Response_to_Questions_Solicitation_F15PS00571.docx

Response to Questions Solicitation F15PS00571 (Cultural Resources Overview and Assessment of the 59,000-acre Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge in Comanche County, Oklahoma) Questions:

1Q: Under Section 1.2 of the Addendum to 52.212-1 (Instructions to Offerers), the contractor needs to provide samples of “Class I” reports. Does this mean we should include a copy of the entire report or just the cover/title page? And if just the cover/title page needs to be included, does this count towards the 20-page proposal limit? Please specify if the sample of the “Class I” report needs to be a sampling of complete files for different reports or highlights out of specifically chosen ones. (ie. is the page count included in the 20 pages for the entire proposal).

A: Samples of “Class I” reports are not included in the 20 page proposal limit.

Complete report. One report will suffice, but bidders can send more than one - Max of three. We do NOT need copies of site forms or site maps if they were separate attachments to these reports.

2Q: Attachment 2 (Past and Present Performance Survey) has space for two references but Section 2 of the RFP states that three references need to be provided. Please clarify.

A: Three references are required. An updated version of the survey, to include space for three references, will be attached via an amendment to the solicitation.

3Q: Can the FWS provide a general expectation of the length of both the prehistoric and historic narrative to help determine level of effort (e.g., 50 pages each, 500 pages, 1000 pages)?

A: Minimum of 100 pages, including literature and source references, appendices.

4Q: Can the FWS provide information regarding the availability of any previous studies on the Wichita Mountains area as well as any specific previously-identified primary source materials that are expected to be included? The solicitation contains wording that appears to indicate key source documents FWS is already aware of, such as early travelers’ journals.

A: We have no previous studies or source materials, other than what little might be in the files at the Refuge Office. Archeological reports for the Refuge have been few, minor, and brief, and do not contain much information. However, these may be on file at the Refuge, or from the Denver Dam Safety Office, or the Museum of the Great Plains in Lawton. A brief (approximately 10-page) building survey was done by the Oklahoma State Historic Preservation Office circa 1978, and may be on file at the Refuge or available from the Oklahoma SHPO.

5Q: Please clarify the period of performance. The Performance Work Statement states it is 7/14/15 to 2/15/15. However, the time frames identified in the schedule of deliverables equates to several months longer (approximately 12 months) than the period of performance time frame of 7 months.

A: The period of performance listed in the PWS is 07/14/2015 to 02/15/2016.

The period of performance shall be July 2015 to July 2016, one full year.

(all questions are in boxes beneath the relevant heading. Specific points from the scope of work are italicized.)

Performance Work Statement

2) A compilation of existing site records of the Refuge.

1. Does the refuge have a have a list of known locations with records and can that list be provided before the due date of the proposal? The Refuge has approximately 55 paper site records. These cannot be provided before the due date for the proposal.

3) Copies of site forms for recorded sites.

2. Are the copies physical, digital, or both? They are paper copies.

4) 7.5-minute USGS topographic maps with the site locations plotted (software versions acceptable).

1. Whole marked-up quads, shapefiles, or both? Software versions are acceptable. We do not need complete USGS maps – reproduced portions of USGS maps will suffice.

5) A narrative discussion of the past and current archeological and ethnographic/ethnohistoric investigations at Wichita Mountains Refuge and the surrounding region.

1. Does the refuge have a have a list of known locations with records and can that list be provided before the due date of the proposal? The Refuge has approximately 55 paper site records. These cannot be provided before the due date of the proposal.

6) A narrative section that presents the prehistoric and historic information available for the Wichita Mountains Refuge and surrounding region. This section shall constitute the major portion of the Overview and Assessment. It shall consist of both the Archeological/Ethnographic (prehistory/protohistory) and Historic chronologies of the region.

1. What level of detail is the agency anticipating for this entire section? High

2. Does the agency want this research to be exhaustive? Yes

3. Can the agency provide reference for an example of another similar overview and approximate page length of the requested report? Sequoyah NWR, Okhahoma

4. Does the agency wish to place emphasis on the narrative report, or the sources the contractor reports in the appendices and bibliography? Narrative report.

The prehistoric/protohistoric discussion shall include the appropriate cultural units, temporal components, or cultural sequences and phases utilized in the area. Prehistoric and protohistoric life ways shall be discussed, as identified from the archeological and ethnographic record. This shall include such factors as past technology, subsistence, settlement patterns, material culture, social and religious systems, trade, alliances, and linguistics. Identify applicable sources from which ethnographic inferences can be made.

The Historic narrative shall identify historic events, famous individuals, places, and other occurrences or incidents that are pertinent to Wichita Mountains. In developing the narrative, include information on historic personal, military, and scientific accounts and diaries, historic routes of travel, ethnic histories, and the life ways of the various ethnic groups that occupied the Wichita Mountains or its immediate region. The narrative shall capture the history of homesteading at Wichita Mountains.

The historic narrative shall describe the history of the establishment of the Refuge and the introduction of Bison, the history of the Civilian Conservation Corps, the history of the filming of “Daughter of Dawn”, and the history of the “Holy City of the Wichitas.”

1. Is archaeological fieldwork expected for the completion of the project? No.

2. Are interviews expected for the ethnographic/ethnohistoric portion? Yes

3. What year is the cutoff for the historic period? 2015 – recent fires and floods have affected historic properties.

4. To what extent do we need to discuss the present as a continuation of land use trends/settlement patters which began decades ago? Full extent on land use since the establishment of the Refuge. Modern settlement patterns are not relevant.

5. What about historic architecture in addition to that produced by the CCC? All buildings, 50 years and older

6. What about the early twentieth century conservation movement and natural resources tourism? 20th Century Conservation movement relevant to the establishment of the Refuge and introductions of Bison and Longhorns. 20th Century natural resources tourism relevant to the establishment and design of the Refuge and its facilities, dams, roads, and crossings.

7. What about the impact of Ft. Sill on the location of the refuge both past and present? Yes.

7) Recommendations for future cultural resource management options and research directions for the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. Discuss the general questions and issues relating to future archeological and historic research, documentation, and management. Indicate gaps in the present database related to these questions and issues. Present suggestions concerning future research goals and investigation needs. Discuss relevant cultural resource management options for the area.

1. Does the refuge already have current or past research directions and can they be provided? No.

8) A listing of contemporary, Federally-recognized Indian Tribes with sufficient historical, cultural, and ancestral ties to Wichita Mountains, which in the opinion of the contractor should be considered the primary points of consultation for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service projects and actions under the National Historic Preservation Act, the Archeological Resources Protection Act, the American Indian Religious Freedom Act, Presidential Executive Order 13007, and the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.

2. Are interviews expected for this portion? Yes.

3. Has there been any previous consultation with interested parties/tribes affiliated with the project area? No formal and documented consultations have been done.

9) An Appendix listing the titles of pertinent theses, dissertations, published works, research projects and/or investigation projects which have contributed to the knowledge about the cultural resources of Wichita Mountains and the Wichita Mountains region. This listing shall be annotated with a brief summary of each listed source.

1. Does the refuge already have a list and can it be provided? No.

10) A listing of the cultural resource collections, if any, from the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. This listing shall include a summary of the museum and university archeological and historic artifacts, collections, catalogs, photographic records, and archival information for the Wildlife Refuge only.

1. Does the refuge have a have a list of known locations with collections and can that list be provided before the due date of the proposal? The Refuge has approximately 55 paper site records. These cannot be provided before the due date for the proposal.

Budget

1. Does all personnel need to be listed in the proposal, or just principals? All should be listed. You may list titles of personnel and not use names. Unless you are using the key personnel as part of the proposal review.

2. Is there an expected price range? The magnitude of this project is $25,000.00

3. If we wish to add consultants later, is this allowed? And, if so, what is the procedure? Should we put a rough estimate of anticipated consultant fees and titles in the original budget? (Is it acceptable to do this without names and credentials for smaller roles individuals may have).

Adding consultants after award is not allowed.

This is a firm fixed priced contract – what is proposed, priced and accepted for award is what makes up the contract. If you are proposing to use consultants you must state that in the proposal and account for them in the budget.

Other

1. What are the insurance requirements? Not required to provide proof of insurance

2. What is the invoicing procedure? Invoice electronically via IPP.gov

3. Is there progressive invoicing – by phase/task? Progress payments are authorized under clause 52.232.16