Solicitation 12444221R0034.pdf

SEE ADDENDUMIS CHECKED

CODE 18a. PAYMENT WILL BE MADE BY

CODE

FACILITYCODE

17b. CHECK IF REMITTANCE IS DIFFERENT AND PUT SUCH ADDRESS IN OFFER

OFFEROR

ATLANTA GA 30309-2449

STE 876S

1720 PEACHTREE ST NW

USDA-FS CSA EAST 4

CODE 16. ADMINISTERED BYCODE

X

X

X

541720

SIZE STANDARD:

100.00 % FOR:SET ASIDE:UNRESTRICTED OR4442

RFPIFB

10. THIS ACQUISITION ISCODE

RFQ

14. METHOD OF SOLICITATION

13b. RATING

NAICS:

SMALL BUSINESS

10/25/2021 1400 CT

09/22/2021 jay.g.tobin@usda.govJAY TOBIN (No collect calls)

INFORMATION CALL:

FOR SOLICITATION 8. OFFER DUE DATE/LOCAL TIMEb. TELEPHONE NUMBERa. NAME

4. ORDER NUMBER3. AWARD/ 6. SOLICITATION

12444221R0034

5. SOLICITATION NUMBER

SOLICITATION/CONTRACT/ORDER FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS 1. REQUISITION NUMBER PAGE OF

1 60 OFFEROR TO COMPLETE BLOCKS 12, 17, 23, 24, & 30

TELEPHONE NO.

17a. CONTRACTOR/

15. DELIVER TO

ATLANTA GA 30309-2449

STE 876S

1720 PEACHTREE ST NW

9. ISSUED BY

7.

2. CONTRACT NO.

EFFECTIVE DATE

$22.00

18b. SUBMIT INVOICES TO ADDRESS SHOWN IN BLOCK 18a UNLESS BLOCK BELOW

ISSUE DATE

DELIVERY FOR FOB DESTINA-

TION UNLESS BLOCK IS

MARKED

11.

SEE SCHEDULEX

12. DISCOUNT TERMS

THIS CONTRACT IS A

RATED ORDER UNDER

DPAS (15 CFR 700)

13a.

SERVICE-DISABLED

VETERAN-OWNED

SMALL BUSINESS

HUBZONE SMALL

BUSINESS

8(A)

USDA-FS CSA EAST 4

WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS

(WOSB) ELIGIBLE UNDER THE WOMEN-OWNED

SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAM

EDWOSB

24.

AMOUNT

23.

UNIT PRICE

22.

UNIT

21.

QUANTITY

20.

SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES

19.

ITEM NO.

This USDA Forest Service solicitation will result in multiple Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPA) to provide archaeological/cultural heritage services within the States of Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, and Oklahoma for a five year period of performance from date of award.

Offerors shall be registered at the System for Award Management (www.sam.gov) and follow all instructions beginning on page 33 to be eligible for award.

(Use Reverse and/or Attach Additional Sheets as Necessary)

HEREIN, IS ACCEPTED AS TO ITEMS:

XX

DATED

JAY G. TOBIN

. YOUR OFFER ON SOLICITATION (BLOCK 5),

INCLUDING ANY ADDITIONS OR CHANGES WHICH ARE SET FORTH

COPIES TO ISSUING OFFICE. CONTRACTOR AGREES TO FURNISH AND DELIVER

ARE

ARE

31c. DATE SIGNED

27b. CONTRACT/PURCHASE ORDER INCORPORATES BY REFERENCE FAR 52.212-4. FAR 52.212-5 IS ATTACHED. ADDENDA

31a. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (SIGNATURE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER)

30c. DATE SIGNED 31b. NAME OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)

ALL ITEMS SET FORTH OR OTHERWISE IDENTIFIED ABOVE AND ON ANY ADDITIONAL

SHEETS SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SPECIFIED.

27a. SOLICITATION INCORPORATES BY REFERENCE FAR 52.212-1, 52.212-4. FAR 52.212-3 AND 52.212-5 ARE ATTACHED. ADDENDA

26. TOTAL AWARD AMOUNT (For Govt. Use Only)

OFFER

STANDARD FORM 1449 (REV. 2/2012)

Prescribed by GSA - FAR (48 CFR) 53.212

ARE NOT ATTACHED.

ARE NOT ATTACHED.

AUTHORIZED FOR LOCAL REPRODUCTION

PREVIOUS EDITION IS NOT USABLE

30b. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print)

30a. SIGNATURE OF OFFEROR/CONTRACTOR

28. CONTRACTOR IS REQUIRED TO SIGN THIS DOCUMENT AND RETURN

25. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA

29. AWARD OF CONTRACT:

REF.

32e. MAILING ADDRESS OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE

32c. DATE 32b. SIGNATURE OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE

ACCEPTED, AND CONFORMS TO THE CONTRACT, EXCEPT AS NOTED:

32a. QUANTITY IN COLUMN 21 HAS BEEN

RECEIVED INSPECTED

40. PAID BY39. S/R VOUCHER NUMBER38. S/R ACCOUNT NUMBER

37. CHECK NUMBER

FINALPARTIAL

36. PAYMENT

FINALPARTIAL

35. AMOUNT VERIFIED

CORRECT FOR

34. VOUCHER NUMBER33. SHIP NUMBER

COMPLETE

32g. E-MAIL OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE

42d. TOTAL CONTAINERS42c. DATE REC'D (YY/MM/DD)

42b. RECEIVED AT (Location)

42a. RECEIVED BY (Print)

41c. DATE41b. SIGNATURE AND TITLE OF CERTIFYING OFFICER

41a. I CERTIFY THIS ACCOUNT IS CORRECT AND PROPER FOR PAYMENT

STANDARD FORM 1449 (REV. 2/2012) BACK

24.

AMOUNT

23.

UNIT PRICE

22.

UNIT

21.

QUANTITY

20.

SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES

19.

ITEM NO.

Quantities shown are estimates for evaluation purposes and NOT guarantees; individual BPA calls will be awarded on a competitive/fair opportunity basis.

Offerors may quote on any or all items and limit the total amount of work they might accept by addressing this in their Technical Proposal.

Period of Performance: 5 years ending 10/31/2026

Archaeological / Cultural Heritage Survey Services

Product/Service Code: B503

Product/Service Description: SPECIAL

STUDIES/ANALYSIS- ARCHEOLOGICAL/PALEONTOLOGICAL

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement. In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S.

Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or

Continued ...

32f. TELEPHONE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE

32d. PRINTED NAME AND TITLE OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE

60 2 of

ITEM NO. SUPPLIES/SERVICES QUANTITY UNIT UNIT PRICE AMOUNT

NAME OF OFFEROR OR CONTRACTOR

3 60

CONTINUATION SHEET

REFERENCE NO. OF DOCUMENT BEING CONTINUED PAGE OF

(A) (B) (C) (D) (E) (F)

12444221R0034 funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information

(e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American

Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA's TARGET Center at

(202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800)

877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than

English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination

Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to

File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to

USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992.

Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:(1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil

Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

NSN 7540-01-152-8067 OPTIONAL FORM 336 (4-86)

Sponsored by GSA

FAR (48 CFR) 53.110

12444221R0034 Kisatche National Forest

National Forests in Mississippi National Forests and Grasslands in Texas

Ouachita National Forest Ozark-St. Francis National Forests

Archaeological/Cultural Heritage Services

ARCHAEOLOGICAL/CULTURAL HERITAGE SERVICES

Kisatchie National Forest

Headquarters/Supervisor’s Office (Pineville, LA); Caney Ranger District (Homer, LA), Calcasieu Ranger District (Boyce, LA), Catahoula Ranger District (Bentley, LA), Kisatchie Ranger District (Provencal, LA), Winn Ranger District (Winnfield, LA).

National Forests in Mississippi

Headquarters/Supervisor’s Office (Jackson, MS); Bienville Ranger District (Forest, MS); Chickasawhay Ranger District (Laurel, MS); Delta Ranger District (Rolling Fork, MS); De Soto Ranger District (Wiggins, MS); Holly Springs Ranger District (Oxford, MS); Homochito Ranger District (Meadville, MS); Tombigbee Ranger District (Ackerman, MS).

National Forests and Grasslands in Texas

Headquarters/Supervisor’s Office (Lufkin, TX); Angelina-Sabine Ranger District (Zavalla and Hemphill, TX); Davy Crockett Ranger District (Kennard, TX); Sam Houston Ranger District (NewWaverly, TX); LBJ/Caddo National Grasslands (Decatur, TX).

Ouachita National Forest

Headquarters/Supervisor’s Office (Hot Springs, AR); Caddo-Womble Ranger District (Mount Ida, AR); Jessieville-Winona- Fourche Ranger District (Jessieville, AR); Mena-Oden Ranger District (Mena, OK); Oklahoma Ranger District (Hodgen,OK);

Poteau-Cold Springs Ranger District (Waldron, AR).

Ozark-St. Francis National Forests

Headquarters/Supervisor’s Office (Russellville, AR); Big Piney Ranger District (Hector, AR); Boston Mountain Ranger District (Ozark, AR); Mt. Magazine Ranger District (Paris, AR); Pleasant Hill Ranger District (Clarksville, AR); St. Francis Ranger District (Marianna, AR); Sylamore Ranger District (Mountain View, AR).

OVERVIEW

This solicitation will result in multiple Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPA) to provide archaeological/cultural heritage services within the States of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahom, and Texas for a five year period performance through October 31, 2026.

Quantities shown are best estimates and NOT guarantees; individual BPA calls will be awarded on a competitive/fair opportunity basis.

Offerors may quote on any or all items and limit the total amount of work they might accept by addressing this in their Technical Proposal.

AUTHORIZED ORDERING ACTIVITIES: BPA calls may only be issued by warranted contracting officers or purchasing agents on behalf of the above noted National Forests.

AGREEMENT ADMINISTRATION

Description: It is the intent of the Government to enter into multiple Blanket Purchase to provide for Archaeological/ Cultural Heritage Services on an as-needed basis under the terms and conditions of this agreement. Awardees will be given fair opportunity to provide these services. Specifications may be adjusted on individual call orders based on unique local requirements; these will be identified in the RFQ. Applicable wage determination(s) will be included with each RFQ.

Authorized Callers: Only written calls issued by a warranted Forest Service Contracting Officer or Purchasing Agent on an SF 1449 or OF 347 are authorized under this agreement.

National Forests in Mississippi National Forests and Grasslands in Texas

Ouachita National Forest Ozark-St. Francis National Forests

Period of Performance: This agreement shall remain in effect for a period of five years from date of award unless terminated by either the vendor or the Government with thirty (30) days written notice. The Government may replenish the original pool of available contractors on an annual basis by resoliciting the requirement for the remaining period of performance.

Limitations: The minimum order will be $2,500; requirements for lesser amounts will be acquired as micro-purchases using a Government Purchase Card. Individual call orders under each agreement shall not exceed $250,000; total orders during the duration of each agreement shall not exceed $7,500,000.

Extent of Obligation: The Government is hereby obligated only to the extent of authorized purchases (calls) made under this Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA).

Delivery Tickets/Invoicing: All calls under the BPA shall be invoiced through the Invoice Process Platform (www.ipp.gov) web-site. Invoices shall include the following information:

BPA / Call Numbers Dates of Service

Description of Services (Activity, Location)

SCHEDULE OF ITEMS

ITEM DESC QTY UNIT AR LA MS OK TX

1 Conduct Cultural Resources Survey

1A Literature Search and Pedestrian Survey 1-99 Acres $ $ $ $ $

1B Literature Search and Pedestrian Survey

100- 499 Acres $ $ $ $ $

1C Literature Search and Pedestrian Survey

500- 999 Acres $ $ $ $ $

1D Literature Search and Pedestrian Survey 1000+ Acres $ $ $ $ $

2 Phase I Site Testing (May be included as part of Survey) 1 Site $ $ $ $ $

3 Phase II or III Site (Evaluation) Testing 1 Cubic

Meter $ $ $ $ $

4 National Register Nominations 1 Site/

Structure $ $ $ $ $

5 Final Report (Electronic Copy and Bound Copies) 1 Each $ $ $ $ $

6 Curation Fees (Not applicable in Louisiana) 1 Cubic

Foot $ $ $ $ $

7 Reporting Previously Tested Sites 1 Cubic

Meter $ $ $ $ $

8 Site Damage Assessment 1 Site $ $ $ $ $

.Enter N/A if not interested in specific state. Indicate any other geographic considerations within your Technical Proposal.

http://www.ipp.gov/

National Forests in Mississippi National Forests and Grasslands in Texas

Ouachita National Forest Ozark-St. Francis National Forests

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT

Archaeological/Cultural Heritage Survey Services for National Forests in the States of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississipp, Oklahoma, and Texas

GENERAL OVERVIEW

SCOPE: The contractor shall provide all materials, labor, equipment, tools, transportation, supervision, expertise, permits, licenses, and other incidentals necessary, except as otherwise provided, to successfully complete all aspects of professional cultural resources services for a wide variety of activities on National Forest lands in Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, and Oklahoma. The primary tasks will be archeological survey (both tract surveys and linear projects) and site evaluation. However, tasks may not be limited to archeological survey and evaluation.

Additional tasks may include directing tribal heritage crews in various projects, historic buildings/structures/features inventory and evaluation (i.e., CCC constructed culverts, trails, or other improvements), survey of linear features (trails, roads, etc.), artifact analysis, collections management, cultural resource recording, site monitoring, archeological site relocation and marking, preparation of National Register of Historic Places nominations, prehistoric and historic synthesis, cultural resources overviews, cultural resource management plans, historic preservation plans, archaeological and historical interpretation, or other cultural resource planning documents, report preparation, analysis of and reporting on previously tested/excavated sites, preparation of GIS layers, database entry, scanning of Forest Service records (historic, archival, and archeological), and documents written for the lay audience.

Archaeological Resource Protection Act Damage Assessments Historic Structure Assessments

The Contractor shall demonstrate knowledge and use of global positioning systems (GPS) and geographical information systems (GIS) mapping, digital image processing, scanning, digitizing, and other technical competencies. This section provides background and descriptions of the Agency's organizational structure, where the services are to be provided, the importance of the software development effort, any previous efforts germane to this effort, and the hardware and software resources in use. This section could also include agency or organization specific information about government furnished items, working hours, federal holidays, and a glossary to define terms used within the body of the work statement.

AUTHORITY: The services performed under this Performance Work Statement are initiated and influenced by several Federal requirements. These requirements include, but are not limited to National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended (NHPA); the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA); Executive Order 11593 (Protection and Enhancement of the Cultural Environment); the Archeological and Historic Preservation Act of 1974; the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA); the Archaeological Resources Protection Act Of 1979, as amended (ARPA); and the Programmatic Agreements between the National Forests and their respective State Historic Preservation Offices. The Regional Program Office requires that all contractors obtain either an Organic Act Permit or ARPA permit for working on these forests.

LOCATION: Project areas include lands within the states of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas.

Specific locations, area data, and maps will be issued with each BPA call.

Acreages will be listed on each BPA call that have been determined by global positioning system (GPS) or geographic information system (GIS). For purposes of this agreeement, quantities listed on each BPA call are considered actual and not an estimate.

PERFORMANCE OF SIMILAR WORK BY THE GOVERNMENT: Nothing in this agreeement restricts the Government from performing any of the work with its own organization and workforce.

CONTRACTOR REPRESENTATIVE: The contractor shall designate a representative for the performance of the work.

The name of this person and an alternate(s) who shall act for the contractor when the contractor is absent shall be designated

National Forests in Mississippi National Forests and Grasslands in Texas

Ouachita National Forest Ozark-St. Francis National Forests in writing to the contracting officer. The contractor representative or alternate shall have full authority to act for the contractor on all relevant matters relating to daily operation of this agreeement. The Contractor Representative designated by the contractor shall have the ability to read, write, and speak English and communicate with crew members.

CONTRACTOR ACCESS: If the contractor must unlock a gate, the Contractor is required to relock the gate upon entry and egress.

EQUIPMENT CLEANING – INVASIVE SPECIES OF CONCERN:

(a) The contractor shall ensure that any equipment intended for use during contract performance, either mechanical or otherwise, shall be free from invasive species of concern before use on this contract or any subsequent BPA call.

(i) Prior to commencing work on a project, the contractor shall advise the Forest Service of previous equipment cleaning measures and make equipment available for inspection upon request. Forest Service shall have two days, excluding weekends and Federal holidays, to inspect any equipment to ensure it is free of invasive species of concern. Equipment shall be considered clean when a visual inspection does not disclose seeds, soil, vegetative matter, and other debris that could contain or hold seeds of invasive species of concern.

After satisfactory inspection or after such two-day period, the contractor may proceed with work as directed by the Contracting Officer (CO).

(ii) If the contractor desires to clean equipment on National Forest land, such as at the end of a project or prior to moving to or through an area that is free of invasive species of concern, the contractor shall obtain prior approval from CO/COR as to the location for such cleaning and measures, if any, for controlling impacts.

(b) The respective District Offices maintain a current list and maps of areas known by the Forest Service that are infested with invasive species of concern and are available upon request. The parties shall promptly communicate with one another with respect to description or designation of additional locations; discovery of locations of new species or new infestation; and addition of species to the list of invasive species of concern and any potential impact on contract operations.

PROTECTION OF EXISTING VEGETATION, STRUCTURES, EQUIPMENT, UTILITIES, AND IMPROVEMENTS:

The Contractor shall preserve and protect all structures, equipment, and vegetation (such as trees, shrubs, and grass) on or adjacent to the work site, which do not unreasonably interfere with the work required.

The Contractor shall protect from damage all existing improvements and utilities (1) at or near the work site, and (2) on adjacent property of a third party, the locations of which are made known to or should be known by the Contractor. The Contractor shall repair any damage to those facilities, including those that are the property of a third party, resulting from failure to comply with the requirements of this contract or failure to exercise reasonable care in performing the work. If the Contractor fails or refuses to repair the damage promptly, the Contracting Officer may have the necessary work performed and charge the cost to the Contractor.

CLEANING UP: The Contractor shall always keep the work area, including storage areas, free from accumulations of waste materials. Before completing the work, the Contractor shall remove from the work and premises any rubbish, tools, equipment, and materials that are not the property of the Government. Upon completing the work, the Contractor shall leave the work area in a clean, neat, and orderly condition satisfactory to the Contracting Officer or their designee.

PERFORMANCE TIME: All BPA calls issued will include contract delivery or performance schedule in terms of specific calendar dates or contract time for completion. To facilitate timely inspections, the contractor shall provide the Government of their proposed operation schedule. The contractor shall notify the Government of schedule changes.

All work shall be performed during the period of one-half hour after sunrise to one-half hour before sunset, Monday through Friday, unless time changes are approved by the COR or Inspector.

National Forests in Mississippi National Forests and Grasslands in Texas

Ouachita National Forest Ozark-St. Francis National Forests

PRIVACY ACT: Work on this project may require that personnel have access to Privacy Information. Personnel shall adhere to the Privacy Act, Title 5 of the U.S. Code, Section 552a and applicable agency rules and regulations.

CONFIDENTIAL NATURE OF INFORMATION: The Contractor shall not divulge and shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that no member of its staff or organization divulges, information on specific sites or their locations to any person other than a duly authorized representative of the Forest Service unless otherwise authorized in writing by the Forest Supervisor.

This includes the use, or posting, of photographs encoded with GPS coordinates. The results of this research may be used for theses, dissertations, research projects, and papers and publications subject to the prior, written, approval of the Forest Supervisor. Copies of reports may not be made accessible over the Internet without first receiving written approval of the Forest Supervisor to ensure that sensitive site locational information is not revealed.

COPYRIGHT: The Contractor agrees to indemnify the U.S. Government against any claim of copyright infringement which may result by reason of publication, by the U.S. Government, of material in any report pertaining to the contract work submitted by the Contractor wherein any such previously printed material is not identified in the reports as copyrighted. The Contractor agrees that no rights at common law or inequity shall be asserted, and no claims to copyright by statute shall be established by the Contractor in any materials produced in the performance of this contract, and that all materials and deliverables become the property of the U.S. Government. The results of this project may be used for research and other reasonable and lawful purposes by U.S. Government and non-government agencies and individuals subject to prior written approval of the Forest Service.

Key Personnel. The Contractor shall assign to this contract the following key personnel: Contract Manager, Principal Investigator, and Field Director. Key personnel shall meet the minimum criteria established in the Department of Interior's Guidelines for Professional Qualifications and/or Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 (as amended) and/or Office of Personnel Managements X-118 Qualifications.

(a) The contract proposal must include full curriculum vitae for the Contract Manager, Principal Investigator, Field Director and Consultants in support of their academic qualifications and experience.

Employment under the terms of this contract for key personnel not identified at the time of the contract proposal is subject to approval of the Contracting Officer's Representative. During the performance of the contract, the Contractor shall make no substitutions of key personnel without prior approval of the CO.

(b) The Contractor shall provide a detailed explanation of the circumstances necessitating the proposed substitutions, complete resumes for the proposed substitutes, and any additional information requested by the Contracting Officer or COR. Proposed substitutes should have comparable qualifications to those of the persons being replaced. The Contracting Officer will notify the Contractor after receipt of all required information of the decision on substitutions. The contract will be modified to reflect any approved changes of key personnel.

For all projects, the Contractor must ensure all personnel performing the work meet the following:

(c) Project Manager: The Contractor shall provide a contract manager who shall be responsible for the performance of the work. The name of this person and an alternate(s) who shall act for the Contractor when the manager is absent shall be designated in writing to the Contracting Officer. The contract manager or alternate shall have full authority to act for the Contractor on all contract matters relating to daily operations of this contract.

The Project Manager or alternate shall be available during normal duty hours within seventy-two hours to meet on the National Forest with government personnel designated by the Contracting Officer to discuss problem areas, if necessary.

(d) Principal Investigator: The minimum professional qualifications for the Principal Investigator are: 1) a graduate degree in anthropology with an archaeology emphasis; 2) demonstrated ability to carry out research to completion as evidenced by timely completion of previous contracts undertaken within the past three years and no current contracts which are past their completion dates; 3) one year of full- time professional experience in archaeological administration, research or management relevant to Arkansas or Oklahoma archeology; 4) supervisory field and

National Forests in Mississippi National Forests and Grasslands in Texas

Ouachita National Forest Ozark-St. Francis National Forests analytical experience; 5) meet any current requirements of the Arkansas and Oklahoma State Historic Preservation Officers (SHPO) for a person functioning as a Principal Investigator;

(e) Field Director: 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 including a field school and one year of previous field archeological supervisory experience conducting similar work;

(f) Field or Laboratory Crew: Completion of or satisfactory progress toward a bachelor's degree in anthropology, archeology, history or a closely related field, or six months previous experience in archeological field or laboratory work.

Completion of an archeological field school is considered satisfactory qualification for an initial position (first archeological job) if that individual will be constantly supervised by a higher qualified individual.

Definitions & Acronyms. All terms that have meaning other than that contained in a dictionary and task-specific acronyms.

Government Furnished Items. The Government will provide the following:

District Administrative maps, quantity - one per contractor per calendar year. Map will be provided at pre-work or when provided notice to proceed.

Topographic Quad Sheets of project area (s), quantity - two copies for each BPA call. Sheets will be provided with awarded BPA call.

Contractor Furnished Items. The contractor will provide the following:

(a) Labor within regulation standards. As required to meet time constraints set forth in each individual BPA call.

(b) Employees and Vehicles: Contractor personnel shall wear protective clothing while working on the National Forest lands including orange safety vest or similar clothing during hunting seasons; however, the field crew is not expected to work in the woods during the first two weeks of the modern gun season in Arkansas or the week of modern gun season in Oklahoma. While on the National Forest lands Contractor vehicles shall be clearly marked with distinctive signs or plaques identifying the name of the company.

During fieldwork Contractor personnel shall check in with the district office and designated contract inspector each day and give their intended work location and number of personnel and shall provide the Forest Service with emergency telephone numbers.

(c) Equipment and Facilities: The Contractor must provide or demonstrate access to field and laboratory equipment necessary to conduct whatever operations are defined in this Statement of Work and the BPA call. The Contractor must have adequate facilities necessary for proper treatment, analysis, and storage of specimens and records likely to be obtained from a given project awarded under this contract. This does not necessarily include such specialized facilities as pollen, geochemical, or radiological laboratories, but it does include facilities sufficient to properly preserve or stabilize specimens for any subsequent specialized analysis

CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DATA

Pre-work Meeting and Notice to Proceed: After the award of the BPA call, and prior to commencing work, the Contractor shall be required to attend a pre-work meeting with the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR). During the pre-work meeting numerous subjects will be discussed including, but not limited to:

(a) Review of the undertaking and project objectives.

(b) Review of project and maps to become familiar with the location of the project.

National Forests in Mississippi National Forests and Grasslands in Texas

Ouachita National Forest Ozark-St. Francis National Forests

(c) Inventory strategy and methods, presentation of data, levels of analysis and evaluation, and deliverables.

(d) Coordination and access to the project area with District personnel.

(e) Provide a copy of the planned fieldwork schedule and a communication plan (e.g., key contacts, phone numbers) to the Forest.

(f) Performance time defined in the BPA call.

(g) Establish a start work date on the contract and issue the Notice to Proceed. No work shall be done on the contract prior to the issuance of the Notice to Proceed.

Plan of Work: Prior to commencing the 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 for fieldwork, and strategies for accomplishing the scope of work defined in each BPA call issued under this contract.

Pre-field Files Search: Prior to commencing the fieldwork, the Contractor shall submit to the COR for review and approval a written narrative description documenting that all pre-field file searches and historic records data searches are complete.

At a minimum, the pre-field file and historic records search shall include gathering data from the following:

(a) Forest cultural resources inventory information.

(b) The current National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) listings.

(c) State Archeological Survey.

(d) State Historical Preservation Office.

(e) Historic maps, aerial photographs, and land status records on file with the Forest.

(f) Other pertinent records, publications, informants, etc.

The Contractor shall document in writing, both positive and negative findings from any of the above sources.

SPECIFICATIONS

General. The contractor shall furnish all labor, equipment, supervision, transportation, supplies (except government furnished) permits, licenses and incidentals necessary to perform cultural resource survey services on "as needed basis on National Forest lands in Mississippi, Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. This statement of work consists of completing the tasks/subtask.

Technical:

(a) Cultural Resources Survey

Compliance with Section 106 requires that the cultural resources in the project area be located, and sufficient data retrieved to evaluate sites for eligibility to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in order that a determination of effect can be made. The entire project area will be subjected to pedestrian survey. Since management decisions and directions for future work are often based on initial survey results, it is essential that enough information be obtained to make informed decisions or determinations. Consequently, subsurface shovel testing, which can provide information about artifact depth, site boundaries, and deposit integrity is required.

National Forests in Mississippi National Forests and Grasslands in Texas

Ouachita National Forest Ozark-St. Francis National Forests

The Contractor shall locate, identify, record, and evaluate historic, ethnohistoric and prehistoric properties (Cultural Resources) that could be affected by proposed management activities on National Forest lands in Mississippi, Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and/or Oklahoma.

Tasks may include, but are not limited to, archeological survey, evaluation, artifact analysis, collections management, cultural resource recording, prehistoric and historic synthesis, report preparation, global positioning system (GPS) and geographical information systems (GIS) mapping, digital image processing, scanning, digitizing, locating, and marking archeological sites located on National Forest lands in Mississippi, Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and/or Oklahoma.

In general, inventory shall be an intensive survey as defined by appropriate State and Forest Guidelines. As further example, surveys will be performed on a 30-meter grid as described in the Programmatic Agreement between the Arkansas SHPO, tribes of record, and Arkansas' National Forests. Cultural resources in the project area are to be re-located, and sufficient data retrieved to define site limits/condition and evaluate sites for eligibility to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) at the survey level if at all possible. Shovel tests should be of sufficient depth (no less than 30cm or until sterile soil is encountered.). Surveys on slopes between 0 and 12% transects and shovel tests will be placed at no greater than 30-meter intervals. Surveys on slopes between 12 and 25% transects will be conducted at no greater than 100-meter intervals, and shovel tests will be only emplaced in microgeographic areas with less than 12% slope. Surveys on slopes greater than 25% will have transects spaced at no greater than 100-meter intervals, where feasible. Areas with over 60% slope are hazardous and may be visually inspected at greater intervals when necessary. On these slopes shovel tests will not be required. If during the survey of areas over 12%, slopes are encountered which are less than 12%, then these flatter areas will be surveyed at the appropriate transect and shovel test spacing. All rock outcrops and rock faces (60-100+% slope) will be examined for rock shelters, rock art or other evidence of cultural utilization, if they can be safely explored. The Contractor shall record sufficient data to determine time period, type/function, size, and preliminary National Register of Historic Places eligibility of each resource, so far as the data available will allow. More specific requirements in Texas are shown in Appendix One.

To accomplish these objectives, the Contractor shall review existing sources of information on the environment, prehistory and history of the general project area, including Forest Service Land Status Files; conduct an intensive field survey of the areas defined on the maps, and/or GIS Shapefiles, provided with the BPA call, flag boundaries of all sites in the field; complete appropriate state site inventory records for each site discovered; analyze the results of this investigation, including, but not limited to, recommendations regarding site significance in terms of National Register of Historic Places criteria; and prepare, furnish, and deliver to the Forest Service an original hard copy draft report and nine (9) copies along with one (1) electronic copy describing the methods and results of the study.

Following the completion of the fieldwork, the Contractor shall visit each newly documented site with the Zone Archeologist; the Zone Archeologist may elect not to visit specific sites (i.e., isolated finds).

The contractor shall evaluate each cultural resource site and make a recommendation regarding its eligibility to the National Register of Historic Places using all criteria listed in 36 CFR 60.6, USDI-National Register Bulletin 15, and guidance in appropriate state guidelines such as the State Plan for the Conservation of Archeological Resources in Arkansas and Tomorrow's Legacy: Oklahoma's Statewide Preservation Plan and provide all appropriate site, feature, and artifact documentation needed to support a determination of eligibility. An eligibility recommendation of "Undetermined" may be made, with justification, when eligibility is inconclusive based on field observations.

Where no further work is recommended the contractor shall give reasons for arriving at this conclusion. Similarly, where further work is recommended, it will not be adequate to write simply that the work is necessary.

Recommendations should include statements about what information is to be expected to result from further research and why this information would be significant to the area's history or prehistory.

These recommendations shall be framed as a series of research questions, which the data contained in the particular site, can possibly answer. In other words, National Register recommendations should be justified. Since management decisions and directions for future work are based on initial survey results, it is essential that enough information be obtained to make informed decisions. Consequently, subsurface testing, which can provide information about depth, site boundaries, and deposit integrity is required.

National Forests in Mississippi National Forests and Grasslands in Texas

Ouachita National Forest Ozark-St. Francis National Forests

The entire survey area identified will be examined. Based on previous experience and prior surveys operational site locational strategies have determined that sites are not randomly distributed across the landscape. Rather, prehistoric and historic sites concentrate on flat ridges, saddles and gaps, upland flats and knolls, stream river bottoms, terraces and benches, coves, along old trails and roads, and near stream confluences. Rock shelters and quarries can be on steeper slopes of over 60% slope. Slope and proximity to water emerge as the two primary variables in site probability models. Within the Ouachita National Forest the site probability breaks out as follows:

(i) High: slopes of 0-12%, and/or close to permanent water sources (floodplains and stream terraces).

(ii) Moderate: slopes of 13-25%, farther from permanent water sources.

(iii) Low: 26-59% slopes, and far from permanent water sources.

(iv) Moderate to High: steep slopes, rock outcrops and ridge crests in those areas where Johns Valley Shale, Jackfork Group, or Novaculite formations are exposed at the surface.

The Area of Potential Effect will be sample surveyed based on previous inventory and site probability with high and moderate areas receiving priority coverage. Selected survey locations will be thoroughly investigated, shovel testing enough to determine if sites are present or absent, and the extent and depth of the sites.

Visual examination will be conducted of all slopes of greater than 25%, (including item #4 in the above list) as occasional stone quarries, and rock shelters may occur in much steeper areas, even on sheer cliff faces. Although petroglyphs (or pictographs) have never been found in the Ouachita National Forest, their occurrence remains a possibility.

The entire survey area shall be examined by parallel pedestrian transects spaced at an interval not to exceed the State Plan in the high and moderate areas. A landform guided, or direct gradient, approach shall be used where initial discovery transects are placed through the center of high site probability areas. Transects will generally follow the landforms within the stand and a strict, grid and baseline system is not always necessary. Transects do not have to be straight lines but should conform to local topography in order to best examine high site probability areas. Transects shall not run across ridge crests at right angles but shall be oriented to follow parallel with the ridge crests.

Shovel tests shall be placed along transects at intervals not to exceed the State Plan across all high probability areas.

Subsurface testing will be conducted in all areas except those that are justified not to require subsurface testing (excellent visibility (76-100%), disturbance, or slope greater than 20 percent). Cleared areas, such as trails, roads, tree throws, and tree bases will be examined when available.

The entire project area must be investigated to an extent to ensure location of all reasonably locatable sites. All landforms expected to contain sites will be subsurface tested following the State Plan. Additional tests may be necessary to define site limits and larger tests may be needed to assess and/or evaluate sites. The normal shovel test depths in much of the Ouachita Mountains vary from between less than 5 cm to over 30 cm depending on the area.

Occasional terrace and ridge top deposits may have as much as a meter depth. All high probability landforms expected to contain sites must have a minimum of three (3) subsurface tests excavated each, regardless of landform size.

An appropriate State Archaeological Site Form (depending on location of the project area) will be completed for all new sites and a revisit form will be completed for all previously recorded sites in the project area.

Site definition to be used during survey should follow those utilized by the Ouachita National Forest. An archaeological site must be at least 50 years old, and is characterized by any of the following criteria: 1) A single prehistoric artifact whether on the surface or recovered from a shovel test, 2) An area yielding three or more artifacts from the same broad cultural period on the surface within a 30-m radius for historic sites; 3) An area with visible or historically-recorded cultural features (e.g., cemetery, rock shelter, chimney fall, rock walls, rock alignments, fields, stone piers, stone cairn, earthwork, rock pile, historic road alignments (i.e., GLO, mining, railroad trams, etc.). All sites are to be recorded on state site forms and plotted on 7.5' USGS topographic maps.

National Forests in Mississippi National Forests and Grasslands in Texas

Ouachita National Forest Ozark-St. Francis National Forests

Within the Ouachita Mountains, historic agricultural sites commonly include fields partially or fully enclosed by stone walls or stone alignments and contain field-clearing stone piles within the interior. In these cases, the site is the field and the walls, alignments and field clearing piles are features within the site. The individual stone features, in this case, should not be recorded as separate sites. Exceptions to the shovel testing requirements are the interior of rock shelters, cemeteries, where graves are suspected, and within 30 meters of dipping vats.

Historic landscape features, including agricultural terraces, old roadbeds, trash scatters and trash piles less than 45 years old are generally not considered sites. Those between 45 and 50 are on the cusp of becoming historic and will be considered as sites on a case-by-case basis.

An isolated find is defined as a single artifact recovered from the surface or shovel test where no other cultural materials are found within a 30-meter diameter area. All prehistoric isolated finds are to be documented as a site and will be assigned a Forest Service site number once the site forms are received by the Forest Archeologist. The State of Oklahoma does not assign permanent state site numbers to isolated finds. For historic items, an area yielding three or more artifacts on the surface within a 30-m radius shall be documented as a site. Isolated finds are, by definition, not considered eligible for listing on the NRHP. For cases where an isolated find is unique, and potentially may be considered eligible for inclusion in the NRHP, it should be documented and justified as such.

Deposits of cultural artifacts that have no integrity, such as road fill, stream gravels, or other situations where artifacts clearly are re- deposited, also should be considered isolated finds and documented as re-deposited isolates or sites so that future investigations will not mis-interpret them as valid "sites."

When a site is located in the field it shall be recorded on the respective State Archaeological Site Form. Visible surface remains and artifacts, local topographic features, and systematic shovel testing shall assist in determining the site extent, stratigraphy, integrity, and content. Site descriptions shall include maps showing the locations of shovel test pits, surface remains, topographic features such as large rocks, roads, water drains or gullies; and site boundaries such as to aid in locating the site on the ground from the map and surface features. All features, surface remains, and shovel tests will be clearly labeled on site maps.

Historic sites may be identified by structural or landscape remains such as chimney bases, eroded building outlines, foundation piers, graves, prospecting pits, ornamental plants, dams, quarries, and wells. The dimensions of raised house outlines shall be measured, and sketch mapped with the placement of chimneys and other above ground features noted. These natural and cultural features shall be included on site maps. The presence of wood or other perishable materials will be noted in site descriptions.

All site boundaries shall be determined by shovel test units excavated in a cruciform pattern. This cruciform pattern may be laid out to follow the cardinal directions or in alignment with the natural landform. Intervals between shovel test units shall not exceed 10 m on sites 100 meters or less in diameter. The edge of a site will be defined when at least two negative shovel tests in a row are encountered or when a clearly recognizable and definable natural boundary occurs. Surface materials shall be treated as positive shovel tests and need not be excavated if subsoil clay is exposed. A modified shovel test grid may be used on sites greater than 100 meters in diameter. One base line of shovel test pits shall be excavated at 10-meter intervals through the center of the site along the highest elevation (ridge crest). Radial lines of shovel test pits at 10-meter intervals shall be excavated perpendicular to the base line every 30 meters. One of these radial lines shall cross the base line near the center of the site. All shovel test units, both site discovery and boundary definition units, shall be included on site maps.

Metal detectors may be used on historic sites to supplement shovel testing. The purpose of this use is to assist in defining site boundaries and artifact distributions. Not all finds must be investigated, but the general distribution of artifacts at the site should be noted on maps and in the site descriptions.

The midpoint between the last positive shovel test and the first of the two negative tests shall constitute a boundary.

For historic sites, positive metal detector finds will be treated the same as positive shovel tests for determining boundaries. Any questions about appropriate systematic shovel testing and metal detecting procedures must be directed to the COR before completion of fieldwork, and any changes from the above-described procedures or from the accepted proposal must be approved in writing by the COR.

National Forests in Mississippi National Forests and Grasslands in Texas

Ouachita National Forest Ozark-St. Francis National Forests

If the site extends outside of the project boundary, but is still on national forest lands, the Contractor shall continue surface and subsurface investigations to determine the overall site limits.

If an archaeological site extends onto private land, the Contractor shall make observations of surface remains and exposed surfaces, but the Contractor shall not excavate on or collect artifacts from private land unless prior permission is obtained by the Forest Service. The Contractor shall make an estimate of the site dimensions on private land from surface indications and topography.

There may be previously recorded cultural resources within the project area. The Contractor shall attempt to relocate all previously recorded sites using the same field methods as noted above for general field survey. However, if a previously recorded site has been adequately defined in previous surveys, i.e., sufficient shovel tests were excavated to ensure overall site dimensions, components present, integrity, and potential for features, then additional shovel test excavations may not be required. A new State Archaeological Site Form shall be completed for each previously recorded site where previous documentation was not to current standard, otherwise completion of a revisit form will suffice. A list of the previously documented sites to be revisited will be included in the BPA call and adequacy of previous documentation will be noted. If a previously documented site "can't be relocated" after sufficient investigation, then the contractor shall get guidance from the COR.

Site locations and survey areas will be plotted with handheld Global Positioning System (GPS) units. All shovel tests must be GPS'd and included as a GIS shapefile submitted at the completion of the project. Site locations and associated shovel tests are to be included in individual shapefiles; survey areas and coverage are to be submitted in a fourth shapefile.

All survey transect locations should be flagged with biodegradable flagging tape. This includes hanging flagging tape at each shovel test location, and non-biodegradable double flagging tape at each positive shovel test location.

All site perimeters will be flagged with non-biodegradable flagging to identify their extent. Positive shovel tests should be double flagged with two colors of non-biodegradable ribbon to denote a positive shovel test location. In addition, all sites should have a to-scale site sketch map prepared to denote the extent and orientation of the site, which includes all features.

For newly recorded sites, temporary field numbers will be…