r15ss00208 noia.pdf

Bureau of Reclamation Form, RF-102 12-2011

NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD

This Funding Announcement is not a request for applications. This announcement is to provide public notice of the Bureau of Reclamation’s intention to fund the following project activities without full and open competition.

ABSTRACT

Funding Announcement R15SS00208

Project Title Museum Property Processing and Documentation

Recipient State Historical Society of North Dakota Archaeology & Historic Preservation Division 612 East Boulevard Ave Bismarck, ND 58505

Principal Investigator / Program Manager

Wendi F Murray, Archaeology Collections Manager Archaeology & Historic Preservation Division State Historical Society of North Dakota Telephone: 701-328-3506 E-mail: wmurray@nd.gov

Anticipated Federal Amount $50,000

Cost Share None Total Anticipated Award Amount $50,000

New Award or Continuation? New

Anticipated Period of Performance From Award through September 15, 2016

Award Instrument Grant Agreement

Statutory Authority

Archaeological and Historic Preservation Act

CFDA # and Title 15.511 Cultural Resource Management Single Source Justification Criteria Cited

(4) UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS

Reclamation Point of Contact

Lindsey Nafts, Grants Officer Ph. (406) 247-7684

OVERVIEW

The purpose of this agreement is for the processing and documentation of archeological artifacts and associated records in preparation for long term curation of Reclamation owned archeological material from North Dakota. The proper treatment of cultural resources is the responsibility of Reclamation under many federal laws, regulations and directives, and the Beadmaker site artifacts and associated records, and the associated records of an additional 22 archeological sites have been backlogged since 2003. This agreement is entered into between the United States Bureau of Reclamation, Great Plains Region, hereinafter called Reclamation, and the State Historical Society of North Dakota, hereinafter called the Recipient, for the purpose of preserving for future use certain collections of archaeological artifacts, specimens and associated records.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

The recipient will use DOI museum property standards to process and prepare for long term curatorial storage (1) the artifacts from the Beadmaker site (2) and the associate records of the Beadmaker site and 22 other Reclamation archeological sites in North Dakota. The recipient will prepare roughly 15,000 artifacts and 30,000 associated records for long term curation to the standards set by the Department of Interior, the Bureau of Reclamation and the State Historical Society of North Dakota (SHSND), where the material will be stored for long-term curation.

This includes the Beadmaker site artifacts and associated records, and the associated records of 22 other archaeological sites recovered from the University of North Dakota. Unless otherwise stated in the scope of work the recipients requirements for curation found in the SHSND document “Guidelines for Submitting Archeological Collections” are acceptable to DOI and Reclamation by meeting the requirements of the DOI Departmental Manual part 411 (DM 411) Policy Directives and Museum Handbooks, volume 1 and 2, and the Reclamation Manual (RM), Directive and Standards, LND 02-02. The recipient will purchase need archival processing and storage material. Approved methods will be used to clean sort process, label and identify the artifacts and records. The recipient will provide full and complete accession and catalog recording of objects and associated documents. All fields required by ICMS computer software will be included in the data capture, and entered in the required ICMS format. All catalog records will be entered in either an Excel document, or directly into a Reclamation or compatible version of ICMS. These activities will make these nationally important collections accessible for research and exhibition to further public education and enlightenment of present and future Americans. Work may begin any time after the award date and must be completed by September, 15, 2016.

RECLAMATION INVOLVEMENT

No substantial involvement on the part of Reclamation is anticipated for the successful completion of the objectives to be funded by this award. It is anticipated that Reclamation’s involvement will consist of standard federal stewardship responsibilities such as monitoring project performance, and technical assistance when requested by the recipient. Additionally, Reclamation will:

• Provide the funding awarded;

• Provide any consultation needed to preserve the artifacts and records to Reclamation and

DOI standards and to achieve the requirements identified in this agreement;

• Provide any information or guidance necessary to complete this project;

• Provide coordination with other agencies or offices if necessary;

• Comply with any material terms of this agreement; and

• Ensure receipt of all deliverables.

SINGLE-SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

SINGLE SOURCE POLICY REQUIREMENTS

Department of the Interior Policy (505 DM 2) requires a written justification which explains why competition is not practicable for each single-source award. The justification must address one or more of the following criteria as well as discussion of the program legislative history, unique capabilities of the proposed recipient, and cost-sharing contribution offered by the proposed recipient, as applicable.

In order for an assistance award to be made without competition, the award must satisfy one or more of the following criteria:

(1) Unsolicited Proposal – The proposed award is the result of an unsolicited assistance application which represents a unique or innovative idea, method, or approach which is not the subject of a current or planned contract or assistance award, but which is deemed advantageous to the program objectives;

(2) Continuation – The activity to be funded is necessary to the satisfactory completion of, or is a continuation of an activity presently being funded, and for which competition would have a significant adverse effect on the continuity or completion of the activity;

(3) Legislative intent – The language in the applicable authorizing legislation or legislative history clearly indicates Congress’ intent to restrict the award to a particular recipient of purpose;

(4) Unique Qualifications – The applicant is uniquely qualified to perform the activity based upon a variety of demonstrable factors such as location, property ownership, voluntary support capacity, cost-sharing ability if applicable, technical expertise, or other such unique qualifications;

(5) Emergencies – Program/award where there is insufficient time available (due to a compelling and unusual urgency, or substantial danger to health or safety) for adequate competitive procedures to be followed.

Reclamation did not solicit full and open competition for this award based the following criteria:

• (4) UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS

Single Source Justification Description:

The applicant, the State Historical Society of North Dakota (SHSND), is uniquely qualified to perform the necessary activities to process, accession and catalogue the artifacts and records for this project based upon a variety of demonstrable factors including location, voluntary support capacity, and technical expertise.

Location: SHSND is in Bismarck, ND where these significant museum property collections are already located. The facility was already evaluated and exceeds all DOI requirements for the storage of museum property (DOI Museum Property Directive 14, “Facility Checklist for Spaces Housing DOI Museum Property”).

Voluntary Support Capacity: SHSND provides storage for all processed, accessioned and cataloged, archeological collections from Reclamation lands in North Dakota at no cost through an existing MOA with Reclamation.

Technical Expertise: SHSND has staff with knowledge and experience in processing, accessioning and cataloging archeological collection to DOI and Reclamation requirements found in DOI DM 411 Directives and Handbooks, and Reclamation RM Directives and Standards, LND 02-02. Additionally, they have experience with the DOI required software ICMS (DOI Museum Property Directive 18, “Interior Collection Management System”), and can provide data entry expertise without additional costs for staff training. Expertise with ICMS software is not a skill shared by many public providers in the Great Plains Region, and training can cost more than $2000/per employee. Currently, CRM contract providers regularly cost an additional $1500 to $2500 per agreement to the Regional Museum Property Program due to inexperience with the requirements for the use of the ICMS data format.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

Statutory and regulatory authority is pursuant to the National Historic Preservation Act, PL 89-665. The following section, provided in full text, authorizes Reclamation to award this financial assistance agreement: National Historic Preservation Act, Public Law 102-575, Section 2 (16 U.S.C. 470) which states, “It shall be the policy of the Federal Government, in cooperation with other nations and in partnership with the States, local governments, Indian tribes, and private organizations and individuals to-

(1) use measures, including financial and technical assistance, to foster conditions under which our modem society and our prehistoric and historic resources can exist in productive harmony and fulfill the social, economic, and other requirements of present and future generations;

(2) provide leadership in the preservation of the prehistoric and historic resources of the United States and of the international community of nations and in the administration of the national preservation program in partnership with States, Indian tribes, Native Hawaiians, and local governments;

(3) administer federally owned, administered, or controlled prehistoric and historic resources in a spirit of stewardship for the inspiration and benefit of present and future generations;”

And in the National Historic Preservation Act, Public Law 102-575, Section 101(a) (7):

“The Secretary shall promulgate, or revise, regulations-

(A) ensuring that significant prehistoric and historic artifacts, and associated records, subject to section 110 of this Act, the Act of June 27, 1960 (16 U.S.C. 469c), and the Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 (16 U.S.C. 470aa and following) are deposited in an institution with adequate long-term curatorial capabilities;”

Additional statutory authority is found the Reservoir Salvage Act (16 U.S.C. 469–469c), the Antiquities Act (16 U.S.C. 431–433). The regulatory authority for this Agreement is 36 CFR 79, “Curation of Federally-Owned and Administered Archaeological Collections.” Prior to and during the generation of these collections all requirements made by the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended (Pub. L. 91-190, 42 U.S.C. 4321-4347, January 1, 1970, as amended by Pub. L. 94-52, July 3, 1975, Pub. L. 94-83, August 9, 1975, and Pub. L. 97- 258, § 4(b), Sept. 13, 1982) were met.