Att_1_-_Volume_II_Statement_of_Work.pdf

CULTURAL RESOURCES

IDIQ

SOLICITATION NO. R17PS00106

VOLUME II OF II

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

BUREAU OF RECLAMATION

UPPER COLORADO REGION

ATTACHMENT 1

STATEMENT OF WORK (SOW)

INDEFINITE DELIVERY, INDEFINITE QUANTITY (IDIQ)

FOR CULTURAL RESOURCES SERVICES

FOR PROJECTS ASSIGNED TO THE

BUREAU OF RECLAMATION , UPPER COLORADO REGION,

WESTERN COLORADO AREA OFFICE (WCAO).

STATEMENT OF WORK

1.0 Background

2.0 Scope

3.0 Objectives

4.0 Key Personnel

5.0 Tasks

6.0 Delivery

7.0 Government-Furnished Property

8.0 Security

9.0 Permits

10.0 Communication Protocols

11.0 Place of Performance

12.0 Period of Performance

13.0 References Cited

14.0 List of Acronyms

15.0 Line Items Descriptions

1.0 Background

This is a one year firm-fixed price (FFP) indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract, with the possibility of four one year options, to obtain a full range of cultural resources and related services for projects assigned to the Bureau of Reclamation’s (Reclamation) Western Colorado Area Office (WCAO). WCAO primarily has a need for cultural resources services in support of the ongoing Navajo Gallup Water Supply Project (NGWSP); however, additional cultural resources services are anticipated for other WCAO projects in northern New Mexico and western Colorado. Work performed under this contract shall comply with all applicable federal, state, tribal, and local regulations and standards, including but not limited to the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), the Native American Graves Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA), the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA), Reclamation Safety and Health Standards (RSHS), the Navajo

Nation Cultural Resources Protection Act (CRPA), the New Mexico Cultural Properties Protection Act (CPPA), New Mexico Administrative Codes (NMAC) 4.10.8, 4.10.11, and 4.10.14, and the Colorado Historical, Prehistorical, and Archaeological Resources Protection Act (CHPARPA). The selected contractors (Contractors) shall provide the required cultural resources services as requested in individual task orders (TOs) issued under this contract. The general technical requirements specified in this statement of work (SOW) are intended to provide requirements for execution of the contract and an overall understanding of the services that the Contractors may be required to provide.

Specific services required under this IDIQ shall be described in detail within SOWs for each TO. Individual TOs will be developed by WCAO and contain detailed requirements, plans, specifications, and schedules for each project. Reclamation will request proposals for individual SOWs from the Contractors and will award TOs based on “best value to the government.”

2.0 Scope

Under this contract, WCAO will obtain cultural resources and related services identified in individual TOs to support various projects. These services may include, but are not limited to, cultural resources inventory, documentation and evaluation of cultural resources, surface collection, Historic American Building Survey/Historic Architecture Engineering Record (HABS/HAER) documentation and evaluation, identification of potential direct and indirect effects to cultural resources, identification of potential mitigation strategies, production of sampling strategies, development of historic contexts, ethnohistorical and anthropological research, predictive modeling, geographic information systems (GIS) development and support, geoarchaeological investigations, archaeological testing, archaeological data recovery, archaeological monitoring, storm water pollution prevention and erosion mitigation for cultural resources, artifact analyses, curation preparation, cataloging and accessioning collections in Interior Collection Management System (ICMS), preparing and submitting project documents into a COR-approved digital data repository, technical reporting, production of a technical series, public outreach, in-field visits, and staff support.

The Contractors shall closely coordinate activities with WCAO archeologists. The Area Office Archeologist will serve as Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) as well as the primary cultural resources field inspector and document reviewer for all work performed under this contract. The Contractors will heed, respond to, and act on all official communications that are transmitted in writing from Reclamation’s Contracting Officer (CO) or COR, as identified in the award announcement. Official communications that alter the scope or provisions of the agreement and all TOs stating work requirements will only be provided as a written modification with the signature of the

CO.

2.1 Navajo Gallup Water Supply Project

WCAO will request cultural resources services in individual TOs primarily in support of NGWSP. The NGWSP was authorized for construction by the Omnibus Public Land

Management Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-11). This project is designed to bring a reliable potable water supply to communities in the southwest portion of the Jicarilla Apache Nation, the eastern portion of the Navajo Nation, and the City of Gallup, New Mexico (Figure 1). Construction of this project and implementation of cultural resource management (CRM) requirements is anticipated to extend through 2024.

NGWSP facilities are situated primarily on the Navajo Nation in McKinley, Rio Arriba, Sandoval, and San Juan Counties, New Mexico The project area includes three major river basins—the Upper Colorado River, Lower Colorado River, and Rio Grande. The San Juan Lateral of NGWSP will divert water from the San Juan River downstream of Fruitland, New Mexico and deliver it west roughly along Highway N36 and south to Navajo chapters along U.S. Highway 491. Water will be provided to Window Rock, Arizona, and Crownpoint, New Mexico, through sublaterals and to the City of Gallup, New Mexico, through the Gallup Regional System. The Cutter Lateral will originate at or near Cutter Reservoir and convey water to the eastern portion of the Navajo Nation and to the western boundary of the Jicarilla Apache Nation.

Reclamation anticipates that the project will consist of approximately 280 miles of pipeline, two water treatment plants, and numerous pumping plants and storage tanks.

Engineering design will be ongoing through the phased approach of construction, emphasizing the need for required cultural resources services to be flexible and adaptable to unexpected changes in schedule, direction, or scale. A significant portion of the NGWSP has already been inventoried; however, design changes, finalization of alignments, and realignments are anticipated. Reclamation’s Four Corners Construction Office in Farmington, New Mexico is responsible for the overall design, construction, and management of NGWSP; however, the Navajo Nation, the City of Gallup, and the Indian Health Service are responsible for the design and construction of various reaches, which they are constructing through financial assistance agreements with Reclamation.

During the course of this project, WCAO and the Contractors shall coordinate closely with numerous agencies, including but not limited to, the Four Corners Construction Office, the Navajo Nation, the Jicarilla Apache Nation, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the Indian Health Service, the State of New Mexico, the New Mexico Department of Transportation, the City of Gallup, and the Programmatic Agreement Program Manager (PAPM).The Contractors shall understand and agree that the successful performance of these services requires direct coordination and communication among many parties including Reclamation, other Federal and State agencies, consulting Indian Tribes, construction contractors, and the PAPM. Such coordination and communication is not to be construed as an alteration of any provisions or requirements of the contract.

Figure 1

A Programmatic Agreement (PA) and a NAGPRA Plan of Action (NAGPRA POA) have been developed for NGWSP and are provided as attachments to this solicitation. All cultural resources services for NGWSP shall be conducted in compliance with the terms outlined in the above documents. Some cultural resources work on NGWSP has already been completed and the Contractors shall utilize and reference these results when directed. Relevant project-wide documents include a research design (Potter et al.

2013), an ethnographic overview (Gilpin 2013), a preliminary Class I survey of NGWSP (Gilpin and Thompson 2013), and a Class III survey manual (Chuipka 2013).

2.2 Other WCAO Projects

WCAO currently oversees the management and maintenance of several projects on the Upper Colorado River and its tributaries in western Colorado and northern New Mexico.

The Contractors shall provide cultural resources services for these projects as requested in individual TOs in compliance with applicable federal, state, tribal, and local regulations and applicable programmatic agreements, memoranda of agreement, memoranda of understanding, and other agreements. The Contractors shall reference previous work conducted for these projects as appropriate and use existing research designs when directed.

3.0 Objectives

The objectives of this IDIQ are to facilitate timely compliance with NHPA, NAGPRA, and other applicable statutory authorities in the identification and mitigation of adverse effects to cultural resources potentially affected by WCAO projects. To this end the Contractors shall:

Conduct pedestrian cultural resource inventories to determine National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) eligibility recommendations, assess potential effects, and produce full reports of the results in compliance with federal, tribal, state, and /or local requirements and standards;

Maintain the existing cultural resource GIS and database suitable for the planning and design of NGWSP and develop new cultural resource GIS and databases as requested for other WCAO projects;

Develop sampling strategies, management, and/ or mitigation plans for properties identified during the cultural resource inventories that may be adversely affected by WCAO projects;

Implement mitigation and data recovery plans per the approved research design (Potter et al. 2013) for NGWSP and per pre-existing or Contractor developed research designs and management plans when directed for other WCAO projects, analyze the recovered material using agreed upon methods and strategies, and produce full reports of the results;

Provide cultural resource site marking, monitoring, and discovery mitigation as needed and provide reports of the results;

Prepare all collections, including associated records and submissions, for curation, cataloging and accessioning in ICMS, and submission of project documents to a COR-approved digital data repository;

Develop and produce a technical series for NGWSP;

Conduct public outreach on WCAO projects; and

Provide additional cultural resources services or support for WCAO projects as required.

4.0 Key Personnel

The Contractors shall employ, either directly or through subcontract, personnel adequate in numbers, skills, and qualifications to perform the services required in this IDIQ. Contractors shall demonstrate experience with the successful completion of cultural resource management projects in New Mexico, Colorado, and the wider Four Corners Region similar in scope and duration to NGWSP. Personnel hired and any subcontractors selected for their special knowledge and expertise shall have adequate and demonstrable academic and professional qualifications and experience in their own fields of competence. These individuals, including subcontractors and other teaming partners, shall be directly supervised and guided by the Contractors.

Project management is a critical element of successful contract administration and project completion. Project management consists of data management, communication, project team and staff coordination, and maintenance of project organization structure, including budgets, schedules, and deliverables. The Contractors shall demonstrate the administrative capability to adequately manage large contracts and projects. The Contractors shall also possess a flexible organization to provide a quick-reaction capability to meet last minute changes and requirements.

As part of their Technical Proposal, offerors shall provide a quality assurance plan and a management/organizational chart to ensure that all requirements are adhered to and successfully completed in a timely and professional manner and to illustrate efficient and clear communication between all members of the offeror’s project team and Reclamation. Offerors shall also provide vitae for the Principal Investigator (PI), Program Manager (PM), Field Director, and Ethnographic Director, as well as a designation of alternates should the need arise. Offerors will also identify any subcontractors or teaming partners and designate a primary point of contact for this contract. If during the performance of this contract, the Contractors must utilize personnel in key positions other than those identified in the Technical Proposal; such substitution cannot be made without written approval of the CO. Descriptions of the full range of labor categories and line items that will be included in this IDIQ can be found in Section 15.0 of this SOW.

4.1 Minimum Qualifications

For the purposes of this IDIQ, Reclamation considers as minimal guidelines the set of standards promulgated in Archeology and Historic Preservation; Secretary of the Interior's Standards and Guidelines (1983, as amended) (Secretary’s Standards), available at http://www.nps.gov/history/local-law/arch_stnds_0.htm) and in the Guidelines for Evaluating and Documenting Traditional Cultural Properties: Appendix II:

Professional Qualifications: Ethnography (Parker and King 1998) (Bulletin 38), available at http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/publications/bulletins/nrb38/nrb38%20apendix%202.

htm). The Secretary’s Standards delimit minimal professional qualifications and provide guidance for the identification, evaluation, documentation, treatment, reporting, and curation of archeological resources.

For archaeology, key personnel shall have a graduate degree in archaeology, anthropology, or a closely related field with at least (1) one year of full-time professional experience or equivalent specialized training in archaeological research, administration, or management; (2) at least four months of supervised field and analytic experience in North American archaeology; (3) a demonstrated ability to carry research to completion;

(4) and at least one year of full-time professional experience at the supervisory level in prehistoric archaeology or historic archaeology, depending on their specialization.

Bulletin 38 delimits minimal professional qualifications for ethnographers and provides guidance for the identification and documentation of traditional cultural properties (TCPs). For ethnography, key personnel shall have well developed language, interview, observation, and data recording skills. Proficiency in these skills is usually obtained through graduate training and supervised experience in cultural anthropology and related disciplines.

4.2. Principal Investigator (PI)

The PI is responsible for developing project research designs, planning and overseeing fieldwork and analysis, and preparing at least the synthetic portions of a variety of reports. The PI monitors day-to-day progress on his or her projects and works with the PM to ensure that each participant in the project is meeting his or her assigned tasks.

Among the reports that a PI may work on are cultural resource overviews; cultural resource management plans; survey, testing, and data recovery reports; research proposals; treatment plans; public interpretative material; and management documents such as Programmatic Agreements and Memoranda of Agreement. The PI also prepares cost estimates and budgets in conjunction with the PM, reviews the reports and budgets of others, and takes ultimate responsibility for fieldwork, analysis, write-up, and production. The PI participates in consultations with review agencies, tribal representatives, and other interested parties. The PI shall have a demonstrated background in prehistory and history in northwestern New Mexico and southwestern Colorado and demonstrate successful development and implementation of a research design, planning, and completion of large-scale, long term projects similar to NGWSP.

These factors will be measured by education, experience, research and publications, field and laboratory training, and by completion of similar cultural resources management projects. He or she shall hold or be able to obtain a permit as a PI on Navajo Nation, BLM, New Mexico, and Colorado lands. The PI has a minimum of a master’s degree in anthropology or a related field and has at least 5 years of fieldwork and/or analytical experience.

4.3 Project Manager (PM)

The PM is responsible for project staffing and scheduling. The PM also ensures that all projects are completed on time and within budget and handles many administrative details, such as contract preparation and negotiation. The PM is responsible for ensuring the adequacy of field and office resources and equipment, providing logistical support for field crews and support personnel, maintaining insurance documentation on all subcontractors, and preparing project financial summaries and invoices. The PM shall have a demonstrated background in prehistory and history in northwestern New Mexico and southwestern Colorado. The PM shall also demonstrate successful management and completion of a large-scale, long term project similar to NGWSP.

These factors will be measured by education, research, management experience, specialized training or certification, and by completion of similar cultural resources management projects. The PM has a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in anthropology or a related field and has at least 1 year of management experience.

4.4 Field Director

The Field Director is responsible for preparing and implementing survey, testing, monitoring, and data recovery plans and for coordinating through the appropriate channels all field and analytical tasks associated with fieldwork, analysis, and report preparation, including report writing. For small- and medium-sized projects, the Field Director may also take on many of the tasks typically assigned to a PI, though he or she is ultimately responsible to the PI for the given project. For larger projects, the Field Director works with the PI and the PM to ensure that all tasks associated with project implementation are accomplished professionally and in a timely and fiscally responsible manner. For all projects in which he or she participates, the Field Director is responsible for meeting his or her deadlines, remaining on budget, and for meeting project standards and goals. The Field Director shall have a demonstrated background in prehistory and history in northwestern New Mexico and southwestern Colorado and demonstrate completion of a large-scale, long term project. These factors will be measured by education, experience, research and publications, field and laboratory training, and by completion of similar cultural resources management projects. He or she shall hold or be able to obtain a permit as a Supervisory Archaeologist or similar role on Navajo Nation, BLM, New Mexico, and Colorado lands when required. A Field Director has a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in anthropology or a related field and has at least 2 years of fieldwork experience, one of which is in a supervisory role.

4.5 Ethnographic Director

The Ethnographic Director is responsible for designing and implementing ethnographic research involving a variety of subjects, including both Native American and non–Native American groups; preparing ethnographic literature reviews; coordinating meetings among agencies, clients, and the knowledgeable representatives of tribal groups;

investigating traditional cultural properties; coordinating and conducting ethnographic interviews and field visits; and preparing the appropriate documentation for traditional cultural properties, including NRHP nominations. Depending on qualifications and experience, the Ethnographic Director may assume many of the duties typically assigned to a PI, though he or she is ultimately responsible to the PI for a given project.

For archaeological or historical projects having ethnographic components, the Ethnographic Director coordinates with the Field Director and other staff members responsible for carrying out specific tasks on a project. For all projects in which he or she participates, the Ethnographic Director is responsible for meeting his or her deadlines, remaining on budget, and for meeting project standards and goals. The Ethnographic Director shall have a demonstrated background in ethnography and history in northwestern New Mexico and southwestern Colorado and demonstrate completion of a large-scale, long term project. These factors will be measured by education, experience, research and publications, field and laboratory training, and by completion of similar cultural resources management projects. He or she shall hold or be able to obtain a permit as a Cultural Anthropologist or similar role on Navajo Nation, BLM, New Mexico, and Colorado lands when required. The Ethnographic Director has a minimum of a master’s degree in anthropology or another pertinent field and a minimum of 2 years of experience.

5.0 Tasks

The Contractors shall provide a wide range cultural resources and related services under this IDIQ. These services may include, but are not limited to, cultural resources inventory, documentation and evaluation of cultural resources, surface collection, HABS/HAER documentation and evaluation, identification of potential direct and indirect effects to cultural resources, production of sampling strategies, identification of potential mitigation strategies, development of historic contexts, ethnohistorical and anthropological research, predictive modeling, GIS development and support, geoarchaeological investigations, archaeological testing, archaeological data recovery, archaeological monitoring, storm water pollution prevention and erosion mitigation for cultural resources, artifact analyses, curation preparation, cataloging and accessioning collections in ICMS, preparing and submitting project documents into a COR-approved digital data repository, technical reporting, production of a technical series, public outreach, in-field visits, and staff support.

These services and tasks shall be identified in individual TOs to support various WCAO projects. Task orders will be provided as written contractual documents, over the COs signature, with the geographic location where the work is to be performed, the services required, the period of performance, the deliverables required, and all other pertinent data. The Contractors shall be obligated to accept all work described by task orders under the scope of this IDIQ and within the minimum to maximum dollar range.

5.1 Cultural Resources Inventory, NRHP Eligibility Recommendations, Evaluation of Effects, and Reporting

The Contractors may be required to conduct intensive cultural resources inventory under this IDIQ. Cultural resources inventory shall include (1) 100% pedestrian archaeological survey and (2) recording and mapping all new and previously identified archaeological sites, isolated occurrences (IOs), TCPs, and sacred sites. Contractors may also be required to record in-use sites and conduct ethnographic interviews to Navajo Nation standards for inventory on lands administered by the Navajo Nation and/or BLM. Reclamation will provide the Contractors with the specific requirements and project details, as well as maps of the area to be inventoried, in individual TOs.

Reclamation anticipates that cultural resources inventory and ethnographic interviews required in specific TOs may necessitate more than one mobilization episode in cases where right-of-entry over a parcel is pending, when substantial changes to a part of the project area are anticipated, or when inclement weather is prohibitive or substantial ground cover reduces site visibility.

The Contractors shall furnish all labor, equipment, personnel, and permits necessary to

(1) conduct a Class I inventory to identify previously recorded archaeological sites, TCPs, and sacred sites; (2) perform a Class III cultural resources inventory to locate all archaeological sites, TCPs, and sacred sites; (3) place a permanent site datum and record UTM coordinates of this datum for all identified archaeological sites; (4) record UTM coordinates for all IOs, TCPs, and sacred sites; (5) record all previously identified and newly identified archaeological sites, IOs, TCPs, and sacred sites using the appropriate forms and in compliance with the applicable standards and guidelines based on land management authority; (6) provide recommendations regarding eligibility for all previously identified and newly identified archeological sites, TCPs, and sacred sites for listing in the NRHP; (7) assess potential effects to cultural resources; (8) provide mitigation recommendations regarding potential project effects on all previously identified and newly identified archaeological sites, TCPs, and sacred sites; (9) identify and collect pertinent data on all in-use sites located on lands administered by the Navajo Nation and/or the BLM as required, and (10) perform ethnographic interviews in order to document comments or concerns about archaeological sites, in-use sites, TCPs, and sacred sites situated on lands administered by the Navajo Nation and/or BLM as required.

Distance between surveyors shall not exceed 15 meters. Where vegetation or other variables preclude adhering to the required transect intervals, Contractors shall account for and justify in the subject report any such deviations and shall err on the side of conservative data collection. Contractors shall record the entirety of a site in the event that its boundaries extend outside of the study area. Initial survey findings may indicate the need for limited hand testing or other specialized studies for the purpose of evaluating the significance of cultural resources and for determining the geographical extent of a site. Contractors shall bring this to the attention of the COR immediately and shall coordinate testing with the COR and CO prior to ground disturbing activities. If testing is necessary for eligibility determinations, the Contractors shall coordinate with the COR and CO. Through coordination and consultation, the Contractors may be required to conduct testing and report on it as part of the inventory report. The Contractors shall submit the results of the inventory, eligibility recommendations, and evaluation of project effects in a draft report that will be reviewed by Reclamation.

Reclamation will transmit its comments to the Contractors, who shall incorporate them into a consultation draft report that Reclamation will provide to project participants. Once the project participants have reviewed and commented on the consultation draft report, the Contractors shall incorporate these comments into the final report in consultation with Reclamation, which they shall transmit to the COR for final review and approval.

5.2 Cultural Resources Database and GIS Development and Maintenance

The Contractors may be required to maintain and update the existing NGWSP cultural resource database and GIS for mapping cultural resource data and develop new databases and GIS as requested in specific TOs for other WCAO projects. As work and research progresses, the databases and GIS shall be updated. The GIS shall continue to conform to Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) standards (http://www.fgdc.gov/standards/) and International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 19115 standards (http://www.iso.org/iso/home.htm). All GIS data shall be in an agreed-upon format manageable by Reclamation, such as GeoTIFF Revision 1. As part of this task, the Contractors shall provide a secure, limited-access file transfer protocol (FTP) site within the Contractors’ servers and accessible by select Reclamation staff.

The FTP site will allow for file upload, transfer and sharing, document and database storage, and project calendars and schedules. Upon final close-out of the IDIQ, the updated database, GIS, and all maps generated from it will become the property of Reclamation. Reclamation will provide the Contractors with the specific requirements and details for these services in specific TOs.

5.3 Cultural Resources Management or Mitigation Plan Development and Reporting

The Contractors may be required to develop sampling strategies, management, or mitigation plans for cultural resources that may be affected by Reclamation projects.

The Contractors shall coordinate closely with the COR, land managers, and stakeholders to identify the nature of action, potential effects, and appropriate strategies to mitigate these effects. The Contractors will recommend management or mitigation strategies in accordance with the goals outlined in research designs and in consultation with the project participants as directed. Plans may be presented as part of a cultural resources inventory report or as a stand-alone draft report that will be reviewed by Reclamation. Reclamation will transmit its comments to the Contractors, who shall incorporate them into a consultation draft report that Reclamation will provide to project participants. Once the project participants have reviewed and commented on the consultation draft report, the Contractors shall incorporate these comments into the final report in consultation with Reclamation, which they shall transmit to the COR for final review and approval.

Management or mitigation strategies may include, but are not limited to, property avoidance and/or monitoring, detailed site recordation, surface collection, HABS/HAER documentation and evaluation, development of historic contexts, additional ethnohistorical and anthropological research, predictive modeling, additional GIS research, geoarchaeological investigations, archaeological testing, and/or archaeological data recovery. All management or mitigation activities shall conform to current accepted professional standards for data recordation and collection and to the goals outlined in the applicable research design. Reclamation will provide the Contractors with the specific requirements and details for these services in individual TOs.

5.4 Management and Mitigation Plan Implementation, Analysis, and Reporting

The Contractors may be required to implement cultural resource management and/or mitigation plans that they or another Contractors have developed for Reclamation projects. As described above, management and/or mitigation strategies may include, but are not limited to, property avoidance and/or monitoring, detailed site recordation, surface collection, HABS/HAER documentation and evaluation, development of historic contexts, additional ethnohistorical and anthropological research, predictive modeling, additional GIS research, geoarchaeological investigations, archaeological testing, and/or archaeological data recovery. All management or mitigation activities shall conform to current accepted professional standards for data recordation and collection and to the goals outlined in the applicable research design. The Contractors shall present the results of their work in a draft report that will be reviewed by Reclamation.

Reclamation will transmit its comments to the Contractors, who shall incorporate them into a consultation draft report that Reclamation will provide to project participants. Once the project participants have reviewed and commented on the consultation draft report, the Contractors shall incorporate these comments into the final report in consultation with Reclamation, which they shall transmit to the COR for final review and approval.

Should the Contractors undertake ground disturbing activities, they shall prepare and submit a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) for Reclamation’s review.

The Contractors shall be responsible for implementing the SWPPP and adhering to regulations regarding dust, water, and erosion management.

Should the Contractors undertake surface collection, archaeological testing, or archaeological data recovery prior to beginning artifact analysis, the Contractors shall provide the COR with an analysis plan, which shall include (1) a sampling strategy if applicable; (2) a list of recorded attributes for each material class; (3) a list of samples to be submitted for chronometric, microscopic, or destructive analyses; (4) a list of services to be subcontracted, such as pollen analysis and the name of the subcontractor(s); and (5) a report outline.

The Contractors shall conduct artifact analysis in accordance with the goals outlined in applicable project research designs and/or according to the goals agreed upon by the project participants. The analysis will conform to current accepted professional standards. At a minimum, the Contractors shall record artifact type, form, portion, material and function, and further analysis will be performed as necessary. Any cultural material collected through surface collection, archaeological testing, and/or archaeological data recovery will be analyzed as appropriate to the material type, the professional judgment of the Contractors, and in consultation with the COR. The Contractors shall present the results of their analyses in a draft report that will be reviewed by. Reclamation will transmit its comments to the Contractors, who shall incorporate them into a consultation draft report that Reclamation will provide to project participants. Once the project participants have reviewed and commented on the consultation draft report, the Contractors shall incorporate these comments into the final report in consultation with Reclamation, which they shall transmit to the COR for final review and approval. Reclamation will provide the Contractors with the specific requirements and details for these services in individual TOs.

5.5 Monitoring, Discovery Mitigation, Analysis, and Reporting

The Contractors may be required to conduct archaeological monitoring in accordance with management and/or mitigation plans they or other Contractors have developed for WCAO projects. Archaeological monitoring may occur during geologic explorations, project construction, or in areas where cultural resources are at risk. Reclamation will determine a need for monitoring through consultation with land managers and project participants. The Contractors shall flag routes around sites for the transport of heavy equipment and monitor ground disturbing activities as directed to ensure that cultural resources are not disturbed. The Contractors may also be required to visit sites and record disturbances due to erosion, site visitation, or unlawful collection. The Contractors shall present the results of their monitoring in a draft report that will be reviewed by Reclamation. Reclamation will transmit its comments to the Contractors, who shall incorporate them into a consultation draft report that Reclamation will provide to project participants. Once the project participants have reviewed and commented on the consultation draft report, the Contractors shall incorporate these comments into the final report in consultation with Reclamation, which they shall transmit to the COR for final review and approval. Reclamation will provide the Contractors with the specific requirements and details for these services in individual TOs.

In the event that buried cultural resources are encountered during monitoring, the Contractors shall notify the COR immediately and follow established protocols to protect, record, and quickly mitigate the discovery. The Contractors may be required to undertake more extensive discovery mitigation at the direction of the CO and in consultation with the COR. Upon discovery of a more complicated resource, the Contractors shall take appropriate measures to protect and record the discovery and develop a letter report describing the discovery and the recommended mitigation strategy. This letter report will be reviewed by Reclamation and the appropriate land managing agency. The Contractors shall undertake extensive discovery mitigation according to the approved mitigation plan, which may require excavation, mechanical stripping, ethnographic interviews, and specialized analysis. The Contractors shall provide an end-of fieldwork report and an analysis of the recovered materials that will be reviewed by Reclamation. Reclamation will transmit its comments to the Contractors, who shall incorporate them into a consultation draft report that Reclamation will provide to project participants. Once the project participants have reviewed and commented on the consultation draft report, the Contractors shall incorporate these comments into the final report in consultation with Reclamation, which they shall transmit to the COR for final review and approval. Reclamation will provide the Contractors with the specific requirements and details for these services in individual TOs.

The Contractors shall be responsible for the implementation of existing NAGPRA POAs to comply with regulations regarding repatriation and/or reburial of inadvertent discoveries of human remains and associated objects, and shall assist Reclamation with repatriation and/or reburial tasks as required. This will include all excavation, testing, reburial, or repatriation, and reporting as necessary to comply with NAGPRA and other applicable laws and regulations for inadvertent discoveries of human remains and or associated funerary items.

5.6 Collection Preparation and Curation

In the event that cultural materials are recovered and alayzed, the Contractors shall prepare all recovered cultural materials and archival records for curation in accordance with applicable federal, state, and tribal regulations and curation facility guidelines.

These activities shall include preparing an inventory for all artifact and record boxes and compiling, printing, and archiving hard copies of all relevant reports, documents, data tables, photos, and other project related files for submission to the collection owner and/or a curation facility as appropriate. For collections made on lands managed by Department of the Interior agencies, the Contractors shall be required to catalog and accession the collections using ICMS. For specific TOs, the Contractors shall be responsible for preparing an uploading select project documents into a digital data repository previously approved by the COR and the CO. The Contractors shall be responsible for maintaining and storing prepared collections until the completion of all fieldwork and analysis under this IDIQ. At that time, the Contractors shall coordinate with the COR to facilitate transfer to the appropriate owner or curation facility.

Reclamation will provide the Contractors with the specific requirements and details for these services in individual TOs.

The Contractors shall be responsible for the implementation of existing NAGPRA POAs to comply with regulations regarding repatriation and/or reburial of inadvertent discoveries of human remains and associated objects, and shall assist Reclamation with repatriation and/or reburial tasks as required. This will include all excavation, testing, reburial, or repatriation, and reporting as necessary to comply with NAGPRA and other applicable laws and regulations for inadvertent discoveries of human remains and or associated funerary items.

5.7 NGWSP Technical Series

The Contractors may be required to develop a Technical series based on the NGWSP results. The Contractors shall coordinate with the COR, CO, and project participants to develop an outline for the Technical series and volume guidelines, including discussion of hard copy and digital distribution or submission to a COR-approved digital data repository. Reclamation anticipates that the Class I Report, the Ethnographic Study, and the Research Design shall be included in the technical series.

5.8 Public Outreach

The Contractors may also be required to coordinate with Reclamation to conduct public outreach on NGWSP and other WCAO projects. Activities associated with public outreach may include, but are not limited to, PA workgroups, public and private presentations, development of FAQs or fliers, professional conference presentations, and door-to-door outreach. Reclamation will provide the Contractors with the specific requirements and details for these services in individual TOs. The Contractors understand that they shall not publish, present, transmit, depict, or discuss project data or project-related issues with any party without the authority to do so as stipulated in a specific TO and/or prior authorization from the COR.

5.9 Additional cultural resources services

The Contractors may be required to provide additional support to WCAO such as attending PA workgroups, consultation, and/or coordination meetings to discuss reports and findings; attending or conducting in-field or site visits with Reclamation staff and/or project participants; providing GIS and mapping data; providing images or data for presentations; attending training to access reclaimed land; and producing additional copies of reports for dissemination. Reclamation shall provide the Contractors with the specific requirements and details for these services in individual TOs.

6.0 Delivery

Delivery and/or performance shall be made as authorized in specific TOs. The Contractors shall furnish to Reclamation, when and if ordered, work for the items specified in individual TOs. The Contractors shall submit draft report deliverables for review to the COR, who will make comments and request changes as necessary. The Contractors shall provide the edited draft report to the COR, who will submit it to the appropriate regulatory and consulting parties for consultation with the ultimate goals of fulfilling Reclamation’s NHPA and NAGPRA responsibilities; obtaining cultural resources clearance for Reclamation projects; and enhancing the public’s understanding of the rich history of the project area. The COR will provide any additional comments and requested changes received from the regulatory and consulting parties to the Contractors. Once the Contractors submit a report that incorporates all comments and changes to the COR, the COR will review the report deliverables again for completeness before accepting it as a final deliverable. Report review and consultation is an iterative process and the Contractors understand that they shall be required to produce additional drafts that address comments from Reclamation, other regulatory parties, and consulting parties before Reclamation requests and accepts a final report. Reclamation will describe the number of drafts and review schedule in the individual TOs. There is no limit on the number or size of orders that may be issued and Reclamation may issue concurrent orders requiring delivery to multiple destinations or performance at multiple locations.

The Contractors shall request and receive a digital or hard copy communication from the COR confirming the receipt and acceptance of all final deliverables before a final invoice can be submitted and paid. After final deliverables are received, the COR will have a period of seven (7) days to determine if the deliverables are acceptable and meet contract specifications. Should any of the final deliverables not meet contract specifications, they will be returned for correction. If the final deliverables are damaged upon receipt, the Contractors shall be responsible for transmitting a new set of clean and proper deliverables to the COR.

The originals of archival materials, including all forms, notes, maps, negatives, prints, photo record sheets, slides, video, and other data produced by the Contractors shall be submitted to Reclamation on a timely and regular basis. All cultural resource materials, including all field notes, all associated records, and photographs generated under this IDIQ are the property of Reclamation.

In addition to the deliverables required in individual TOs, the Contractors shall provide bi-weekly updates in digital format to the COR and CO on the progress of all outstanding TOs and notification of any problems or concerns. The Contractors shall also provide a digital report at the end of each contract year that describes the work performed that year. Annual reports shall be concise, and all information presented therein consistent with previous reports and any other deliverables required by task orders. Annual digital reports shall document any changes in key personnel, agreed upon scope changes, or modifications to the contract issued over the course of the year. The Contractors may also be required to develop a “lessons learned” report to document the successes, challenges, and problems encountered during contract performance or for a specific project. Reclamation will provide the Contractors with the specific requirements and details for these services in individual TOs.

7.0 Provided Items

Reclamation will provide the following items to the Contractors for use in the performance of this IDIQ.

1. Digital copies of the NGWSP reports and plans completed to date as appropriate;

2. Digital copies of the existing NGWSP cultural resources database and GIS; and

3. Digital copies of maps of area of potential effect for WCAO projects

No other items will be provided by Reclamation. The Contractors shall demonstrate that they can provide the necessary equipment, including but not limited to, global positioning system (GPS) units, screens, field equipment, field vehicles, and the capacity to staff and conduct multiple field projects simultaneously. The Contractors shall demonstrate that they can incorporate work anticipated under this IDIQ within their existing workload. Work may be intermittent and the Contractors shall be able to provide the requested services during periods of both high and low demand and within the timeframes specified within the individual TOs.

8.0 Security

The Contractors shall be responsible for providing adequate security. Since the Contractors shall be acting as an agent of Reclamation, the Contractors shall continually provide for the secure safekeeping of the artifacts, data, and any other materials in its custody. Furthermore, the Contractors shall continually provide for the protection and security of excavations in progress. This may require fencing of sites or other measures as necessary.

The Contractors shall not leave excavations open for extended periods when no work is in progress. The Contractors shall backfill all sites or test units upon completion of either the excavation or the current field season and pull all nails and string, with the exception of the permanent datum. Proposals to furnish site security shall include a provision for continual patrol of the project area during periods when excavation is not in progress, such as nights and weekends during the field season.

9.0 Permits

Acquiring permits to conduct any of the above services on federal, state, tribal, and private land shall be the sole responsibility of the Contractors. The Contractors shall be required to meet the requirements and obtain permits pursuant to ARPA (U.S.C.

470-11), if required by any associated agency. The Contractors shall obtain any additional permits that may be required by any other federal, tribal, or state agency to provide the requested services on those lands. Receipt of award under this IDIQ does not guarantee the issuance of the necessary permits or mandate a timeframe for permit issuance by land managers and/or regulatory agencies. If the Contractors do not already hold general permits with the BLM, New Mexico Historic Preservation Division, the Navajo Nation Historic Preservation Department, and/or the Colorado Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, it is recommended that the Contractors notify the appropriate land managing and regulatory agencies of their intent to apply for a permit at the earliest date possible. The Contractors shall provide copies of all necessary permits to the COR prior to the initiation of fieldwork, and copies shall be maintained on site with field crews.

Reclamation will be responsible for obtaining right of entry permission for any land not owned or managed by the federal government at the time of the requested services, but the Contractors shall be required to coordinate entry upon any lands with the appropriate owner or administrator, and may be required to act as Reclamation's agent in procuring specific land entry permission.

10.0 Communication Protocols

The Contractors shall closely coordinate activities with Reclamation. The Area Office Archeologist will serve as the COR and the primary cultural resources field inspector and document reviewer for all work performed under this contract. The Contractors will heed, respond to, and act on all official communications that are transmitted in writing from Reclamation’s CO or COR, as identified in the award announcement. Official communications that alter the scope or provisions of the agreement and all TOs stating work requirements will only be provided as a written modification with the signature of the CO.

The Contractors shall not publish, present, transmit, depict, or discuss project data or project-related issues with any party without the authority to do so as stipulated in a specific TO and/or prior authorization from the COR. The Contractors shall not negotiate services performed under this contract with any party, including regulatory or consulting parties, unless negotiations are authorized and/or attended by the COR and/or the CO.

Reclamation will not honor any agreements made between the…