DSNA_InterpDesign_SOW_v4.pdf

Bureau of Land Management Dripping Springs Natural Area Visitor Center Interpretive Displays Remodel: Scope of Work

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Scope of Work for

Dripping Springs Natural Area Visitor Center Interpretive Displays Remodel Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument

Bureau of Land Management-Las Cruces District Office Las Cruces, NM

July 8, 2022

SECTION 1 – Background The Las Cruces Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Office is seeking assistance with the development of a design concept for the interpretive and environmental education displays and exhibits for the interior of the Dripping Springs Natural Area (DSNA) A.B. Cox Visitor Center (VC) in the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument (OMDPNM). DSNA is the most visited recreation site in OMDPNM and receives approximately 100,000 visitors annually. Aside from the four miles of trails, visitors have access to the nearby La Cueva Picnic Site and a visitor’s center that once served as a local family’s ranch home.

The VC building currently encompasses 2,357 square feet and is divided into a VC on the western portion (Figures 1-6), and an apartment on the eastern portion. Originally built as a ranch house with a wrap-around porch, modifications were made through the years to close in sections of the porch to increase square footage of the building. The existing floorplan includes welcome center area, children’s learning area, office, breakroom, restroom, storage closets, mechanical/electrical room, kitchen, den, bedroom, bathroom, closet. The DSNA VC recently underwent a proposed remodel exercise where an architecture firm designed and produced blueprints (Figure 2) for a building remodel to accommodate expanded visitor access areas. This scope of work sets forth the contractual needs for an update to the basic spatial layout and content design of indoor interpretive exhibits and panels within the DSNA VC.

With the proposed building remodel, the visitor area within the VC has increased to an approximate 4,500 square feet to accommodate interpretive exhibits, educational activity space, visitor services space, and public areas. The proposed interpretive exhibits remodel will use the building blueprints as a template and guide for the design (building plans are attached as Appendix A).

Our vision is to remodel the interior visitor space to accommodate the new square footage and include displays for all OMDPNM and include a space for Prehistoric Trackways National Monument (PTNM) exhibits as space allows. Interpretive and education exhibits include but are not limited to taxidermy, interactive relief map of the monuments, museum collections, and interpretive story telling concepts.

Current exhibit infrastructure and basic spatial layout may be re-used or re-designed to suit the exhibit needs. The purpose of the exhibit redesign is to create interpretation of OMDPNM and PTNM that is updated and interactive. The design should be complementary to the monuments on which it is centered and on local culture and resources.

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This contract only includes work for research, curation, exhibit design, and estimates of exhibit fabrication and installation. Actual fabrication/production and installation are not included in the scope of work.

BLM and the Contractor shall work together throughout the contract period to monitor projected construction costs and adjust the scope of work to meet the available funding to avoid any redesign efforts. The Contractor shall notify the BLM in advance of a design review submittal if the cost estimate exceeds the preliminary budget amount.

Figure 1. Current general configuration of visitor center building

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Figure 2. Updated and proposed configuration of the interior of the visitor center building.

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Figure 3. Current visitor center from the front (west).

Figure 4. Current visitor center/apartment from northwest corner.

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Figure 5. Inside visitor center front room.

Figure 6. Inside visitor center looking into education room.

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SECTION 2 – Objectives The Contractor will work with the BLM to develop interpretive exhibit layout concept for the interior of the VC structure. The design should improve visitor experience and allow for enriched opportunities to learn about OMDPNM and PTNM. The contractor will be expected to provide all labor, materials, and travel except as otherwise specified.

CONTRACTOR QUALIFICATIONS

The contractor shall have experience with interpretive exhibit design for federal and/or state managed public land visitor centers. Experience that includes design of interpretive interactive exhibits, audio visual components, taxidermy exhibits, and curating museum collections is required.

COST PROPOSAL

The BLM requests a cost proposal breakdown per task necessary prior to selection. This will include Labor Hours, Labor Dollars, Expense Dollars, and an Overall Total Cost.

TASKS TO BE PERFORMED

TASK 1: Initial Project Management Meeting and Project Management

The contractor will schedule and virtually host an initial Project Management meeting within 14 working days of receiving the Notice of Award. The contractor shall submit a draft work plan and preliminary schedule at the initial meeting. The work plan will illustrate the tasks and methods to be used to complete the project within 426 days after the contract is awarded. The work plan will also include a sample schedule illustrating anticipated completion times for each task (schedule does not need to include processes internal to the contractor).

During the initial Project Management meeting the BLM and contractor will discuss the work plan and any other outstanding topics. The contractor will modify the work plan and schedule, if needed, as a result of the meeting, and provide BLM the opportunity to review all changes before finalizing the schedule and work plan. During the Initial Project Meeting, the contractor and BLM staff can schedule a field site visit to DSNA and the VC pending BLM and contractor schedule availability.

The contractor will coordinate a project management conference call once a month or on a biweekly basis. If the contractor or BLM feels that a specific call is not needed during certain phases of this project, it may be cancelled if both BLM and the contractor agree. During some stages of the contract, there could be more frequent calls, and in some stages, fewer calls. The contractor will provide notes from each conference call to all participants, and other interested parties, as identified by BLM. The contractor will be responsible for creating agendas and capturing notes from project conference calls and distributing them, as well as creating and maintaining a project schedule with key milestones.

TASK 2: Site visit to the Dripping Springs Natural Area Visitor Center

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The Contractor will visit the site to include a tour of the DSNA VC. The tour will feature the interior of the existing VC layout, the current interpretive exhibits and layout, the office and apartment space to be remodeled and turned into additional visitor center square footage, and the surrounding grounds.

TASK 3: Develop design concept of the interior interpretive exhibits of the VC.

The Contractor will be expected to provide all labor, materials, facilities, and travel except as otherwise specified. In addition, they will be expected to provide a plan and blueprints for the basic spatial layout and content design for a cohesive exhibit within the DSNA VC. The deliverable and final product will be an exhibit spatial layout and exhibit content design blueprint. The blueprint should be as detailed oriented as possible to include ADA compliant features, electrical needs details, etc. Content of the exhibit will be created through collaboration between BLM representatives and the contractor. BLM representatives may include Archaeologists, Paleontologists, Natural Resource Specialists, and Park Rangers. The contractor shall design interpretive panels and exhibits that may include photos, artwork, maps or visual/interactive objects and meet the following requirements:

Panels within the set must relate to one another visually and graphically and display a unified design theme focused on OMDPNM and PTNM (as space allows) cultures and resources.

Design should also consider interactive tabletop relief maps and taxidermy displays.

The Contractor will host virtual meetings with the BLM when necessary to present design concept and drawings/plans and ask any questions.

SECTION 3 – Task Expectations and Period of Performance

Period of Performance will span from September 1, 2022, through October 31, 2023 (426 days) for all tasks to allow maximum flexibility for participating BLM staff that needs to be involved with the design topics/process.

Task 1 and 2: Planning and Coordination – First 120 Days

• Contractor awarded contract

• Initiate and conduct an initial project management meeting by teleconference with the

Government. Contractor will provide meeting notes and proposed work plan to BLM for review and to finalize.

• Contractor visits and tours DSNA and VC. Visit can be pushed back in the schedule to accommodate for BLM and contractor scheduling and required subject matter research.

Task 3: Development of Design and Plans – Days 120-426

• Progress Consultation for Preliminary Spatial Layout and Concept Design

8 | P a g e o Prior to this consultation the contractor will perform research and curation for the exhibit. The contractor will use BLM furnished information materials and use outside research materials to develop the spatial layout and basic content layout for the themes, goals, and objectives of the exhibit area. The contractor shall present a Spatial Layout and Concept Design consisting of a spatial layout for the exhibit area and a general content layout depicting each exhibit section’s general content and interactive component. The purpose of the Spatial Layout and Concept Design is to ensure that the Contractor has understood and is able to successfully and engagingly portray the themes identified by the BLM Project Manager. Contractor and BLM staff shall agree on a period of review window.

• Progress Consultation for Intermediate Spatial Layout, Concept, and Content Design o The purpose of the Intermediate Design is to review changes to each exhibit component as identified by the BLM Project Manager for the Spatial Layout and Concept/Content Design. The contractor shall present documents indicating the spatial layout of the exhibit area and content layout of the exhibit including placement of photographs, illustrations, maps, diagrams, text, captions and any visual/interactive components.

Potential resources for exhibit information include but are not limited to: Historical, cultural, and archaeological documentation for DSNA, the Las Cruces Museum of Natural History, and several published works on the local history Layouts must also include titles in the contractor’s proposed type style. BLM will accept computer-generated, or hand rendered drawings in black and white or color that clearly reflect the content and appearance of each exhibit component. Upon completion of the review, the BLM Project Manager will provide a consolidated description of any changes required on the design plan. The Contractor shall revise the Spatial Layout and Concept/Content Design Plan and deliver one copy of each to the BLM Project Manager for review and acceptance. The BLM will approve draft and final text for each exhibit component.

o Deliverables:

1. Design plans for spatial layout of exhibit area

2. Design plans for content layout of the exhibit including placement of photographs, illustrations, maps, diagrams, text, captions and any visual/interactive components.

Layouts must also include titles in the contractor’s proposed type style. Drawings shall be large enough that the text is readable and prepared to scale on no less than 11” x 17” paper. One copy of the layout shall be delivered to the BLM. The contractor shall submit a list and description of any additional photographs and background material needed to complete subsequent tasks.

• Final Design

9 | P a g e o The purpose of the Final Design is to finalize the layout, text, graphics, and interactive/visual component of each panel for fabrication. The contractor will submit a Final Design consisting of completed design drawings for each exhibit. The design drawings must clearly reflect the final content and appearance of each panel. Layouts shall be color printouts large enough to read the text and no less than 11” x 17”. One copy will be delivered to BLM for review. Upon completion of the review, the BLM Project Manager will provide a consolidated description of any changes required to the Final Design. The Contractor shall revise the Final Design and deliver an electronic copy and PDF version of the final drawings, specifications, and cost estimate to the BLM Project Manager for review and acceptance.

o Final Deliverables:

1. Final design plans for spatial layout of exhibit area

2. Final design plans for content layout of the exhibit including placement of photographs, illustrations, maps, diagrams, text, captions and any visual/interactive components. Layouts must also include titles in the contractor’s proposed type style.

3. Final cost estimate for exhibit fabrication and installation

SECTION 4 – Government Furnished Materials and Services A. Planning documents and Resource Management Plan

The BLM will furnish an electronic copy of the Organ Mountains Coordinated Resource Management Plan (OMCRMP) and the Mimbres Resource Management Plan (RMP) to the contractor. Both documents highlight some implementation decisions made for the DSNA area.

The OMCRMP and RMP should be consulted during the design process to ensure that all Recreation, Education and Interpretation implementation level decisions are addressed.

B. Design plans for the proposed building remodel that shall house the updated interpretive exhibits.

C. Historical, Cultural, and Natural Resources records, reports, and photos that will assist with the development of the exhibits.

SECTION 5 – Communication and Acceptance of Deliverables Frequent open communication and coordination between the Contractor and the BLM will be required throughout the completion of the project. There will be a minimum of one meeting (in person or via conference call) and a field visit to the site between the contractor and the BLM. The first will be an Initial Project Management Meeting and the second will be a meeting to visit the site.

Deliverables will include a paper (blueprints) and electronic copies (PDFs) of the completed DSNA VC Interpretive Exhibits remodel plans and illustrations. All documents, supporting records and publications will be verified accurate and correct. Portable Document Format (PDF) and MS Word copies of the

10 | P a g e deliverables will be placed on a USB that is to be provided to the BLM. Documents are to be of high quality and in color as determined necessary by the BLM.

The BLM will review all draft documents within 4 weeks of receipt unless otherwise specified. Based upon the amount or complexity of BLM’s revision comments, BLM shall have the option of reviewing subsequent submissions of the deliverables until they are revised to BLM’s satisfaction. The Contractor, upon receipt of BLM’s revision comments, will generally have 2 weeks to respond (unless otherwise specified) with the necessary written revisions.

Contacts:

Contracting Officer (CO) Sarah Valencia BLM New Mexico State Office 100 Sun Ave. NE, Suite 230 Albuquerque, NM 87109 505-761-8950; svalencia@blm.gov

Contracting Officer Representative (COR) Mike Williams BLM Las Cruces District Office 1800 Marquess Street Las Cruces, NM 88005

(575) 525-4313; gleitermann@blm.gov

Project/Technical Manager Edna Flores BLM Las Cruces District Office 1800 Marquess Street

(575) 525-4391; eyflores@blm.gov

FINAL ACCEPTANCE will be made by the CO and COR:

Contracting Officer (CO) Sarah Valencia BLM New Mexico State Office 100 Sun Ave. NE, Suite 230 Albuquerque, NM 87109 505-761-8950; svalencia@blm.gov

Contracting Officer Representative (COR) Mike Williams BLM Las Cruces District Office 1800 Marquess Street

(575) 525-4313; gleitermann@blm.gov mailto:gleitermann@blm.gov mailto:eyflores@blm.gov mailto:gleitermann@blm.gov

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DELIVERABLES

If not otherwise stated in the task order, the following requirements apply to all deliverables submitted:

Deliverables shall be addressed to the BLM Project Manager as follows NAME OF COR: Mike Williams (wwilliam@blm.gov, 575-525-4404) Technical Manager: Edna Flores (eyflores@blm.gov, 575-525-4391) Bureau of Land Management Las Cruces District Office 1800 Marquess Street mailto:wwilliam@blm.gov mailto:eyflores@blm.gov