, and other projects related to CPN’s mission.

Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Natural Resources Management, Policy and Administration, or related environmental or cultural field and six (6) years’ experience working projects of similar scope and complexity as those outlined in this PWS. He/she shall possess expert knowledge of applicable NEPA, Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), and Department of the Interior (DOI) regulations and policies and their implementation.

Environmental Specialist* Description: The Environmental Specialist shall serve as deputy lead for NEPA process on EIS and ROD, EA and FONSI and will be primary POC for NEPA document production and be affiliated with applicable tasking for field survey services. He/she shall facilitate small and medium sized teams of environmental professionals who are performing technical studies. He/she may assist or lead in the preparation of EAs, EISs, and other environmental compliance documents for mitigation, monitoring, implementation, permitting, and planning for infrastructure development, water management, and other projects related to CPN’s mission.

Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Natural Resources Management, Policy and Administration, or related environmental or cultural field and three (3) years’ experience working projects of similar scope and complexity as those outlined in this PWS. He/she shall have in-depth knowledge of NEPA, CEQ, and DOI regulations and policies and their implementation.

Entry-Level Environmental Specialist Description: The Entry Level Environmental Specialist shall assist with NEPA document production. He/she shall participate on teams of environmental professionals who are performing technical studies or preparing NEPA, or compliance documents related to Reclamation’s mission.

Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in an environmental or cultural field and one (1) years’ experience working on NEPA documents. He/she shall have a working knowledge of NEPA, CEQ, and DOI regulations and policies.

Senior Planning Specialist* Description: The Senior Planning Specialist shall assist the Program Manager, Project Manager, and the Senior Environmental Specialist in the management and production of NEPA documents and necessary public participation and permitting, and shall have applicable tasking for field survey services. He/she shall plan, manage, and facilitate public participation processes under NEPA, as well as development and review of environmental permitting and regulatory processes as they relate to NEPA and other applicable environmental and cultural resource related laws and regulations.

Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Natural Resources Management; Policy, and Administration; or related environmental or cultural field and six (6) years’ experience including permitting projects of similar scope and complexity as those outlined in this PWS. He/she shall have an in-depth knowledge of NEPA, CEQ, and DOI regulations and policies and their implementation.

Public Relations Specialist* Description: The Public Relations Specialist shall be the contractor lead and POC for public relations activities and questions. He/she will be responsible for assisting Reclamation’s CPN Public Affairs Officer in developing and implementing interpretive and public involvement plans, activities, and events on a variety of project outreach activities. He/she shall assist Reclamation with formulation, articulation, and distribution of information for CPN projects. He/she shall be required to use communication principles, methods, practices, and techniques while presenting ideas in written materials in ways that will increase understanding of the Reclamation programs and policies.

Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, or related discipline with five (5) years’ experience disseminating and communicating informational material to the public or specialized target groups.

Senior Cultural Resource Specialist* Description: The Senior Cultural Resource Specialist shall be lead NEPA POC for cultural resources issues, Indian Trust Assets, and Indian Sacred Sites, and the Lead POC and QA/QC for cultural resources investigations. He/she shall author or review reports such as cultural resource overviews; cultural resource management plans; survey, testing, and data recovery reports; research proposals; treatment plans; public interpretative materials; and management documents such as Programmatic Agreements and MOAs.

Minimum Qualifications: Master’s degree in Archaeology, Anthropology, or related field and five (5) years’ experience working projects of similar scope and complexity as those outlined in this PWS. He/she shall have expertise developing project research designs, planning and overseeing fieldwork and analysis and shall be able to obtain a permit as a Principal Investigator on Federal, Tribal, and State lands.

Historian* Description: Responsible for gathering and organizing data related to post-Contact events, and then using that information to help create a context for understanding how those events may be related to various properties so that their historical significance can be properly interpreted. They will prepare reports and documents of various sorts to summarize the results of their research, especially in an NHPA or NEPA context. Historian may be involved with NEPA directly or support Senior Cultural Resource Specialist depending on the project.

Minimum Qualifications: Following 36 CFR 61, Appendix A, the minimum qualifications of a Historian are as follows: a master’s degree in history or closely related field; or a bachelor's degree in history or closely related field plus one (1) of the following: At least two (2) years of fulltime experience in research, writing, teaching, interpretation or other demonstrable professional activity with an academic institution, historical organization or agency, museum, or other professional institution; OR Substantial contribution through research and publication to the body of scholarly knowledge in the field of history.

Architectural Historian* Description: Responsible for gathering and organizing data related to the built environment (i.e., buildings and structures), and for preparing reports and documents related to this kind of cultural resource, especially regarding compliance with Section 106 of NHPA for projects that affect the built environment. The Architectural Historian may be involved with NEPA directly or support Senior Cultural Resource Specialist depending on the project.

Minimum Qualifications: Following 36 CFR 61, Appendix A, the minimum qualifications of an Architectural Historian are as follows: a graduate degree in architectural history, art history, historic preservation, or closely related field, with coursework in American architectural history; or a bachelor’s degree in architectural history, art history, historic preservation, or closely related field plus one (1) of the following: At least two (2) years of fulltime experience in research, writing, or teaching in American architectural history or restoration architecture with an academic institution, historical organization or agency, museum, or other professional institution; OR substantial contribution through research and publication to the body of scholarly knowledge in the field of American architectural history.

Archaeologist* Description: Responsible for gathering and organizing data related to archaeological resources (Section 106, cultural resources, NAGPRA) and for preparing reports and documents related to this kind of cultural resource. Archaeologist may be involved with NEPA directly or may support Senior Cultural Resource Specialist depending on the project. For individual task orders that require work on private or state lands, Reclamation may require that the contractor provide an archaeologist with a demonstrated ability to receive archaeological excavation permits within the appropriate state.

Minimum Qualifications: Following 36 CFR 61, Appendix A, the minimum qualifications of an archaeologist are as follows: a graduate degree in archeology, anthropology, or closely related field plus: At least one (1) year of fulltime professional experience or equivalent specialized training in archeological research, administration or management; AND at least four (4) months of supervised field and analytic experience in general North American archeology; AND demonstrated ability to carry research to completion. In addition, to these minimum qualifications, a professional in prehistoric archeology shall have at least one (1) year of fulltime professional experience at a supervisory level in the study of archeological resources of the prehistoric period. A professional in historic archeology shall have at least one (1) year of fulltime professional experience at a supervisory level in the study of archeological resources of the historic period.

Architect* Description: Responsible for assisting in the description, depiction, and evaluation of elements of the built environment and assisting the development of appropriate means of avoiding, minimizing, or mitigating adverse effects to the built environment by providing professional advice on design or modification. This work will be done primarily in the context of compliance with NHPA and various historic preservation processes. They will be responsible for preparing reports, architectural drawings, and plans for modification of historic-period structures. Architects will primarily be involved with and support the work of a Historian or Architectural Historian, but they may also directly support the Senior Cultural Resources Specialist depending on the project. They will not commonly be involved directly with NEPA.

Minimum Qualifications: Following 36 CFR 61, Appendix A, the minimum qualifications of an architect working in the context of historic preservation are as follows: a professional degree in architecture plus at least two (2) years of full-time professional experience in architecture; or a State license to practice architecture. The past experience shall include work involving buildings or structures that have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places or were determined eligible through consultation with the appropriate State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), Tribal Historic Preservation Office (THPO), or the Keeper of the National Register.

Paleontologist* Description: Responsible for gathering and organizing data related to paleontological resources, and providing reports and documents that summarize the range of paleontological resources that may be encountered in an area and for assessments of probability that such resources may be encountered. They will also be responsible for organizing and overseeing paleontological field research, including paleontological construction monitoring, as needed. Paleontologists may be involved with NEPA directly or may support Senior Cultural Resource Specialist depending on the project.

Minimum Qualifications: A graduate degree in paleontology, as well as experience in collecting, analyzing, summarizing, and reporting paleontological data, and preparing collections for long-term care; and experience in equipping, staffing, organizing, conducting, and supervising paleontological fieldwork. The paleontologist must also be able to demonstrate that they are complying with previous permits issued to them under PRPA and its implementing regulations specified at 43 CFR 49.

Ethnographer/Cultural Anthropologist* Description: Responsible for gathering and organizing data related to ethnographic resources, traditional cultural properties and places, historic properties of religious and cultural importance to Indian tribes, sacred sites, and Indian trust assets. Prepares reports and documents related to these classes of cultural resources in the context of compliance with NHPA and NEPA. The Ethnographer/Cultural Anthropologist may be involved with NEPA directly or may support Senior Cultural Resource Specialist depending on the project.

Minimum Qualifications: The following qualifications are modeled on the standards suggested in 62 FR 33708 – 33723. The Ethnographer / Cultural Anthropologist shall have a graduate degree in cultural anthropology, plus a minimum of two (2) years fulltime professional experience (including at least six (6) months of field work supervised by a professional Cultural Anthropologist) applying the theories, methods, and practices of Cultural Anthropology that enables professional judgments to be made about the identification, evaluation, documentation, registration, or treatment of historic, prehistoric, or traditional cultural properties in the United States and its Territories; and products and activities that demonstrate the successful application of acquired proficiencies in the discipline to the practice of historic preservation. Alternatively, the Ethnographer / Cultural Anthropologist shall have an undergraduate degree in Cultural Anthropology plus a minimum of four (4) years of full-time professional experience (including at least twelve months of field work supervised by a professional Cultural Anthropologist) applying the theories, methods, and practices of Cultural Anthropology that enables professional judgments to be made about the identification, evaluation, documentation, registration, or treatment of historic, prehistoric, or traditional cultural properties in the United States and its Territories; and products and activities that demonstrate the successful application of acquired proficiencies in the discipline to the practice of historic preservation.

Museum Property Management (MPM) Professional* Description: The MPM Professional shall be lead POC on projects involving the management or curation of artifacts, samples, associated records, and other items classified as museum property by Reclamation and associated federal agencies. He/she will be tasked with arranging curation of museum property recovered during archaeological and historical investigations, entering data into a Reclamation-approved software system to enable the materials to be accessioned and cataloged, preparing collections for curation, and assessing the status of collections and making professional recommendations for steps to conserve materials. They may also be required to assist Reclamation in the development of MPM planning documents as described in Reclamation D&S LND 02-02. For this contract, the MPM Professional should also have familiarity with DOI Departmental Manual 411, the DOI Museum Property Handbook (https://www.doi.gov/museum/policy/DOI-Handbooks), and DOI’s MPM Directives (https://www.doi.gov/museum/policy/Museum-Directives).

Minimum Qualifications: The National Park Service has provided qualification standards for MPM professionals in 36 CFR 79.4. (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-36/chapter-I/part-79). As a part of the fulfillment of this contract, the MPM Professional will have a graduate degree in museum studies or the subject matter relevant to the museum property under consideration, or equivalent training and experience, and three (3) years of professional experience in museum positions. Their undergraduate education may include a background in MPM or a related field, including archives, archaeology, anthropology, or history.

Repatriation Specialist* Description: The Repatriation Specialist shall be the lead POC on tasks related to compliance with NAGPRA. He/she will be tasked with reporting and writing technical documents to management, communicating concepts related to the identification of ancestral Native American remains and NAGPRA cultural items, communicating how these kinds of items relate to Reclamation’s legal responsibilities under NAGPRA, and writing and advising on the development of the various notices and determinations described in 43 CFR 10. He/she may be required to participate in field investigations and to identify ancestral Native American remains and associated funerary objects, and to work with tribes to develop recommendations for appropriately respective ways to treat the remains.

Minimum Qualifications: A graduate degree in physical anthropology, cultural anthropology, archaeology, MPM, Native American studies, or a closely related field, as well as five (5) years’ experience in identifying ancestral Native American remains, preparing documentation supporting conclusions, findings, and decisions as described in NAGPRA and its implementing regulations. The Repatriation Specialist will understand traditional standards for the handling and treatment of ancestral remains and cultural items.

Senior Biologist* Description: The Senior Biologist shall be lead POC on biological components of NEPA analyses and BA. QA/QC lead for biological field survey services data collection. He/she will be tasked with reporting and writing technical documents to management, communicating concepts of biological science and how they relate to the project at hand with all team members, and analyzing the effects of the project on local and regional plant and animal communities.

Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in a biology-based curriculum such as zoology, ecology, or biology, with five (5) years’ experience. He/she shall have technical competence in gathering environmental information relating to the fauna in the CPN Region, and have an understand and experience implementing laws, regulations, and rulings regarding the local and regional fauna (including ESA species).

Biologist Description: The biologist shall be the deputy POC on biological components of NEPA analyses and BA and shall lead biological field survey services data collection (e.g., aquatic habitat survey, fish sampling/survey, terrestrial wildlife/bird survey, avian predation management). He/she will perform work requiring the application of and understanding pertaining to laws, regulations, and rulings regarding the local and regional flora and fauna; and gather data using appropriate field and laboratory methods.

Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in a biology-based curriculum with three (3) years’ experience including at least two (2) field seasons of biological field survey data collection using appropriate field and laboratory methods. He/she shall possess technical competence in gathering environmental information relating to the interrelationships of plant and animal life in the CPN Region.

Wetlands Specialist/Hydrologist* Description: The Wetlands Specialist/Hydrologist shall be lead POC for wetlands components of NEPA and ESA and will function as QA/QC and lead for wetlands field survey services collection. He/she will support the Senior Planning Specialist for necessary permitting activities. He/she shall perform work related to the identification and classification of wetland plant species within Reclamation’s CPN Region. He/she shall perform work collecting, interpreting, and reporting data in adherence to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual, Clean Water Act, and local critical areas ordinances including critical area assessment reports, impact assessments and mitigation plans, and permit applications.

Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Hydrology, Soil Science, or related field and three (3) years of experience such as: wetland survey/delineation, stream delineations and typing, wetland ratings, functional assessments, biological evaluations, performance monitoring, mitigation planning and design, and / or permitting within the CPN Region.

Botanist* Description: The Botanist shall be lead POC for botanical/vegetation resource components of NEPA and ESA, and will function as QA/QC and lead for terrestrial habitat field survey services data collection. He/she will report on and write technical documents for Reclamation and will communicate concepts of botany and how botanical resources (including critical habitat under ESA) relate to the project at hand with team members. The Botanist may be required to provide input on appropriate native plant species that may be replanted in areas of disturbance as a part of minimizing or mitigating adverse effects to traditional cultural properties in the context of NHPA compliance. In this context, familiarity with traditional Native American uses of native species is needed.

Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Botany, Plant Science, General Biology, or closely related field and three (3) years’ experience working with, or surveying plant communities found in Reclamation’s CPN Region. He/she shall have technical competence in gathering environmental information relating to botanical resources in the CPN Region and have an understanding of and experience pertaining to implementing laws, regulations, and rulings regarding the local and regional flora (including ESA species).

Realty Specialist* Description: The Realty Specialist shall be lead POC on realty components of NEPA and ESA, and will function as QA/QC for land and realty issues associated with field survey services data collection and other relevant tasking. He/she shall perform work related to understanding and developing analysis and recommendations regarding land acquisition, disposal, exchanges, easements, rights-of-way, title-transfers, and withdrawals.

Minimum Qualifications: Minimum of five (5) years’ experience working with Federal Land Management. This experience should include a combination of land acquisition, disposal, and or the issuance of use authorizations.

GIS Specialist* Description: The GIS Specialist shall be lead contract POC for GIS components of environmental compliance and consultations, in particular geospatial data management and exhibits, and will function as QA/QC and data processing lead for field survey services GIS data processing. He/she shall perform work with a variety of natural resources, anthropogenic and raster-based topography datasets. He/she may also perform work publishing GIS datasets for use with web‐based GIS applications.

Minimum Qualifications: A Bachelor’s degree in a related fields such as Geography, Cartography or Natural Resource Sciences and three (3) years’ experience providing maps and data sets to clients to supplement technical analysis. He/she shall have experience using complex GIS software, including Environmental Systems Research Institute’s (ESRI) ArcGIS Pro software, and using advanced GIS functions such as data analysis, data creation, editing, detailed map production, GIS data-base management, field data collection, and modeling.

Database Specialist* Description: The Database Specialist…