PWS.pdf

1240LP21R0003

BKF/MBRTB/NNF Cultural Resources

BLACK HILLS NATIONAL FOREST, MEDICINE BOW-ROUTT NATIONAL

FOREST AND THUNDER BASIN NATIONAL GRASSLAND, AND NEBRASKA

NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS

SECTION C. PERFORMANCE STATEMENT OF WORK

C.1 GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Scope of work for cultural resource inventories and National Register of Historic Places site monitoring and evaluations, and systematic shovel testing within project areas located on the Black Hills National Forest (South Dakota and Wyoming), the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest and Thunder Basin National Grassland (Wyoming), and the Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands (Nebraska and South Dakota).

C.1.1 OVERVIEW

C.1.1.1 This Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract is for cultural resource inventories, National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) site evaluations, site monitoring activities and site investigations and systematic shovel testing (cf. C.10.2 Technical Glossary of Terms) designated in individual task orders.

C.1.1.2 The IDIQ contract (contract) will primarily assist the Black Hills National Forest, the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest and Thunder Basin National Grasslands, and the Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands with compliance mandates established in Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA).

C.1.1.3 Contracted projects may include, but are not limited to timber sales, road construction or reconstruction, land exchanges, prescribed burns, mechanical thinning/fuels reduction, range allotments, recreation, and range-improvement projects.

C.1.1.4 The contractor may be responsible for any of the following tasks and as specified in Task Orders:

• Class/Level I (nomenclature and definitions vary by state - see Section C.10 Glossary of Terms) pre-field literature reviews

• Class/Level II stratified sample survey

• Class/Level III intensive field inventories

• Site monitoring for determining site conditions and for conducting post-fire damage assessments, and potential project monitoring to avoid potential adverse effects

• Site evaluations to determine NRHP eligibility - both initial evaluations and NRHP re-assessments

• Subsurface testing to identify buried cultural components

• Preparation of inventory reports

• Collection and transfer of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) spatial and tabular data to the COR

• Submission of collected materials (where permitted or requested) for curation

C.1.1.5 The purpose of the field inventories is to identify, record, and evaluate for the NRHP all cultural resources (historic or prehistoric cultural manifestations 50 years or more of age) within project areas and or other areas as defined in each task order.

C.1.1.6 Data derived from each project will be used to comply with mandates established in the NHPA, as amended, and the Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA), as amended, Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) of 1990, as amended to potential effects on cultural resources.

C.1.1.7 It is estimated that inventory needs will exceed five task orders per year for each of the next three to five years. Inventories may include multiple planning areas and may, therefore, result in the need for multiple task orders each year.

C.1.2 DESCRIPTION OF CONTRACT AREA

The area covered under this contract will include the Black Hills National Forest (South Dakota and Wyoming), the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest and Thunder Basin National Grassland (Wyoming), and the Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands (Nebraska and South Dakota). The Black Hills National Forest is currently divided into four ranger districts including the Bearlodge, Hell Canyon, Mystic, and Northern Hills Districts. The Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest includes the Brush Creek/Hayden Ranger District, Laramie Ranger District, Hahns Peak/Bears Ears Ranger District, Yampa Rangers District, Parks Ranger District, and Douglas Ranger District (which includes the Laramie Peaks Unit and the Thunder Basin National Grasslands).

Collectively, the Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands includes two national forests (Nebraska and Samuel R. McKelvie) and three national grasslands (Buffalo Gap, Fort Pierre, and Oglala), in addition to the Charles E. Bessey Nursery, the nation’s oldest federal tree nursery.

C.2 TO ACCOMPLISH THE CONTRACT PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES

THE CONTRACTOR SHALL:

C.2.1 Obtain and provide any and all labor, equipment, supplies, services, permits, and licenses necessary to perform cultural resource inventories, NRHP site evaluations, site monitoring, artifact curation, and all documentation and report preparation covering project or analysis areas designated on the task order for each project on the Forests and Grasslands during the period of performance which will be clearly stated in the task orders.

C.2.2 Commence and conduct all operations in a timely manner so as to complete all work and submit all deliverables in accordance with the completion schedule set forth in each task order.

C.2.3 Meetings and Field Inspections

C.2.3.1 After the award of the task order, at least one approved member of the contractor’s key personnel (Principal Investigator or Field Supervisor/Crew Chief) that is assigned to the specific project shall be required to attend a pre-work meeting with the COR to discuss the Contractor’s Plan of Work. Resumes of the contractor’s Key Personnel (cf. C.2.5 and H.1 AGAR 452.237-74 Key Personnel) will be provided to the COR before the pre-work meeting. An agreed upon pre-work meeting time, date, and place will be coordinated between the Contractor, the CO, and the COR. At the pre-work meeting, numerous subjects will be discussed including, but not limited to, a review of:

• Time frames for project completion as identified in the task order

• Terms and conditions of the U.S. Forest Service Region 2 Organic

Act Permit for Archaeological Investigations including the Operating Plan.

• Specific details of the undertaking, including a clear definition of the Area of Potential Effects (APE) and project objectives

• Location of the project

• Field inventory methods

• Standards for recordation and delivery of data

• Scope of expected analyses and evaluations

• Current policies governing the collection of material artifacts

• Specific access to survey areas, and issuance of keys or and temporary authorization permits issued by the District Ranger to access Forest Service land behind Forest Service locked gates for administrative purposes.

• Expectations regarding standards and deliverables

• Start work date and performance period defined in the task order

• Methods and GIS requirements for recording various site types, lithic or other cultural landscapes, isolates, and linear features

• Number of copies of the final report

• Identification of key contractor personnel assigned to the project in addition to relevant contact information.

• Any other issues or concerns relating to the project not noted above

C.2.3.2 Be available for formal field inspections as requested by the Contracting Officer Representative (COR). Field inspections by the COR and/or Contract Inspector may be conducted to allow the COR to determine that all fieldwork has been completed according to the terms of the appropriate task order. The COR will notify the contractor with a request to conduct a formal field inspection no less than three (3) working days prior to the proposed inspection date. Informal field inspections may be conducted at the discretion of the Contract Inspector, the COR, or the Contracting Officer (CO), at any time with or without the contractor's knowledge of or attendance at these informal inspections.

C.2.3.3 To be eligible for award, contractors will be required to obtain a U.S.

Forest Service Region 2 Organic Act Permit for Archaeological Investigations on National Forest System lands. These permits are required special use authorizations issued under the Organic Act (16 U.S.C. l 2 3, and 4) that allow consulting firms to conduct archaeological inventories on National Forests and Grasslands in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming administered by the Rocky Mountain Regional Office. For the application process you will need to submit a completed application (FOREST SERVICE-2700-30) including the following: 1) Vitae for all personnel to be covered under this permit, including Principal Investigators, Field Directors, Monitors, Field and Lab Crew Members, 2) A curation agreement from a curation institution (list is available upon request), and 3) Required attachments. Application review can take up to two weeks. If the application is accepted, Cost Recovery regulations provide the Forest Service the authority to collect fees for processing applications for Special Use authorizations. Cost Recovery fees change annually but are generally about $135.00. This is a non-refundable fee. Permit issuance can take from two to three weeks after receipt of the fee.

C.2.4 The following personnel are considered to be Key Personnel in the performance of this contract (cf. Section H.1 AGAR 452.237-74 Key Personnel for requirements for replacement of personnel). The contractor shall provide qualified personnel meeting the following qualifications throughout the life of the contract and ensure personnel performing the work meet the following criteria for the permit:

• Principal Investigator: In addition to the following minimum professional qualifications, the Principal Investigator (PI) must meet the professional qualifications standards in the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Archeology and Historic Preservation.

Standards for this contract include:

1) A graduate degree in archaeology, anthropology, or closely related field;

2) A demonstrated ability to perform and complete cultural resource inventories as evidenced by timely and satisfactory completion of previous contracts undertaken within the past three years and no current contracts for which the completion dates have not been met;

3) A minimum of one year of full-time professional experience in archaeological research, administration, or management relevant to Rocky Mountain and Northwest Plains archaeology;

4) Field and analytical experience in a supervisory capacity, and;

5) Ability to comply with all current requirements of the Colorado, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming State Historic Preservation Officers (SHPOs) for a person functioning as a Principal Investigator.

• Field Supervisors/Crew Chiefs: A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in anthropology, archaeology, history or a closely related field with a minimum of six months general archaeological field experience in addition to three months of field experience serving in a supervisory capacity on an archaeological crew.

• Field or Laboratory Crew: Completion of, or satisfactory progress toward, a bachelor’s degree in anthropology, archaeology, history or a closely related field, or six months previous experience conducting archaeological field or laboratory work. Completion of an archeological field school is considered satisfactory qualification for an initial position (first archaeological job) if that individual will be continually supervised by a higher qualified individual (i.e., Crew Chief or Principal Investigator).

C.2.5 Provide the agency and COR with a list and resumes of the Key Personnel prior to initiating fieldwork for each project and notify the agency and COR if and when any substitutions in personnel are made at any stage of the project (See Section H.1 AGAR 452.237-74 Key Personnel).

C.2.6 Prior to commencing fieldwork, the contractor shall submit to the COR for review and approval, a proposed Plan of Work that describes the schedule for submission of deliverables, estimated number of person-days needed to complete fieldwork, a task-order specific safety plan, and strategies for accomplishing the scope of work defined in each task order issued under this contract.

C.3 APPLICABLE LAWS, REGULATIONS, AND DIRECTIVES

The contractor shall ensure that the procedures and standards of all work performed under this contract conform to the current versions of the applicable laws, implementing regulations, and guidelines including, but not limited to, the following:

• National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, Public Law (PL) 91-190, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 4321–4347.

• The National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, PL 89-665; 16

U.S.C. 470 et seq.

• Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979, as amended, PL 96-95; 16

U.S.C. 470 et seq.

• Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) of 1990, as amended, PL 101-601; 25 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.

• American Indian Religious Freedom Act (AIRFA) of 1978, as amended, PL 95-

341, 42 U.S.C. 1996 and 1996a

• Department of Interior, National Park Service: Archeology and Historic

Preservation, Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines

C.4 GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY (MAPS, DRAWINGS,

SPECIFICATIONS, ETC.)

Furnished by the Government for the Literature Review:

Government Furnished Property, Services, Data, etc.

Quantity

Where, When, and How

Services Will Be Furnished to Contractor

Consumable /Returnable

Value

Project APE and

GIS data/ files as necessary

CD/DVD (or digital equivalent) at the pre-work meeting

Consumable None

GIS data (or GIS files) clipped to one-mile of the APE that include all previous inventories and sites recorded within the APE

1:24,000 scale

One PDF electronic copy

CD/DVD (or digital equivalent) at the pre-work meeting

Consumable None map showing locations of previous inventories and previously recorded sites within the APE

Furnished by the Government for Task Order Administration:

Government Furnished Property, Services, Data, Where, When, and How

Services Will Be Furnished to Contractor

Consumable/ Returnable

General vicinity map showing location of project/APE in relation to respective forest or district (either as a separate map or included on other map(s))

One paper copy or digital equivalent

At the pre-work meeting Consumable None

1:24,000 scale map of the new survey acres identified in the task order

One paper copy or digital equivalent

At the pre-work meeting Consumable None

1:24,000 scale map of the previously recorded sites identified in the task order that requires site monitoring or evaluation

One paper copy, or digital equivalent

At the pre-work meeting Consumable None

Furnished by the Government required for Deliverables:

Government Furnished Property, Services, Data, Where, When, and How Services Will Be

Furnished to Contractor

Consumable/ Returnable

Electronic data dictionary (optional) for compatible GPS unit

One electronic copy

CD/DVD (or digital equivalent) at the pre- work meeting (if contractor does not already possess a copy)

Consumable None

Geodatabase schema or GIS files for sites and surveys

One dataset with the required types of feature classes and attribute fields appropriate to the

Forest or Grassland

CD/DVD (or digital equivalent) at the pre-work meeting

Consumable None

U.S. Forest Service Site Monitoring

Form or equivalent

One electronic copy

CD/DVD (or digital equivalent) at the pre- work meeting (if contractor does not already possess a copy)

Consumable None

Copy of the Respective Forests and Grasslands’ Cultural

Resources Overview (as appropriate and available)

One electronic copy to each contractor selected under this solicitation

CD/DVD (or digital equivalent) at the pre-work meeting (if contractor does not already possess a copy)

Consumable None

Temporary issuance of keys and/or temporary permits issued to access Forest lands behind Forest Service locked gates for administrative purposes

Number of keys as necessary

At the pre-work meeting Returnable ~$100.00

U.S. Forest Service project number(s)

One or more as appropriate

At the pre-work meeting in Notice to Proceed (R2 Permit) Consumable None

U.S. Forest Service site numbers

One or more as appropriate upon completion of fieldwork

U.S. Forest Service site numbers will be provided as needed after the field survey has been completed and the specific number of newly recorded sites is known.

Consumable None

C.5 CONTRACTOR FURNISHED CRITICAL ITEMS/SERVICES

Item Quantity Description

GPS

unit(s)

One minimum

Mapping or survey-grade GPS units capable of one meter or less accuracy prior to differential correction of the spatial data. GPS must be capable of running GPS software (TerraSync, Pathfinder Office, ArcPad, ESRI ArcMap) compatible with Forest Service data dictionary or other standardized data collection methods.

GPS

Software

One per GPS device

GPS software (TerraSync, ArcPad, etc.) compatible with existing Forest Service GPS/GIS PC programs (Trimble Pathfinder Office, ESRI ArcMap, etc.). This software must be capable of utilizing the Forest service data dictionary or other standardized data collection methods.

GPS PC

Software One minimum

GPS PC-based software (Trimble Pathfinder Office, ESRI ArcMap, etc.) capable of downloading, post-processing (differential correction), editing, and exporting GPS data to existing Forest Service GIS-compatible software and/or programs (ESRI ArcMap, NRM Heritage, WyoTrack, etc.).

GIS PC

Software

ESRI ArcMap-compatible software that is capable of editing ESRI GIS geodatabase(s)/files and editing the supplied Heritage Master Geodatabase Schema so that it is compatible with and can be uploaded to existing Heritage geodatabases.

Digital camera(s)

Digital photographs are required as per the appropriate SHPO standards (minimum of two photos per site). All digital cameras supplied by the contractor must be seven- megapixel-units minimum. All digital images provided to the Forests and Grasslands will have a minimum resolution of 300 dpi.

C.6 STATEMENT OF WORK TASKS & CRITICAL SUBTASKS

C.6.1 PRE-FIELD FILE/RECORDS SEARCH REPORT

C.6.1.1 Prior to commencing fieldwork, the contractor shall submit to the COR for review and approval a report summarizing the results of the records and files background search (paper and/or digital Word/PDF version, as per COR preference). Records and files searches shall be conducted, at a minimum, one-mile distance from the Level/Class III survey area. If task order requires a Level/Class I of the APE, records and files searches shall be conducted in compliance with SHPO standards. The Forest Service will provide a record/file search of a one-mile buffer from the Area of Potential Effects, and or as defined by the individual task order. If any discrepancies regarding sites within the APE are noted between the data provided by the COR and the pre-field file/records search report, the contractor will bring them to the attention of the COR for further review.

C.6.1.2 If the record and file search produced no results, the contractor shall document the negative findings with a written narrative documenting that all pre-field file searches and historic records data searches are complete.

C.6.1.3 The COR will have twenty (20) working days from receipt of the pre-field background report to review and approve the content and adequacy of the pre-field report.

C.6.1.4 Following COR review, the contractor shall revise any errors, inconsistencies, or inadequate components of the document and re-submit the revised version(s) for additional review and approval.

C.6.1.5 The contractor shall accomplish the revision, and re-submittal of documents within ten (10) working days following notification by the COR of the rejection of the submittals.

C.6.1.6 At minimum, the pre-field file and records search shall include literature and data reviews from the following sources:

• The appropriate State Cultural Records Office(s).

• The Forest Supervisor’s Office or Ranger District Office(s) as appropriate, to include:

• A review of the Forest’s cultural resources spatial data (provided during the pre-work meeting)

• Forest/District site and report files as requested by the contractor

(hard copy or digital)

• Any historic Forest/District maps and files

• Appointments to view these records shall be made at least five

(5) working days in advance

• Any online sources such as Bureau of Land Management (BLM) General

Land Office (GLO) plat maps, patent records, Homestead Entry Survey Maps and Mineral Survey Entry maps, mining records etc.

• Any available remote sensing sources of data to include aerial photographs and LiDAR imagery.

• The current NRHP eligibility status for historic properties located within the APE.

• Courthouse records when data from the above searches indicate a need.

C.6.2 FIELDWORK

C.6.2.1 Initiation of Fieldwork

Work on an individual task order shall commence after the pre-work meeting has been completed, after the CO has issued a Notice to Proceed, and after the COR has accepted the results of the records/files background search and the contractor’s Plan of Work.

The contractor shall notify the COR prior to initiating fieldwork on the Forest.

C.6.2.2 Survey Methodology

The contractor shall conduct Class/Level II and III surveys as defined in the task order and following the appropriate State guidelines for survey methodology, and the contractor is responsible for any new SHPO requirements such as survey transect spacing and shovel testing.

C.6.2.3 Documentation of Cultural Resources and Other Finds

1. Narrative descriptions, maps, photographs, soil profiles, and other methods shall be used to document cultural resource sites and isolates to a standard acceptable to the appropriate State guidelines. Geographic Positioning System (GPS) units shall be used to record locations of all cultural features, applicable artifacts, subsurface test locations, and site boundaries.

2. If cultural resources are identified during the inventory that extend outside the defined inventory area it will be necessary to investigate the full extent of the site on lands administered by the Forest Service for the purpose of site evaluation. Any exceptions (e.g., unusually lengthy linear sites such as railroad grades) shall be discussed with and approved by the COR.

3. If the boundaries of cultural sites first identified on U.S. Forest Service lands extend onto non-federal lands reasonable and good faith efforts should be taken to identify or estimate site areas extending onto non-federal lands. The COR should be notified of individual cases where this may occur.

4. Recordation standards for artifacts that qualify as “Isolated Finds” pursuant to State definitions shall be photographed and recorded, at minimum, to standards provided in State guidelines or standards provided by the COR,

5. If Other Finds such as caves or other geologic features are located which may have the possibly of containing cultural resources or paleontological specimens but were not inspected due to safety or are reasonably outside the scope of work, a GPS coordinate of said Finds shall be provided to the

COR.

C.6.2.4 Evaluation of Newly Identified Cultural Resources for NRHP Significance

The contractor will be responsible for recording and evaluating all newly identified cultural resources located during field work and or Level/Class II or III survey. These new cultural resources are not a separate line item and are included with the cost of the Level/Class II or III survey. Site evaluations for NRHP significance are required by 36 CFR §800.4(c), the implementing regulations for Section 106 of the NHPA. The contractor shall evaluate all identified cultural properties for NRHP eligibility according to procedures in 36 CFR §60 and by applying National Register criteria pursuant to 36 CFR §60.4.

National Register Bulletin 15 - How to Apply National Register Criteria for Evaluation, provides guidelines for applying these criteria in evaluating a wide range of newly identified cultural resources.

1. This stipulation may necessitate the preparation of historic contexts for structures and/or groups of structures under evaluation. In some cases, the State may have thematic historic contexts available and it will be the contractor’s responsibility to identify, utilize, and cite those resources when making their NRHP recommendations.

2. For each site evaluation, the contractor shall submit recommendations for each site of either “eligible” or “not eligible” in a statement for each criterion found in 36 CFR §60.4 (a, b, c, & d). All newly identified sites must include this justification statement along with empirical, non-speculative information, and well-reasoned inferences supporting the justification statement. In addition, a determination of whether the property retains integrity shall be made. No site shall be left unevaluated.

In a case where a site eligibility recommendation cannot be made for any reason (ex: majority lies on private land), the COR must be notified with adequate justification as to why and will advise on how to proceed.

C.6.2.5 Evaluation of Previously Identified Cultural Resources for NRHP Significance (36 CFR §800.4(c)(1))

1. The contractor may be asked to test and/or evaluate or re-evaluate previously identified cultural resources located within, near or outside the APE and or the identified survey locations. The passage of time, changing perceptions of significance, or incomplete prior evaluations may require the site to be re-evaluated. Where evaluation of historic properties outside the APE and or the survey area is deemed necessary, the specific sites to be evaluated for the NRHP listing will be identified in individual task orders. Procedures and guidelines described above in C.6.2.4 shall be used for evaluation of Previously Identified Cultural Resources.

2. All previously identified sites included in the task order as NRHP re-assessments must have eligibility recommendations submitted for each site as either “eligible” or “not eligible” in a statement for each criterion found in 36 CFR §60.4 (a, b, c, & d). All re-assessments must include this justification statement along with empirical, non-speculative information, and well-reasoned inferences supporting the justification statement. No site shall be left unevaluated. In a case where a site eligibility recommendation cannot be made for any reason (ex: majority lies on private land), the COR must be notified with adequate justification as to why and will advise on how to proceed.

C.6.2.6 Subsurface Testing to Determine Presence/Absence, Site Boundaries, and NRHP Significance

1. The contractor should conduct limited test excavations, where necessary, to determine NRHP eligibility of historic and prehistoric sites.

2. The locations of all test units and/or shovel tests shall be recorded with a GPS unit (capable of one-meter or less accuracy). Each test unit shall be plotted and labeled on the appropriate site maps. All testing results regarding sites shall be described in the site form, either as a narrative or in a table.

3. If state guidelines/standards for subsurface testing have been developed, the contractor shall use the state guidelines/standards as minimum requirements. The Forest reserves the right to provide additional stipulations at the pre-work meeting or in the Notice to Proceed.

4. In some states, guidelines and standards have not been drafted to govern the quantity and depth of shovel tests considered adequate to determine the presence/absence and nature of subsurface cultural deposits.

Consequently, it is important that the contractor provide a full description of, and justification for, the quantity and location of shovel tests completed at each site. Justifications will necessarily include a qualified description of soil/sediment types and estimated depths across the site.

5. Subsurface testing in rockshelter contexts should be very minimal and limited to areas outside of the apron or dripline in order to preserve what is frequently a small area of undisturbed sediment accumulation inside the rockshelter. It is important that the contractor provide a full description of, and justification for, the quantity and location of shovel tests excavated at each rockshelter.

6. Soils and sediments excavated in test units shall be sifted through screen with a maximum mesh size of one-quarter inch. The excavation of all test units shall continue beyond the last sedimentary unit to produce evidence of cultural deposits according to the appropriate state standards. If no state standards or guidelines exist, units should extend to bedrock or regolith.

The methods used are at the discretion of the Principal Investigator and should be clearly identified in the report and justifiable. If bedrock or regolith has not been exposed, the contractor shall provide a full explanation for terminating the test unit prior to doing so. The purpose of this requirement is to reasonably demonstrate that no additional cultural deposits exist at lower depths.

7. At minimum, soil and sediment descriptions should include Munsell© color code(s), a description of soil texture, and gravel content.

8. The policy governing the collection of artifacts encountered during subsurface testing is specified below in Section C.6.2.9.2.

9. When artifacts are encountered in subsurface test units or shovel tests collection is discouraged, but the following data shall be collected, where applicable, for artifact assemblages encountered in each test unit or shovel test:

• Three dimensional measurements and photographs of all diagnostic artifacts.

• A general count and description of non-diagnostic artifacts.

• Photos of non-diagnostic artifacts (can be grouped by test/shovel unit or stratigraphic unit).

• All artifacts that are not collected as per criteria found in Section

C.6.2.9.2 below shall be returned to the test/shovel unit the artifacts were derived from and reburied.

C.6.2.7 Systematic Subsurface Shovel Testing

Under certain circumstances the contractor may be asked to conduct systematic subsurface shovel testing of high probability areas to enhance potential to identify subsurface cultural components with no surface manifestation. Where the Forest deems systematic shovel testing is warranted, the specific locations will be identified in individual task orders.

1. State guidelines and standards for shovel testing shall be followed as minimum requirements. The Forest reserves the right to provide additional stipulations and requirements regarding methodologies for systematic subsurface shovel testing at the pre-work meeting or in the Notice to Proceed.

2. Areas where systematic subsurface shovel testing is warranted will be divided into the following two categories. The total acreage for each category will be defined in the task order:

• Category 1: Systematic subsurface shovel test transects shall be no more than 30 meters apart with individual shovel tests placed at 30-meter intervals unless the principal investigator determines more intensive testing is needed.

• Category 2: Systematic subsurface shovel test transects shall be no more than 15 meters apart with individual shovel tests placed at approximately 15-meter intervals apart unless the principal investigator determines more intensive testing or closer spacing is needed.

3. The location of all shovel tests shall be recorded with a GPS unit (capable of one meter or less accuracy). The results of all shovel tests should be recorded in field notes and forms, and submitted to the COR.

4. Each shovel test should be at least 30 centimeters in diameter and have approximately vertical sides to full depth. The soil matrix recovered from all shovel tests must be screened through one-quarter inch (or finer) mesh hardware cloth in an attempt to determine the presence (positive) or absence (negative) of cultural material.

5. The excavation of all shovel tests shall proceed using the appropriate state standards. If no state standards or guidelines exist, shovel tests should extend to bedrock or regolith. If bedrock or regolith has not been exposed, the contractor shall provide a full explanation for terminating the shovel test prior to doing so. The purpose of this requirement is to reasonably demonstrate that no additional cultural deposits exist at lower depths.

6. Typical soil profiles of representative shovel tests should be recorded. It is not necessary to record soil profiles for each shovel test.

7. Shovel tests shall be backfilled upon completion of excavation.

When cultural artifacts are encountered in subsurface shovel tests, a new site will be designated, and a formal site evaluation as defined in Section C.6.2.4 will be undertaken. The policy regarding the collection of artifacts encountered during shovel testing is specified in Section C.6.2.9.2.

C.6.2.8 Monitoring of Previously Identified Sites

• If the task order stipulates that NRHP-eligible or listed sites are to be revisited, a Forest

Service Site Monitoring Form or equivalent form shall be thoroughly completed in the field for each site and the completed forms shall be submitted with the inventory report.

• If changes to site boundaries, conditions, content or any threats and disturbances are observed, the Forest Service Site Monitoring Form or equivalent form will be completed with a thorough description of the changes observed according to specifications listed in Section C.6.5 and as per guidance provided in NPS Archeology Program Technical Brief 22 and FSH 2309.12-05.

• Monitoring previously identified sites in Wyoming may require the following record types in WYOTrack as per as per WY-SHPO requirements:

• If a full rerecord is necessary because the site has not previously been recorded on a current Wyoming Cultural Properties Form (WYCPF), the site boundaries are changing or the eligibility is changing, then a Full Rerecord record type is required in the WY-SHPO WYOTrack.

• If a previously identified site was recorded on a Wyoming Cultural Properties Form (WYCPF) and additional information about the site is discovered while monitoring without changing any of the previously listed information, then a site Update record will be completed in WYOTrack as per as per WY-SHPO requirements.

• If monitoring a site where the site condition information has not changed and there is no additional site information to add then WY-SHPO will require adding a Condition Report in WYOTrack.

• If previously undocumented vandalism or disturbance is observed, the disturbance shall be documented, and the COR notified within 48 hours.

C.6.2.9 Collection of Artifacts

Collection of archaeological or historical materials during the field inventory is discouraged unless the artifact can be demonstrated to be diagnostic of a particular cultural group or chronological period. Diagnostic artifacts may be collected for analytical purposes to prevent probable loss or destruction from the proposed undertaking, or due to suspected potential for unlawful removal. More detailed stipulations directives covering collection directives may be included in individual task orders. The directives may include contacting the COR for decisions on collecting highly significant diagnostics or unique artifacts encountered.

All artifacts collected shall be handled and properly curated according to stipulations in Section C.6.2.10.

1. Surface Collections

a) The contractor shall include a full inventory of all collections made in the project report. The inventory shall include, at minimum, U.S.

Forest Service site number, Smithsonian designations, catalog numbers, accession numbers, artifacts descriptions and quantities, names of curatorial facilities, and evidence that collections processing is complete. Collection inventories can be included as report appendices where appropriate.

b) The location of diagnostic artifacts collected shall be recorded with a

GPS unit capable of one meter or less accuracy and indicated on the appropriate site map.

c) Diagnostic artifacts shall be photographed, measured, and digital images shall be included in the reports (draft and final) and site records.

d) A preferred alternative to the collection of non-diagnostic artifacts is taking "in situ" photographs or photographs of the artifact assemblage from one test unit for example. A scale bar should be included with each image taken.

2. Subsurface Collections

The stipulations for collecting artifacts encountered in subsurface test units or shovel tests are the same as those for surface collections (as noted in C.6.2.9) except that three-dimensional measurements must be recorded for each diagnostic artifact identified in subsurface contexts.

Artifacts not collected shall be returned to and reburied in the test/shovel unit the artifacts were derived from. The location of test units shall be accurately recorded as per Section C.6.2.6.2.

C.6.2.10 Curation of Artifacts

1. Unless otherwise specified in individual task orders, the contractor is responsible for the cost of initial curatorial processing fees for all records and material collections in the appropriate repository for the states of Nebraska, South Dakota, Colorado and Wyoming, depending on job location.

2. The contractor shall follow the curatorial requirements of the appropriate facility.

3. The handling and curation of all archaeological and historical materials shall comply with standards and guidelines established in 36 CFR §79, Curation of Federally Owned and Administered Archaeological Collections.

4. Negotiation of, and compliance with, a curation agreement between the contractor and the curatorial facility shall be the contractor’s responsibility. The contractor’s curatorial agreement is in addition to any existing agreements entered into between the Forests and Grasslands and the repository.

5. It is the contractor’s responsibility to ensure that, in the initial transfer of federal archaeological collections to a repository, the transfer is completed in compliance with any and all existing curation agreements between the Forests and Grasslands and the repository.

6. The contractor shall sign a written and dated Receipt of Collections supplied by the curatorial facility. The receipt must be provided to the COR prior to the submission of the Final Payment invoice.

C.6.2.11 Geographic Positioning System (GPS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) Standards

1. Site information (site boundaries, features, testing locations) and survey/inventory areas and survey tracks/transects shall be recorded in the field with GPS units capable of one meter or less accuracy prior to differential correction of spatial data.

2. At a minimum, two digital files will be required for each project: one file will contain site/isolate locational data (if applicable); the other will contain the area surveyed by the contractor, per the task order. If the area(s) surveyed is the same as that originally provided, the original data may be submitted. If the area(s) surveyed is additional to, or substantially different from the originally provided survey area(s) then that data would also need to be provided.

3. Preferences vary from forest-to-forest regarding the digital format in which smaller and linear sites are recorded (i.e., point, line, or polygon).

Individual Forests and Grasslands specifications will be clearly defined at the pre-work meeting (Section C.2.3).

4. The contractor and U.S. Forest Service personnel shall discuss at the pre-work meeting requirements regarding the recordation of linear sites. The centerline of linear sites should be recorded, and a polygon should be developed which encompasses any cultural activity either side of the centerline. U.S. Forest Service preferences may differ from task order to task order. Examples of potential linear sites include roads, trails, railroad lines, flumes, or irrigation ditches.

5. All GIS data shall be provided to the Forests using the NAD83 datum and projected using the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) System, using the appropriate UTM Zone for the project area, or shall be provided to the Forests in formats defined in task order.

C.6.2.12 Treatment of Unanticipated Human Remains

Identification and location of prehistoric or historic human remains, triggers stipulations mandated by the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). Should a human burial(s) or skeletal remains be encountered, fieldwork must terminate immediately and the integrity of the skeletal remains secured. The contractor must notify the COR immediately (within 24 hours) if any remains of this nature are found, and the COR will immediately notify the Forest Heritage Program Manager (within 24 hours). Once an initial determination regarding possible age and affiliation has been made in consultation with the County Coroner and other responsible authorities, agency personnel will then begin consultation with the appropriate American Indian Tribes pursuant to the process mandated by the NAGPRA. Before the contractor or any member of the contractor’s crew returns to the field, the contractor shall discuss a modified plan of action with the COR to accommodate the new circumstances. If necessary, the task order that the contractor was working under at the time the human remains were identified will be amended to include any additional—or reduced— responsibilities on the part of the contractor as a result of the new circumstances.

For identification of archaeological human remains on State and Private lands in Wyoming refer to Wyoming Statute § 7-4-106.

C.6.2.13 Completion of Fieldwork

The contractor shall notify the COR once all necessary fieldwork is complete. In the same notice, the contractor will supply preliminary GIS data that indicates the spatial locations/ boundaries for newly recorded, updated, or evaluated sites and any isolated finds. In addition, the contractor will supply a spreadsheet indicating the preliminary recommended eligibilities for these newly recorded, updated, or evaluated sites. This information will be considered preliminary in nature and will only be used for preliminary planning purposes. It is understood that the final GIS spatial data and site eligibility recommendations may change once the draft report is submitted pursuant to Section C.6.4.

C.6.3 PROGRESS REPORTS

The contractor shall submit bi-weekly Fieldwork Progress Reports to the COR in electronic format (email files, disk, or flash drives) for each assigned task order. The start date for the first two-week period shall be the day that fieldwork is initiated, as per the contractor’s notification to the COR (see Section C.6.2.1). The bi-weekly reports shall contain the following information:

• Contractor’s assessment of the amount of work completed and time remaining for task completion.

• Contractor’s documentation of the number of days (if any) field crews were not able to work due to conditions beyond their control such as weather, road conditions, or wildlife concerns (excluding scheduled closures for elk birthing, etc.).

• Topographic maps at the 1:24,000 scale clearly showing all areas in which inventory has been completed—with site locations indicated.

• A list of sites and isolates that have not yet been evaluated for the NRHP, if identified in the task order.

• Site and survey GIS spatial files in a format according to Section C.6.2.11 (to ensure accuracy and compatibility with the Forest database standards).

• Bi-weekly reports shall include the contract number, task order number, U.S.

Forest Service project number, and project name at the top of the first page.

• Bi-weekly reports shall be submitted to the COR within five (5) working days of the last day of the two-week reporting period.

C.6.4 DRAFT INVENTORY REPORTS

C.6.4.1 The contractor shall submit one copy (paper and/or digital Word and/or PDF version as per COR preference) of a final written draft inventory report to the COR for review and comment. The draft report shall:

1. Be a complete report that includes all text, maps, site forms, site eligibility recommendations, a detailed assessment of project effects, and management recommendations for all proposed undertakings in the project area.

2. Follow the guidelines established by the appropriate SHPO. The draft report must consist of a narrative report, and supporting documentation describing the location of all survey coverage areas, methods employed, results of the field survey, and all site record forms and isolated find forms.

3. Include an inventory report cover page and table of contents, and any other summary tables per specific state guidelines (e.g., the Wyoming Survey Report Cover Page/Site Summary Table).

4. Include the permit number under which the work was conducted and the

Forest-supplied project number which retains a specific format (e.g., R2021020300001).

5. Follow the appropriate SHPO guidelines.

6. Include a description of field survey methods including the type of work.

7. Include the names of individuals employed in actual fieldwork.

8. List dates that fieldwork was conducted.

9. A description of the Area of Potential Effects as defined the pre-work meeting (Section C.2.3) including any field observations about previous effects and the physiographic and built environments.

10. Indicate the number of acres inventoried and the number of acres within the project area that were not inventoried and explain why they were not inventoried.

11. Identify the number of cultural resource sites and isolates located.

12. Place all references to specific site localities and other data considered sensitive in detachable appendices separate from the main report.

13. Include the results of the pre-field literature and historic records search, maintaining compliance with Section C.6.1.

14. Include a catalog list of all artifacts or other materials collected and their current location and disposition. The report shall include an index of all accession and catalog numbers assigned by the curatorial facility. A Receipt of Collections received by the contractor from the repository shall be provided to the COR at this time as per Section C.6.2.10.6. If no collections were made, a statement should be included in the report to that effect.

15. Include an assessment of the NRHP significance of the identified resources and their potential for contributing information about the cultural heritage of the project area including descriptions and maps showing the relationship to the proposed project area.

16. Include a succinct description of site testing and/or evaluation methods employed to sufficiently justify recommendations regarding NRHP eligibility.

17. Provide definitive NRHP recommendations as “eligible” or “not eligible” according to the four criteria cited in Section C.6.2.4 and retention of aspects of integrity. Documentation shall be provided in sufficient quality and quantity to support NRHP recommendations.

18. Include supporting documentation in the form of cultural and/or historical contextual discussions with reference to the appropriate state contexts, the appropriate Forest’s Cultural Resource Overview, and other relevant sources.

19. Recommendations stating that additional investigations are needed to determine NRHP eligibility are not acceptable.

20. Suggest a recommended protection measures to realistically minimize or negate potential adverse effects (where required) to historic properties for the specific undertaking.

21. Include a project location map, a survey coverage map, site location map and individual site/isolated find maps as necessary that meet the appropriate state standards. Maps should include easily read labels, symbologies should be individually distinguishable, and the appropriate state SHPO standards and schema should be followed. The maps shall include at a minimum:

• Project Location Map: A general project location map at a

1:24,000 scale showing the relationship of the project area(s) to the greater Forest or Grassland boundaries, and easily identifiable local features such as towns, major roads, or major landscape features. This map should include proper symbology/labels with areas previously surveyed clearly distinguished. Supplemental maps which are enlarged or reduced, as necessary, to help enhance the illustration of the project are provided as well.

• Survey Coverage Map: A 1:24,000 scale map of the project area/APE with topographical background including new survey coverage completed as a result of the present inventory, previous surveys completed within the project area/APE, and any areas not surveyed or not having previous survey. Survey coverage, as illustrated, shall clearly distinguish between Class/Level III intensive survey and Class/Level II sample survey coverage for all applicable surveyed locations.

• Site Location Map: A 1:24,000 scale map of the project area/APE with topographical backgrounds of all site locations/boundaries and isolated find locations.

• Individual site/isolated find maps, which are distinct from the project and/or survey map(s), shall be provided with the site/isolated find form in separate detached appendices in both the draft and final reports.

C.6.4.2 The contractor shall be notified in writing or by email of the results of the COR’s review. If the report is unacceptable, the COR shall discuss the deficiencies with the contractor and the correction must be made to the satisfaction of the COR.

• The COR shall have twenty-one (21) working days to review the final draft report and provide comments to the contractor.

• The contractor shall have fourteen (14) working days to complete the required changes.

• If additional edits are needed following the potential second review, the

COR shall have ten (10) working days to review and return the draft report to the contractor, and the contractor will have five (5) working days to complete them. Deductions may apply, see Section G.6.5.

C.6.5 SITE/ISOLATED FIND FORMS

The contractor shall submit one copy (paper or digital Word and or PDF version as per COR preference) of all draft site and or isolated find records to the COR for review and comment. The draft site/isolated find records shall:

C.6.5.1 Include accurate and complete site/isolated find and/or other property forms, pursuant to the appropriate state standards and guidelines, for all newly recorded or updated cultural resources identified during field survey.

The following stipulations apply:

• Site/isolated find forms must be…