FY2016_CR_IDIQ_SOW_4-20-16_Final.pdf

National Capital Region

Washington, DC

STATEMENT OF WORK

FOR

“INDEFINITE QUANTITIES CONTRACT FOR SERVICES RELATING TO ARCHEOLOGY,

HISTORY, AND NATIONAL REGISTER AND NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARKS STUDIES”

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

National Capital Region 04/20/2016

INTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS

NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION

ARCHEOLOGY, HISTORY, AND NATIONAL REGISTER AND NATIONAL HISTORIC

LANDMARKS STUDIES SERVICES

Notice to Offerors: The NAICS code for this procurement is 541720 with a size standard of $20.5M.

Notwithstanding, given the experience of the NCR with the professional services required under the intended contract the past twenty years, technical capability requirements, complexity, and magnitude of the planned project works during the term of the intended contract, this solicitation is open to both small and large businesses. An award to an “Other Than Small Business” concern would be required to establish a subcontracting plan in accordance with FAR Subpart 19.7 as described in the associated announcement and

Section M, Evaluation Criteria.

Because of the critical requirement for providers having the needed technical expertise, this solicitation is being directed to vendors who have demonstrated past experience with the National Park Service (NPS) supporting projects of similar scope and complexity. Notwithstanding, due to the criticality of preserving national cultural resources, in the event that sufficient responsive small business concerns are not responsive, the Government reserves the right to consider offers from other than small business concerns for an award determination.

The NPS, National Capital Region (NCR) Directorate of Resource, Stewardship and Science

(RSS), 1100 Ohio Drive, SW, Washington, DC 20242, is seeking a qualified vendor to provide technical services in the disciplines indicated in the Statement of Work (SOW).

AWARD CONSIDERATIONS

The Government intends to award one Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract from a subsequent Solicitation following this announcement. The IDIQ contract is contemplated to covering a base period of one (1) calendar year from contract award date, with up to four (4) additional one-year option periods. The base award will be an unfunded contract incorporating a negotiated rates for services established in an accepted Labor Rate Schedule. Work will be ordered by issuance of individual firm-fixed price or not-to-exceed type Task Orders executed by authorized Contracting Officers. Additional work by authorized external federal agencies outside of the NCR will be acquired under similar Task Orders subject to the terms and conditions or the parent contract. The maximum awarded contract ordering limitation will be $2,500,000.00 for the life of the contract. The guaranteed minimum per contract awarded for the life of the contract, which includes the base period and all options exercised, is $200,000.00. Significant U.S. Civil

Rights projects are expected to begin in 2016 and carry through 2018.

LOCATION AND TYPES OF PROJECTS

Projects will be located in the National Capital Region (NPS-NCR) encompassing portions of Washington

D.C., Virginia, Maryland, and West Virginia. However, other NPS Contracting offices may also be permitted to issue task orders against this contract. This decision will be limited by the contract ceiling, and to the authority of the Contracting Officer supported by confirmation of NPS technical Project Managers/

Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR)s.

Projects may include, but are not limited to, Archaeological/Historic/ NRNHL services for:

Potential archeological resources in a given area, such as a particular tract of land, a district within a park, or an entire park unit;

Study to discover and describe the locations, and some of the characteristics of all or a sample of archeological resources in a particular area;

Collect and analyze sufficient information to determine whether or not an archeological site or property is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places;

Data recovery studies undertaken if significant or potentially significant archeological resources must be disturbed by park development or are threatened by natural forces;

Professional evaluation of the condition of an archeological resource that focuses on physical stability and degree or amount of deterioration;

Historical overview of a park or region identifying and evaluating a park's cultural resources within historic contexts;

History, of particular value to managers, planners, and interpreters, describing how a park was conceived and established and how it has been managed to the present day;

Special history studies providing focused examinations on a particular theme or place within parks or within a region;

Oral history implementing the National Park Service (NPS) mission of preserving and protecting park cultural and natural resources;

Survey, inventory, and nomination to the National Register of Historic Places (Register) properties of national, state, and local significance in NPS custody that meet the National Register Criteria for

Evaluation and to document to National Register standards, NPS historical areas administratively listed in the Register;

Services to nominate, expand, or update National Historic Landmarks both on NPS property and on private or other publically owned lands throughout the region;

Determination of eligibility reporting for Department of the Interior decision that a district, site, building, structure or object meets the National Register criteria for evaluation although the property is not formally listed in the National Register;

Conduct of organized theme studies which encompass the major aspects of American history.

CODES, REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS

Projects require a direct and comprehensive knowledge of and experience complying with the following

Department of Interior, National Park Service documents: Code of Federal Regulations, 36 CFR Part 61 as implemented by the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and Guidelines for Archeology and Historic

Preservation; 1916 Organic Act; the Historic Sites Act of 1935 (16 USC 461 to 467); a park's enabling legislation; the National Park Service Cultural Resource Management Guidelines (Director’s Order-28); The

Secretary of the Interior's Standards and Guidelines for Archeology and Historic Preservation; the 1966

National Historic Preservation Act, as amended; and other applicable Federal historic preservation regulations and legislation.

OFFERS IN RESPONSE TO THE SOLICITATION

Vendor experience and references shall be presented in a brief narrative format describing key personnel qualifications and experience as defined in the below criteria. Experience should include a listing of at least three projects within the past five years of work similar in nature to that called for in this solicitation’s SOW.

The three project references shall include contract amount, customer/ organization name, contact representative name and phone number.

All pricing shall represent compensation in full for furnishing the necessary manpower, facilities, supplies, materials, transportation and travel, applicable state and local taxes, and all other attributable costs to successfully complete the requirements contained herein. Any offer not responding to these requirements will be deemed non-responsive. Labor pricing requirements are subject to the Brooks Act. See the enclosed

SOW, Section M, Evaluation Criteria, Personnel, and attached Technical Exhibit 1 – Position Qualifications.

TECHNICAL EVALATION CRITERIA

The combined solicitation will stipulate the evaluation criteria. Sources shall be selected following procedures under FAR Subpart 36.6 pursuant to applicable provisions in Parts 12, 13, and 15. Statements of

Qualification will be evaluated by a Technical Evaluation Panel (TEP) of the National Park Service personnel based upon the following specific criteria. The TEP will establish an evaluation scheme based on adjectival or color ratings reflective of the following example and apply these to the combined Past

Performance, Technical Capability, Key Personnel, and Methodology factors.

ADJECTIVAL COLOR DEFINITION

Outstanding Blue A proposal that satisfies all of the Government’s requirements with extensive detail to indicate feasibility of the approach and shows a thorough understanding of the problems and offers numerous significant strengths, which are not offset by weaknesses, with an overall low degree of risk in meeting the Government’s requirements.

Good Green A proposal that satisfies all of the Government’s requirements with adequate detail to indicate feasibility of the approach and shows an understanding of the problems and offers some significant strengths or numerous minor strengths, which are not offset by weaknesses, with an overall low to moderate degree of risk in meeting the Government’s requirements.

Acceptable Yellow A proposal that satisfies all of the Government’s requirements with minimal detail to indicate feasibility of the approach and shows a minimal understanding of the problems, with an overall moderate to high degree of risk in meeting the Government’s requirements.

Marginal Orange A proposal that satisfies all of the Government’s requirements with minimum detail to indicate feasibility of approach and shows a minimal understanding of the problem with an overall high degree of risk in meeting the Government’s requirement.

Susceptible to

Being Made

Acceptable

Pink An approach which, as initially proposed, cannot be rated Marginal because of a minor error(s), omission(s) or deficiency(ies) which is capable of being corrected without a major rewrite or revision of the proposal.

NOTE: A Susceptible rating cannot be a final rating. The final rating will either increase to a rating of Marginal or better or decrease to

Unacceptable.

Unacceptable Red A proposal that contains a major error(s), omission(s) or deficiency(ies) that indicates a lack of understanding of the problems or an approach that cannot be expected to meet requirements or involves a very high risk; and none of these conditions can be corrected without a major rewrite or revision of the proposal.

The evaluation factors will be as follows:

Refer to Statement of Work, Section M, Evaluation Criteria

REFERENCE:

The Federal Acquisition Regulation website is https://acquisition.gov/far/index.html.

MANDATORY REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS

Registration in Online Representations and Certifications Application (ORCA) is encouraged in responding to this solicitation (https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/). (ORCA migrated under the System for Award

Management (SAM) in July 2012). In addition, active registration in SAM is required in order to conduct business with the Federal Government.

BID SUBMISSION

Responses must be received NLT 4:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, June 1, 2016 at the indicated address.

Responses shall be submitted via two hard copies by hand, USPS, or express mail carrier service. Offers shall be in spiral, or taped spine bound, double sided, black and white format. One additional electronic copy shall be sent via electronic mail attachment in a 300 ppi, non-OCR .pdf format to the CO and COR at their indicted electronic mail addresses. The proposals shall include labor rates and applicable fee schedule per the below prescribed Pricing Schedule.

The bound proposals shall be developed and assembled in a manner that sequentially corresponds and addresses the Technical Evaluation Criteria. Submission of any additional supporting material is encouraged, but only to the extent that it graphically (via drawings and photographs) substantiates the relevant project work. Additional information should not exceed 20 double-side pages. Submissions received via e-mail or facsimile will NOT be accepted. In support of the sustainable practices of resource conservation and material recycling, submissions should be concise, make wise use of recycled/recyclable paper and other materials, and be organized in such a manner that the recyclable materials can be easily removed after evaluation. To the extent possible, printed/copied double-sided paper documents should be submitted.

All responsible sources may submit an offer, which will be considered by the Government.

The Contract Specialist responsible for procurement information:

Contracting Officer: John K. Warner

National Park Service

National Capital Region Office of Acquisitions, Financial Assistance, and Property Management

1100 Ohio Drive, SW

Washington, DC 20242

Telephone No. (202) 619-6369

Facsimile No. (202) 485-9720

Electronic Mail: john_k_warner@nps.gov

The Technical Representative responsible for requirements and specification information:

Stephen R. Potter

Regional Archeologist

National Park Service

National Capital Region, Directorate of resource, Stewardship, and Science

1100 Ohio Drive, SW https://acquisition.gov/far/index.html

Washington, DC 20242

Telephone No. (202)619-7280

Facsimile No. (202) 401-0017

Electronic Mail: stephen_potter@nps.gov

BID DEADLINE AND PROPOSAL DELIVERY ADDRESS

Proposals shall be submitted no later than 4:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, June 1, 2016 via express mail carrier or hand delivery to:

John Warner

E-mail: john_k_warner@nps.gov

Fax: 202-485-9720

Office: (202) 619-6381

National Capital Region

Acquisition Management Annex

1100 Ohio Drive, SW

Washington, DC 20242

GPS coordinates 38.8777526,-77.0340304

PRE-BID CONFERENCE

No Pre-bid conference will be conducted for this project. Any technical clarifications may be address as needed to the NPS Technical Representative prior to the bid due date.

mailto:john_k_warner@nps.gov

STATEMENT OF WORK

INDEFINITE QUANTITIES CONTRACT FOR SERVICES RELATING TO ARCHEOLOGY, HISTORY,

AND NATIONAL REGISTER AND NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARKS STUDIES

INTRODUCTION

The National Capital Region (NCR), National Park Service (NPS) consists of thirty-four units of the NPS, totaling over 88,500 acres of fee-owned lands in portions of Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and the

District of Columbia. Unlike the other regions of the NPS, NCR is unique because all of its thirty-four units are located in one geographic area -- the Potomac River basin. The northernmost unit is Catoctin Mountain

Park, Maryland, the easternmost unit is the Baltimore Washington Parkway, Maryland, the southernmost unit is Prince William Forest Park, Virginia, and the westernmost unit is the terminus of the Chesapeake and

Ohio Canal National Historical Park at Cumberland, Maryland. These parks include a diversity of prehistoric and historic archeological resources, historic structures, cultural landscapes, and battlefields. In addition to park units, the NCR contains over 110 National Historic Landmarks under a variety of ownerships. Among the nation’s most significant historic places, these NHLs represent a large cross-section of American history and design. While a handful are within the National Park system, most are owned by other governmental agencies, non-profits, or private individuals.

DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES

The National Park Service, National Capital Region, is seeking an indefinite delivery indefinite quantities contract with a firm qualified to provide the types of services for archeology, history, and national register and national historic landmarks studies enumerated below. These services will be completed consistent with the 1916 Organic Act; the Historic Sites Act of 1935 (16 USC 461 to 467); a park's enabling legislation; the

National Park Service Cultural Resource Management Guidelines (Director’s Order-28); The Secretary of the Interior's Standards and Guidelines for Archeology and Historic Preservation; the 1966 National Historic

Preservation Act, as amended; and other applicable Federal historic preservation regulations and legislation.

ARCHEOLOGY

Archeological Overview and Assessment: An Archeological Overview and Assessment describes the known and potential archeological resources in a given area, such as a particular tract of land, a district within a park, or an entire park unit. The overview consists of a review and summary of existing archeological data and the assessment is an evaluation of these data. For this study, present knowledge is gathered, evaluated, and analyzed to make general statements regarding the nature, distribution, and significance of the resources. The document ends with recommendations for future research and predictions about potential impacts on the resource base.

The overview and assessment should contain the following information: an abstract, management summary

(one to three pages), introduction and description of the study, description of the present natural and cultural environment as it affects both the archeological resources and the ability to conduct archeological research, research goals and strategy, methods of data collection and analysis, summary and evaluation of current knowledge (based on the culture history, ethnohistory, material culture, and archival collections pertinent to the study area), management recommendations, references, and appendices containing a listing of material culture collections, field records, and archives relevant to the archeology and ethnohistory of the study area.

In many instances, an overview and assessment is the first step in an Archeological Identification Evaluation

Study. As such, the overview and assessment also should contain a research design which spells out the

Archeological Identification Study's theoretical and substantive goals, and the methods by which these are to be accomplished.

Any [research] design should describe the problem and the hypotheses to be tested, should include a comprehensive plan for scheduling and implementing the investigations, and should explain and justify each step in terms of recognized aims of the study. As no investigator has a comprehensive awareness of the research potential of the resource base before the study begins, an adequate research design must retain the flexibility necessary to maximize this potential as it is discovered throughout the study of the archeological record. Yet the design must at the same time realistically define the research parameters, in order to allow assessment of the degree to which it meets relevant management requirements (The Airlie House Report, 1977:50, 72-73).

Archeological Identification Study (Phase I): The purpose of an Archeological Survey and Identification

Study is to discover and describe the locations, and some of the characteristics of all or a sample of archeological resources in a particular area. This task may be accomplished by an on-the-ground survey, shovel testing, limited excavations, geophysical prospecting, remote sensing, or any combination of the above, as identified in a Task Order. An Archeological Survey and Identification Study should contain the following basic information: an abstract, management summary, introduction and description of the study, background and literature search, research goals and strategy, methods of data collection and analysis, data description and analysis, evaluation and interpretation of the cultural resources, recommendations, and an appendix containing an inventory of the artifacts collected.

All archeological resources will be recorded using a mapping or survey-grade GPS unit to an accuracy of less than 3 feet. The GPS data will be converted to GIS layers using the local coordinate system appropriate for each particular park. A minimum of three GIS layers will be produced: site boundaries/locations, areas surveyed, and areas tested. Each layer must be free of geometry errors, including topological errors, have a completely populated attribute table, and be accompanied by FGDC compliant metadata, including but not limited to process steps, attribute descriptions, title, dates, abstract, and purpose.

For each new archeological site identified during the survey, the appropriate state archeological site form and an NPS ASMIS Contractor Form must be completed. The NPS will provide the appropriate ASMIS form and instructions (ASMIS 4.0 Data Dictionary). All artifacts and documentation resulting from the archeological fieldwork will be processed according to the procedures outlined in the Regional Archeology

Program Laboratory Manual.

Archeological Evaluation Study (Phase II): The purpose of an Archeological Evaluation Study is to collect and analyze sufficient information to determine whether or not an archeological site or property is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Often, evaluation studies are linked to survey and identification studies.

Archeological properties are identified for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places by determining their integrity, research potential, and identifying the National Register criteria that apply to them. Evaluation within the framework of the National Register criteria (as established by 36 CFR Part

60.4) defines which properties, or classes of properties, are significant, and which attributes of those properties make them significant. In addition to a report fully documenting the results of the fieldwork and analysis (following the general outline given for a Survey and Identification Study), this type of study includes the acceptable completion of the National Register Nomination form(s) for the particular site(s) identified in the Task Order, including original field notes, maps, photographs, figures, and any other data used in preparing the nomination (refer to National Register Bulletin 16A, "How to Complete the National

Register Registration Form"). All artifacts and documentation resulting from the evaluation study will be processed according to the procedures outlined in the Regional Archeology Program Laboratory Manual.

Archeological Data Recovery Study (Phase III): Data recovery studies are undertaken if significant or potentially significant archeological resources must be disturbed by park development or are threatened by natural forces. The first step in such a study is the development, review, and approval of a Phase III

(mitigation) Research Design/Data Recovery Plan. The purpose of data recovery projects is to conduct an investigation like that outlined above for archeological research, in order to gather scientific and historical data that might otherwise be destroyed or lost. Specific objectives include: 1) description of the archeological site or property under study and the characteristics which make it eligible for the National Register, 2) maximum retrieval of important data from the archeological site relevant to the stated research questions, 3) determination of the site's characteristics and variability, and 4) public outreach and interpretation of the data recovery results. All artifacts and documentation resulting from the investigation will be processed according to the procedures outlined in the Regional Archeology Program Laboratory Manual.

Archeological Site Condition Assessment Updates: The Site Condition Assessment (CA), is a professional evaluation of the condition of an archeological resource that focuses on physical stability and degree or amount of deterioration. CAs involve a site visit and, within NCR, are usually conducted at 5 or

10-year intervals. Depending on the nature of the archeological resource and other factors, shorter intervals between site visits may be necessary. Updates include examining the current site information recorded in

ASMIS to determine what information needs updating, collecting information lacking in required fields, and recording the site’s location using GPS, if it is not so recorded.

The NPS, NCR has an ASMIS Contractor Form, which includes the required fields for a Site Condition

Assessment. The Washington Office (WASO) of the NPS has also issued “Guidance for Determining

Archeological Site Condition and Recording it in ASMIS”.

HISTORY

Historic Resource Study (HRS): A historic resource study (HRS) provides a historical overview of a park or region and identifies and evaluates a park's cultural resources within historic contexts. It synthesizes all available cultural resource information from all disciplines in a narrative designed to serve managers, planners, interpreters, cultural resource specialists, and interested public as a reference for the history of the region and the resources within a park. Entailing both documentary research and field investigations to determine and describe the integrity, authenticity, associative values, and significance of resources, the HRS supplies data for resource management and interpretation. In some instances, it includes the preparation of

National Register nominations for all qualifying resources, and is a principal tool for completing the Cultural

Landscapes Inventory and the List of Classified Structures. The HRS identifies needs for special history studies, cultural landscape reports, and other detailed studies and may make recommendations for resource management and interpretation.

HRSs will vary in scope depending on management needs. Relevant information readily available in other sources need not be included except by reference. Additional HRSs are appropriate to address themes, resource types, and other subject matter not originally covered. Although the HRS is interdisciplinary in character, the principal investigator is usually a historian.

Park Administrative History: This history, of particular value to managers, planners, and interpreters, describes how a park was conceived and established and how it has been managed to the present day. The park's legislative history and important issues in planning, land acquisition, development, public relations, and other topics of ongoing management concern are emphasized.

The fundamental goal of the National Park Service's administrative history program is to obtain an accurate, thorough, and well-written account of the origin and evolution of each unit of the National Park System. A park administrative history explains how the park was conceived and established and how it has been administered up to the present. It focuses on the history of the park as a park, to include the history of various park programs and activities. The history of the event, movement, or person that a historical park commemorates need be addressed only to the extent that it affected the establishment of the park and its administration. The primary audience for park administrative histories is current and future park managers and staff. Administrative histories provide valuable context and inform superintendents about why and how their predecessors made certain decisions. They help superintendents understand past controversies and prepare for future ones and are a critical tool for park managers who seek greater understanding of why and how certain practices and policies evolved.

Administrative Histories should be written to be accessible, analytical summaries of the major issues affecting the park. The authors should distill the most significant information from the mass of data, present the information in a well-organized, interesting fashion, and provided thoughtful analysis. Administrative histories often combine chronological narratives with topical treatments of key activities, events, and issues.

Topical treatment of community relations, interpretation, resource management and protection, visitor use, and threats to the parks are often appropriate. Administrative Histories should be prepared in conformance with the National Park Service Administrative History: A Guide (U.S. Department of the Interior, National

Park Service, 2004).

Special History Studies: Special history studies are focused examinations on a particular theme or place within parks (or within a region), and are often used to help inform other studies such as a Historic Resource

Study or Administrative History. Special History Studies also allow research on particular themes that are of pressing importance to parks for interpretive, resource management, and/or planning purposes.

Oral History: Oral history is an important tool in implementing the National Park Service (NPS) mission of preserving and protecting park cultural and natural resources. It is particularly useful in documenting cultural and historical memory, filling gaps in the historical record, and incorporating the perspectives of diverse groups. Historians, archeologists, ethnographers, interpreters, park rangers, and cultural landscape specialists use oral history to document the history of the NPS, as well as the history of individual parks, park programs, and park structures. In addition, they use oral history to document the events and people that the parks commemorate.

NATIONAL REGISTER AND NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK STUDIES

National Register of Historic Places Nomination and Updates: The NPS is required by law to survey, inventory, and nominate to the National Register of Historic Places (Register) properties of national, state, and local significance in its custody that meet the National Register Criteria for Evaluation and to document to National Register standards its historical areas administratively listed in the Register. In addition, NPS has a policy of updating and expanding upon National Register nominations that are out of date. The contractor will be expected to have the capacity to prepare individual National Register of Historic Places nominations, historic district nominations, and Multiple Property Documentation Forms. Nominations will require close collaboration with NCR and Park staff, analysis and synthesis of all existing cultural resource documentation, including archeological resources, collections, cultural landscapes, and ethnographic data. In addition, the contractor will be expected to prepare all historical background and contextual narratives using relevant primary and secondary source material. A familiarity with regional historical scholarship on a variety of themes, as well as familiarity with regional research repositories is desirable. In order to evaluate significance of archeological resources, the contractor will need to have on staff or available as a subcontractor an archeologist who meets the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualification Standards in Archeology, and who has experience applying the National Register Criteria to archeological sites and archeological districts.

National Historic Landmark Nominations, Preliminary Evaluations, and Updates to NHL nominations: The History Program periodically requires services to nominate, expand, or update National

Historic Landmarks both on NPS property and on private or other publically owned lands throughout the region. NHL nominations require completion of the NHL form, which includes preparation of architectural/physical descriptions, research for and preparation of relevant historic contexts, evaluation of a property’s significance within a nationwide historical context, and physical documentation, including photographs, and the creation/preparation of floor plans or site plans and maps illustrating the significant properties. NHL nominations require adherence to a high level of academic and professional standards for historical research, writing, and evaluation. For some nominations, coordination of academic and/or peer review of drafts will be necessary. Coordination and consultation with NPS staff and local partners is necessary and new research and scholarship are sometimes needed. Presentation(s) before the NHL

Committee of the National Park System Advisory Board will be required.

Determinations of Eligibility (DOE): A determination of eligibility is a decision by the Department of the

Interior that a district, site, building, structure or object meets the National Register criteria for evaluation although the property is not formally listed in the National Register. The determination is made in consultation with the relevant State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). A report, in various forms, is required for the SHPO and NPS to make a determination. A DOE typically contains a physical description of the resource(s), along with photographs and maps illustrating the property. The report also contains a brief history of the creation, use, and development of the property that notes when significant changes occurred over time. The document provides enough historic context and comparative analysis to place the property within its associated historic themes and to provide for an evaluation of whether the property has historical, architectural, or other significance within one of those themes. A DOE makes a recommendation on whether or not the property meets any or all of the National Register criteria (Criteria A, B, C, & D). As part of the evaluation of eligibility, the author assesses the property’s physical integrity. DOEs submitted for

SHPO concurrence must be prepared in accordance with the requirements of the relevant SHPO.

NHL Theme Studies: NPS defines and systematically conducts organized theme studies which encompass the major aspects of American history. The theme studies provide a contextual framework to evaluate the relative significance of historic properties and determine which properties meet National Historic Landmark criteria. A theme study must provide the necessary national historic context so that national significance may be judged for a number of related properties. NHL Theme Studies are usually prepared in a format similar to the National Register’s Multiple Property Documentation Form.

SECTION M

EVALUATION CRITERIA

The offeror responses will be evaluated by a TEP of National Park Service personnel based upon the following specific evaluation factors. The following factors are not weighted, however, they are listed in descending order of importance.

Past performance and technical capability when combined, are more important than price. Past performance is slightly more important than technical capability:

1. Past Performance (FAR 15.304)

2. Technical Capability / Methodology or Approach for Providing Services

3. Key Personnel

4. Price

PAST PERFORMANCE

The TEP will review the offerors based on the firm’s demonstrated experience in successfully performing large-scale, multi-year cultural resource research and documentation projects of the types listed in the Scope of Work, Description of Services. The offerors will be evaluated on their past performance of similar work for federal government agencies in general and the National Park Service in particular, as well as for private clients. The quality of work, compliance with performance schedules, project management, and cost control will all be important factors.

For archeological projects, firms must demonstrate experience with projects on tracts of 200 acres or more that incorporate an overview and assessment, site survey and identification, National Register evaluations, and data recovery. For history, the firm must demonstrate experience conducting multi-faceted, interdisciplinary historical studies, including administrative histories, oral histories, Historic Resource

Studies, and historic context studies. The team must include personnel with experience producing National

Register Determinations of Eligibility, National Register of Historic Places and/or National Historic

Landmark nominations for a variety of resource types ranging from individual sites and buildings to broader historic districts, vernacular and designed landscapes, and archeological sites and/or districts. The firm or team must demonstrate expertise with National Register guidelines regarding the evaluation and nomination of a range of historic property types.

Offerors shall provide a minimum of three professional references with current client contact information and brief descriptions of the project(s) or services provided for each client.

The Government reserves the right to use data provided by both the offerors and obtained from other sources. All data provided pertaining to U.S. Government contracts may be subject to verification. In the event that a source other than the offeror provides the Government with derogatory past performance information, only those offerors established under the competitive range will be given the opportunity to rebut or corroborate such information during discussions.

TECHNICAL CAPABILITY

The TEP will look for evidence that the offeror has the specialized knowledge, professional experience, and technical competence to complete the range of projects described in the SOW.

For archeological projects this includes demonstrated experience and competence completing prehistoric and historic archeological projects (with particular emphasis on Civil War battlefields) in Maryland, northern

Virginia, the eastern panhandle of West Virginia, and the District of Columbia. Likewise, the firm must have historical knowledge of the Mid-Atlantic region, its material culture, and relevant regional and national historic contexts. A technical capacity and expertise in applying the National Register of Historic Places and/or National Historic Landmark criteria for evaluating a variety of resource types is also required.

For archeological projects, the firm must maintain a fully-staffed professional office, which includes a fully equipped archeological processing and analytical lab. The firm must include staff that are trained in the proper use of motion metal detectors that are used to conduct systematic archeological surveys of battlefields and other archeological sites.

Geographic limitations: the offeror is not necessarily required to have offices or facilities geographically located within the Mid-Atlantic region, however, cost factors affecting proposal pricing may be a determining factor for non-selection.

In addition, certain specialized services may be required under this IDIQ contract. The firm will need to be able to identify in-house or specialized sub-consultants who can provide such services as:

Geomorphological analysis

Geophysical prospecting

Artifact conservation

Faunal analysis

Paleobotanical analysis (seeds and pollen)

The firm’s Senior Historian and Junior Historian must be well-versed in the history, historic contexts, material culture, architecture, and landscape architecture of the Mid-Atlantic and specifically the National

Capital Region. In addition, the firm must have the necessary specialized skills and knowledge to conduct comprehensive research, field documentation, and resource evaluations to complete National Register of

Historic Places and National Historic Landmark nominations for complex buildings, sites, objects, structures, and districts. They must be familiar with the documentation and evaluation of Cultural Landscapes in order to effectively integrate cultural landscape-level analysis into National Register and NHL evaluations, including Determinations of Eligibility and nominations. In addition, NPS seeks a firm with experience in the nomination of archeological sites or archeological districts to the National Register of Historic Places or as National Historic Landmarks using guidelines produced by the NPS.

The Oral Historian must have the necessary specialized skills and knowledge to plan and conduct oral history interviews as either stand-alone projects, or as part of a larger study, such as an administrative history. They must be familiar with the various types of historical documentation performed by the NPS so as to customize the oral history interviews to the particular report. On projects in which there is a Sr.

Historian, the Oral Historian will report to the Senior Historian. The Oral Historian must be familiar with not only the “Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Archeology and Historic Preservation,” but also the “Principals and Best Practices” statement of the Oral History Association.

Note: A critical element of the assessment of prospective offerors will be the proposed approach presented in their offers for providing the required services. This should include initial coordination of NPS technical representatives to define requirements, critical milestone communications and or reports, coordination with local site officials, and other key aspects.

KEY PERSONNEL

The TEP will evaluate the professional qualifications and experience of the Key Personnel to be assigned to studies and projects conducted under the terms of the contract. Description of position qualifications are detailed in the attached Technical Exhibit 1 – Position Qualifications.

Key Personnel shall include:

Key Personnel

Principal Investigator

Project Manager

Field Director

Laboratory Director

GIS Specialist/Analyst

Graphic Support Specialist

Senior Historian

Junior Historian/Architectural Historian

Oral Historian

Exemption under the Service Contract Act 41 USC §§ 351–358

As defined under 29 CFR § 4.156, Employees in bona fide executive, administrative, or professional capacity, and 29 CFR § 541.300, General rule for professional employees, and 29 CFR § 541.301 Learned professionals, key personnel positions required under the intended services are not subject to the Department of Labor Wage Determination. They are subject to the Brooks Act, PL 92-582.

The qualifications of the Word Processing Technician as established under the attached Technical Exhibit 1

– Position Qualifications are significantly more complex than those established under DOL Wage

Determination (WD) 15-4281 as revised, occupation codes 01611 through 01613 Word Processor, and therefore not subject to the WD.

Labor Rate Schedule

Offerors shall provide fully burdened rates for the one (1) year base and four (4) separate option year periods. Proposals received without a “Labor Rate Schedule” shall be deemed non-responsive and not subject to further consideration.

Offerors shall provide professional qualifications and experience of proposed Key Personnel to be assigned to the studies and projects conducted under the terms of this IQIQ contract. The Principal Investigator, Project Manager, Field Director, Laboratory Director, Senior and Junior Historians, and the Oral Historian must meet the Professional Qualifications Standards outlined in the “Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Archeology and Historic Preservation” for their respective fields.

SUBCONTRACTING PLAN REQUIREMENT

In accordance with FAR Subpart 19.7, if the apparent successful respondent is a large business, the respondent will be required to submit a subcontracting plan. The subcontracting plan, which in accordance with Public law 97-507, requires the awarded firm to provide the maximum practicable opportunities for small, small disadvantaged, women-owned, veteran-owned, and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses. The selected firm, if a large business must comply with FAR 52.219-9 regarding the requirement for a subcontracting plan on that part of the work it intends to subcontract. The subcontracting goals for this contract are that a minimum of 19% of the contractor's intended subcontract amount be places with small businesses, 3% shall be placed with small disadvantaged businesses, 5% shall be placed with women-owned businesses, 3% shall be placed with veteran-owned small businesses, 3% shall be placed with service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses; and 5% shall be placed with HUBZone certified firms. Contract award is contingent upon negotiation of an acceptable subcontracting plan.

PRICE

Following the establishment of a competitive range of the three most highly rated offerors, only then will cost and price aspects of these offers be evaluated by the TEP. The TEP may elect to enter into discussions with the established competitive range offerors to clarify aspects such as indicated past experience, technical approach, key personnel, and costs.

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