Attachment_7_--_Sample_Task_Order_2.docx

Attachment 7

STATEMENT OF WORK

CULTURAL RESOURCE SURVEY

FOR INTERNATIONAL FALCON DAM AND RESERVOIR PROJECT

Purpose

The purpose of this statement of work is to assist the United States Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission (USIBWC) in conducting cultural resource surveys. This may include emergency excavations with or without human remains, cultural resource mitigation measures, associated prehistoric and historic sites that may contain hazardous waste or byproducts; and consultation with tribal, state and federal agencies within the Falcon Reservoir USIBWC property boundary. This would encompass all USIBWC property boundaries including private lands that may be used in a federal undertaking, possibly including consultation with Mexican commissions, land owners and /or other private and government entities.

This entails Cultural Resources Planning, Survey, Report writing, NAGPRA Emergency Excavation and Curation for a 100 acre survey with mitigation and possible salvage plans of an historic cemetery.

Background

This statement of work (SOW) is for the United States Section, International Boundary and Water Commission (USIBWC) International Falcon Dam and Reservoir Project. Falcon Reservoir is in Zapata and Starr Counties, Texas. The reservoir extends from the United States jurisdictional boundary in the reservoir to the “307-foot traverse” taking line, from the Webb and Zapata county-line at Arroyo Dolores to Falcon Dam. The study area for this SOW is at the water - land interface below the 307 traverse line of the reservoir, up to the 314 contour line with easements into and adjacent to private land.

A total of 500 acres or lands, Islands and/or peninsulas in these areas have not had systematic pedestrian reconnaissance surveys. The current project is located completely on the eastern side of the reservoir with a total of 100 acres to be completed, of which 100 acres are delineated in this statement of work for survey and testing. A prehistoric / historic cemetery was recently exposed by wave action in the reservoir with exposure of human remains. This cemetery may need to be reburied as soon as possible with any skeletal or grave memorials placed back into the correct location or exhumation with reburial at another location. A possibility of 10 burials or more may be present.

USIBWC Lands

This includes all federally administered USIBWC lands, other federal lands or land management agencies and project specific private lands that may be used, accessed or examined for projects.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Contractor shall assume the lead for the USIBWC in the following:

This project will take place on USIBWC lands and may include easements or private property at Falcon Reservoir.

Provide a cultural resources work report that includes the following in sections of procedure: Pre-field research, Field Work (Survey), Excavation plan, Laboratory Analysis plan, Mitigation plan and Treatment plan for sites and one for the cemetery and include a separate plan for emergency excavation (24 hour notice). This will include NAGPRA consultation, Curation agreement, Tribal or Cultural Affiliation paperwork and any other historical or cultural documentation that is needed up to National Register registration or Landmark designation. This includes all GIS information, photos, artifacts and associated materials of the project(s).

Request an Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA) permit to conduct cultural resource survey work. Submit the ARPA permit request to the CO.

Complete and submit a Request for Housing/Provisional Housing Agreement Curation Form 1 to the Texas Archaeological Research Laboratory (TARL) in Austin, Texas.

Contractor will furnish all labor, materials, facility equipment, mail costs, housing and transportation for the work and services, following the schedule below. Do not release data, reports and materials contained, or developed without prior written approval of the USIBWC.

Incorporate into the deliverable a copy of the signed ARPA Permit and Curation agreement. Conform to the USIBWC regulations found at 22CFR1104 et seq. for protection of archaeological resources. Do not conduct work until after permit issuance. Conduct the work following the ARPA of 1979 (P.L. 96-95; 93 Stat. 721, 16 U.S.C. 470aa et seq. and 43 CFR 7) and USIBWC regulations 22 CFR 1104 on United States Government lands, owned or controlled by USIBWC.

Requirements

General:

The contractor's Principal Investigator (PI) for this study, who is responsible for study oversight, must have extensive field and research experience in Spanish Colonial and prehistoric occupations in the Falcon Reservoir area, to include an extensive publication trail. Field and laboratory work will be managed by Project Managers (PM) or Project Archaeologists (PA) with demonstrated field expertise with Spanish Colonial and prehistoric occupations in the reservoir area without the same extensive published work. The proposal work plan must include PI and PA vitas, along with other staff and crew leaders, that demonstrates the number of publications credited to primary staff (other than the current survey report). The same lead researchers must be directly involved in the field work, analysis, and write-up. The PI, PM’s or PA’s must be part of the survey crew for the entire field survey, including transects and identifications of Tasks. The Principal Investigator must be in the field at the Falcon project area for quality control and documentation. The contractor is responsible for having personnel with the experience, as stated, in the Falcon Reservoir area. Additionally, an Osteologist or Physical Anthropologist will be need for the cemetery. If the contractor has no personnel with Falcon Reservoir archeological experience as defined in the Statement of Work, it is up to them to acquire the appropriate personnel. Archeological investigations must be supervised by an archeologist (PI) who meets the U.S. Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualification Standards for Archeology (48FR 22716 or 36 CFR Part 61).

Prepare all documents following appropriate sections of USIBWC regulations, the National Historic Preservation Act, ARPA, NAGPRA and other Federal Acts. Prepare the text grammatically suitable for persons professionally trained in the technical subject matter. Draft deliverables will not be reviewed if, in the opinion of the CO, they are not a complete draft, or if they have not been edited. Final deliverables will be error-free, and have no typographical errors, inconsistent data or misspelled words. Define acronyms on first use. Review the versions of the deliverable to insure that they are of a high professional quality, and meet the requirements of the SOW. The report deliverable will be in Microsoft Word and have a paper size of 8 1/2 x 11 inches with one inch margins. Use the reference format of American Antiquity Journal or Council of Texas Archeologists: Guidelines for Cultural Resource Management Reports. The Texas Historical Commission (THC) Guidelines can be found at: http://www.thc.state.tx.us/rulesregs/RulesRegsPDF/CTAguidelines.pdf

Tasks

An intensive pedestrian survey of approximately 100 acres at Falcon Reservoir is requested. The study is alongside the east bank of Falcon Reservoir and Rio Grande River, up to the 314 contour line with easements into and adjacent to private land. Maps and aerials of the locations will be provided, as stated in GFM (Attachment 3).

An identification of cemetery associated human remains, grave goods and associated funerary objects with identification and reburial of remains. This would also be a mitigation plan for exhumation and reinternment at another cemetery.

Task 1: Project Management

Attend a kickoff teleconference meeting with USIBWC via a teleconference and provide an agenda two days before the meeting, minutes within five days following the meeting, and monthly progress reports at the beginning of each month.

Request an Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA) permit to conduct cultural resource survey work. Submit the ARPA permit request to the CO.

Complete and submit a Request for Housing/Provisional Housing Agreement Curation Form 1 to the Texas Archaeological Research Laboratory (TARL) in Austin, Texas.

Task 2: Provide a Cultural Resources Work Report for Pre-field Research, Field Work (Survey) Plan, Excavation Plan and Laboratory Analysis Plan

Prepare a Cultural Resources Work Report based on Pre-field research of the history, previous surveys and environment of the area. This consists of conducting limited historical research for the survey areas using materials collected during previous research efforts or available at the Library of Congress. Sections will have information based on review of historical maps and reports for the survey areas identified to obtain information about sites.

Design the field plan / methods for this project, taking into account research and fieldwork conducted previously in the vicinity of the study area. Survey the acreage on current THC standards and collection procedures with systematic pedestrian transects at intervals of 15 m or less. Place six shovel tests at all archaeological site locations with the potential for buried deposits according to THC survey standards. High probability areas and some moderate probability areas will be subject to 100% intensive survey with subsurface testing to satisfy the THC minimum survey standards. Describe all prehistoric and historic archaeological sites found within the survey acreages.

In addition to, analyses in the field will be extensive and collection will be at a minimum for the number of artifacts except for diagnostics. Collections of diagnostics are to document and prevent sites from being looted. All sites will be recorded in detail with provenience of diagnostics, concentrations and estimates of artifact numbers. Sketch maps are to be recorded in detail of all sites. Individual finds (IF’s) will be GPS positioned, photographed, measured and included with the draft and final reports. Collection of these will be diagnostics or culturally significant.

This will also include a section on Field Work (Survey) plan conducting a systematic pedestrian survey in the 100 acre area. The survey area(s) may include islands and/or peninsulas down slope of the USIBWC property line but are topographically higher than it. The study areas extend from the water's edge at the time of the surveys, presently at an elevation of approximately 270 feet, up to the 95.7 m (314-foot) traverse taking line or private property line. Some areas are above the 314’ contour line. The distinct survey area is based on roads and houses in area adjacent to USIBWC land.

A Site for this project is defined as: An archeological occurrence which contains any cultural feature, or alternatively, a minimum of ten artifacts within a 30 m radius. This can be adjusted as necessary after consultation with THC and USIBWC. Historic sites will be recorded by feet and inches (English), while prehistoric sites will be recorded in metric system. Historic foundations, artifacts and structures, including shovel tests with historic debris will be measured, features identified, site and artifacts photographed and identified in detail including mapping by both paper and GPS. This will be the same for prehistoric sites and Individual finds (IF’s) as per THC standards.

In the Field Work (Survey), Excavation plans and Laboratory Analysis plan, there will be an analysis of the historic artifacts and illustrations of ceramics and other historic artifacts found and how this is to be accomplished. This will also include testing (shovel, backhoe or units). The bibliography will cite references for date range of manufacture of such and sources as per THC standards. Analyze the field data, and support the field work. Arrange for curation of artifacts recovered that are to be sent to repository.

Task 3: Prepare a Mitigation Plan and Treatment Plan, and Conduct Site / Feature Investigations of cemetery and survey area, including sites.

Conduct reconnaissance visit to prehistoric / historic cemetery. Re-evaluate condition of the cemetery and vicinity up to private land on USIBWC land. Survey, shovel testing and recording of site for possibility of additional burials outside of current cemetery confines in this area will be recorded in detail for further study on USIBWC land only. The cemetery may be expanded on IBWC land due to positive shovel tests. Prepare a Mitigation and Treatment plan on results of survey and testing of cemetery.

Prepare a treatment plan for sites and any additional cemeteries located in or adjacent to USIBWC land. This is based on results of reconnaissance around the Zapata area to help USIBWC in determining future treatment goals for the area. On USIBWC land, develop alternatives based on site cultural context, and potential research issues, for the USIBWC to make a selection of an appropriate treatment methodology, if required. Recommend specific field treatments / methods for alternatives and to salvage priority features subject to erosion. Include an outreach component which includes continued USIBWC field inspections of leased rights-of-way. Coordinate the treatment plan with the USIBWC as per THC guidance and standards. Additional information that is needed and is a part of this SOW is selection of an alternative in the mitigation plan. Additional testing may be needed that is a part of this SOW for new sites

Task 4: Prepare a separate plan for Emergency Excavation (Contractor 24 Hour Notice) for discovery of human remains.

Design a response plan for emergency salvage, excavation, mitigation, treatment and may include laboratory study and curation of human remains and burial goods found.

Provide a plan on NAGPRA standards for repatriation of such remains and burial goods and associated steps and mitigation measures from excavation to formal repatriation and associated closing of 43 CFR 10 procedures.

Task 5: Technical Report(s).

All task plans are to be incorporated into one report, the Final Report. Document the distribution of historical and prehistoric resources in the study area. Document prehistoric / historical cemetery and associated features. Note extant and potential threats to site integrity to provide a good baseline for predicting potential impacts. The Final Report will have a full discussion of each task and the methods used to complete them, following established THC report standards, as stated in Tasks.

Following site identification, provide a preliminary evaluation of each resource's potential for significance, based on the criteria for eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places. Make cultural resource management recommendations on short and long-term planning activities for the project area.

Prepare a preliminary draft, draft, preliminary final and final report with a full discussion of each task and the methods used to complete them, following established THC report standards, as stated in Tasks. Volume I of the report will not contain detailed site location information (public use) while Volume II of the report will contain detailed site location information (restricted IBWC use).

Prepare the data on the archaeological sites recorded, analysis and cemetery. Include the records on forms in Volume II of the report. Submit the completed Texas Archaeological Site Data Forms to the THC. Prepare collected artifacts, photographs, field notes and associated forms and reports to be curated at TARL.

Review draft pre-final and final documents. Ensure that they are of a high Professional scientific / archaeological and educational quality and meet the requirements of the SOW.

Task 6: Prepare an update of all GIS records to THC after final report with submittal of all GIS records to USIBWC.

Incorporate the archaeological site data into the existing GIS project files. The GIS project file's data consist of maps, artifact images, site maps, and data tables. The information is used as a planning and management tool. Incorporate the GIS project files data into the USIBWC Final Cultural Resource Management Plan Database. All metadata shall be consistent with the Federal Geographic Data Committee's Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata.

Incorporate in the GIS project files data the U.S. Geological Survey 7.5-minute topographic maps of the reservoir area.

Create separate layers, or themes, representing previously recorded cultural resources, and previous survey areas, into the GIS project files. Any feature classes (point, polygon, polyline) created from the data should be done in the State Plane coordinate system (feet) appropriate to the area, i.e. UTM, NAD83. Include metadata and attribute tables for each feature class or raster data created for this project. Describe methodology for taking GPS measurements and post processing. Describe how perimeters are created.

These data must contain the following information: Coordinates (X,Y), title of report, year report was prepared, area of the project that the report was prepared in support of, company/firm that prepared report, author that prepared report (if found), and company/firm awarded the task order to prepare the report. A “special notes” column may be necessary.

Link the geodatabase to a pdf containing data on sites within an .mxd file. Link it to allow the user to view site data with the map data. Include instructions in the jewel case on using Environmental System Research Institute's (ESRI) ArcGIS 10.0 software with the GIS project files to search for mapped sites.

Deliverables and Schedule

Deliverables:

Submit the following to the COR for review, except the deliverables in the last bullet:

Contractor Monthly progress reports.

Two (2) sets of the paper copy of the draft plan reports and 2 CD copies including the GIS project files. Cultural Resources Work report includes the following in sections: Pre-field research, Field Work (Survey), Excavation plan, Laboratory Analysis plan, Mitigation plan and Treatment plan for sites and one for the cemetery and include a separate plan for emergency excavation (24 hour notice).

Two (2) sets of the paper copy of the draft plan reports and 2 CD copies including the GIS project files and 1 set of to the THC.

Two (2) sets of the paper copy of the preliminary final reports and 2 CD copies including the GIS project files and 1 copy to the THC.

Two (2) sets of the paper copy of an advanced copy of the final reports and 2 CD copies including the GIS project files.

Two (2) sets of the paper copies of the final reports, including 4 CD copies with the GIS project files and one tagged PDF with the sites and one tagged PDF without the sites to the THC.

GIS files are a separate deliverable with all shapefiles, metadata, attributes and pertinent files in geodatabase format.

All data and information collected and developed under this contract shall become the sole property of the USIBWC.

Schedule:

The schedule above, (Deliverables), incorporates three major review periods to fit THC's request to comment on the preliminary draft, draft and preliminary final deliverables. The three review periods by the USIBWC and THC are 45 calendar days each. This project will have a completion date of 180 days (6 months) from award of contract.

Attachment 1. USIBWC ARPA Permit form (see following pages) Attachment 2. USIBWC regulations at 22 CFR 1104 et seq. (see following pages) Attachment 3. Maps of individual survey areas and map of overall location of survey area.