SOW_Musselman_and_Downer_Coulee_Sec_110_Contract.docx

United States Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Lewistown Field Office Musselman and Downer Coulee Section 110 Cultural Resource Inventories Statement of Work

I. Introduction and Background

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) NCMD is initiating a Class III inventory in accordance with Section 110 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). This provision outlines the comprehensive historic preservation responsibilities of Federal agencies, ensuring that historic preservation is integrated into all Federal agency programs.

The inventory is specifically designed to fulfill the requirements of Section 110 of the NHPA (54 U.S.C. § 306102(b)(3)). According to 54 U.S.C. § 306102(b)(3), federal agencies are mandated to undertake necessary preservation activities for historic properties under their jurisdiction, consistent with their mission and professional standards. This requirement ensures that agency-owned historic sites are maintained to protect their cultural, archeological, and architectural values.

The primary objectives of this inventory are to identify, interpret, protect, and preserve cultural resources. Additionally, the inventory seeks to address research questions established by the Statewide Strategy for the BLM’s Cultural Resources program implementation.

II. Project Location and Description:

The project location is approximately 35 miles northeast of Roy, in Petroleum County, MT. The project area can be accessed via public road. The project includes a Class III cultural resource inventory area of 1,700 acres of public land administered by the BLM. The project area is within the Upper Missouri River Breaks; landforms are marked by rocky terrain, deeply incised drainages, steep slopes, and narrow ridges. A thorough examination in these conditions can be challenging. Additional maps and details can be provided to the successful offeror. The final delivery for this contract needs to be completed by Feb. 15th, 2027.

The proposed project is located within the BLM Lewistown Field Office. The project specific locations are identified below. The project includes proactive identification Class III cultural resources inventories to identify all historic properties in the identified parcels.

Table 1. Project Locations

Admin Acres

BLM: 1,700 acres

III. Specific Background:

For the purposes of this project, a Class III cultural resource inventory will be completed. A Class III Cultural Resources Inventory is a professionally conducted, continuous, intensive pedestrian survey of an entire target area aimed at locating and recording all cultural properties that have surface and exposed-profile indications. In general, a Class III survey is accomplished through systematic inspection carried out by walking a series of close-interval parallel transects until the area has been thoroughly examined. BLM has identified 1,700 acres within the project to be completed.

Paleontological localities, if identified, should be noted in the report; however, complete documentation of paleontological sites is not part of this contract. The main objectives of the survey are to discover all cultural resources in a project area and evaluate the cultural resources for National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) eligibility.

IV. Objectives.

General Bureau Objective.

The overall Bureau objective is designed to fulfill the requirements of Section 110 of the NHPA (54 U.S.C. § 306102(b)(3)) by proactively identifying, documenting, and evaluating historic properties located on federally administered public land. That determination needs to be tied to the sites’ significance and integrity. These requirements will be met in accordance with the requirements as outlined in the BLM-Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota Handbook H-8110-1 Guidelines for Identifying Cultural Resources (BLM rev.2004) and Montana State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) guidance.

Specific Study Objectives.

To identify and evaluate, based primarily on surface indications, all cultural resources located on lands identified for survey within the project area. In general, site evaluations should be conducted using existing guidance from the Montana SHPO, the National Register Criteria (36 CFR 60.4), and the National Park Service National Register Bulletins.

V. Statement of Work:

a. The bid proposal shall clearly outline the fieldwork methods and qualifications of personnel to be used in the survey. Personnel qualifications shall be consistent with the BLM Manual 8150, Permitting Uses of Cultural Resources (BLM 2004). The Contractor must have a BLM Montana Cultural Resources Permit that will be valid for the duration of the Period of Performance. The Contractor must be the Principal Investigator and Field Director listed on the permit.

b. The Contractor shall conduct a site file and literature search with the Montana SHPO to obtain site forms and shapefiles at a minimum, to complete project tasks. The purpose of this file search is to ensure that the Contractor is familiar with all previous work conducted in the general area of the project. This information will be a necessary component of the inventory report. The Contractor may contact North Central Montana District (NCMD) BLM archaeologist Josh Uecker for shapefiles of the project area and additional cultural resource records information upon request. The contractor must submit a BLM Fieldwork Authorization request to BLM Lewistown field manager for approval prior to commencing fieldwork.

c. The Contractor shall notify the North Central Montana District archaeologist, Josh Uecker, via email or telephone at least seven (7) days prior to the planned date to begin fieldwork. The BLM will provide a written confirmation via email. The Contractors crew chiefs shall always be in possession of copies of the contract and BLM confirmation of the email to proceed during fieldwork. All fieldwork shall be completed within the date range identified in the Period of Performance. Qualified crew chiefs shall always be present during fieldwork.

d. The Contractor shall perform an on-the-ground search for all cultural resources located in the project unit identified for survey. The Contractor shall serve as the Principal Investigator and Field Director of an inventory crew charged with identifying and evaluating cultural resources located in the project area; and with writing an inventory report upon completion of field work.

e. Formal testing or collection will not be conducted at any time as part of this contract. Artificial exposure of the subsurface (via auger or shovel testing) is sometime necessary to determine formal site eligibility to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). If limited testing is necessary to determine site eligibility, the contractor will first contact the BLM archaeologist for review and approval. Approved limited testing may only be conducted if all the following conditions are met:

i. The contractor must provide to the administrating archaeologist identified locations of probes and demonstrate in writing that limited testing would aid in establishing the potential for a subsurface archaeological component(s) or determine the extent of the archaeological site boundary.

ii. Any shovel or auger testing shall avoid negatively impacting site integrity.

iii. Shovel and auger probes shall be limited in quantity within individual archaeological site boundaries and shall not disturb any features or other potentially significant elements of the archaeological site.

iv. All probes must be reviewed and approved by the administrating archaeologist with written permission to proceed prior to placing probes.

v. Each probe must collect the following minimum information: GPS locations, soil characteristics (texture, structure, level-horizon changes, Munsell color (optional), level-horizon depth(s) & Final probe depth, and before & after photographs are required for each probe.

vi. The Contractor shall employ the Montana SHPO criteria for minimum site definition, i.e., an archaeological or historical site consists of any feature alone or in association with other features (cairns, stone rings) or five or more artifacts situated in a discrete location within 50 meters of each other and/or artifacts or features located more than 100 meters from each other but in obvious association. Sites may also include locations which contain no physical evidence but are important for their associations with the traditions of a group, ethnic community, or Indian tribe; e.g., National Register Bulletin 38. If historic period architectural structures or remains are located the contractor is expected to conduct a land title examination as part of the site identification and evaluation effort. Linear cultural resources (ie. historic roads, ditches, rock alignments) shall be recorded in their entirety (albeit only field checked for the portion of the linear site within project boundaries). Isolated features, such as historic mining prospect pits or claim markers, shall be recorded as a site. Isolated finds are classified as any cultural artifact that is not a site. Reference to the Montana SHPO for further guidance.

VI. The Contractor shall:

1. Cover the area to be inventoried on foot by employing standard survey methodology. Systematic linear transect intervals will be spaced 25 meters or less in all areas identified in the Area of Potential Effects (APE). Steep landforms, such as rock faces, talus/scree slopes, and cliffs, should be inspected for the possibility of cultural remains including but not limited to human burials, rock shelters/caves, hunting blinds, rock art, and historic mining features. If transects are deviated from the parameters defined above, the contractor shall document the rationale employed which justifies deviation from the standard interval distance. Justification must be clearly made and thoroughly documented for any of the identified inventory area not surveyed under this contract and will be reviewed by the Bureau of Land Management. This justification should be limited to health and safety concerns. In all cases, coverage must be thorough.

2. Identify from all surface and exposed indications of all cultural properties or materials.

3. Locate each cultural resource on a United States Geological Survey (USGS) 7.5' quadrangle topographic map.

4. Record all cultural properties, including previously recorded sites, on Montana CRIS site or isolated find forms. Site forms shall be completed following the SHPO’s CRIS Instructions. Employ BLM/SHPO recording standards for stone circles as specified in Recordation Standards and Evaluation Guidelines for Stone Circle Sites, Planning Bulletin No. 22 (March 2002).

5. Take at least two photographs of each cultural resource and several of each survey unit. Photos shall not contain people, shadows or gear, except when used for scale. The subject of the photo should be clearly visible. Noticeable changes in geography dictate that at least one photo of each land type within the unit should be included. Standing historic buildings and structures shall be photographed on all sides to illustrate architectural features. Label all photos with a description, date/time, and orientation. A photographic record shall be maintained and included in the final submission.

6. Although scale maps of all sites shall be prepared and include topographic contour lines, cultural features, basic site contents, locations of all collected artifacts, and site boundaries, a physical site datum shall not be established. How site boundaries were determined shall be fully explained in the site record and report (ie. topography, distribution of site features/artifacts, and/or specific distance from site constituents). Use of digital aerial photographs zoomed in to show the site is not acceptable when the details of the maps are pixelated and no longer identifiable.

While it is not necessary to map all artifacts, indicate areas of artifact concentration and temporal diagnostics. Any items discussed in the site form shall be depicted on the site map, e.g. roads. All project site maps shall be consistent, e.g. if a datum is depicted on one map, it should be on all maps. When GPS technology is not available (i.e., no satellite coverage) all pre-contact cultural properties shall be mapped by compass and tape or paced in meters. All historic period Euro- American standing structures and mining features; e.g., cabins, barns, adits, etc., shall be mapped in feet. Plot each individual features, diagnostic artifact and site boundary using a GPS unit or field computer with one-meter GPS accuracy. Note the type of GPS equipment and level of accuracy employed.

7. The Contractor shall obtain Smithsonian site numbers from the Montana SHPO for all cultural resources not previously assigned such numbers. The BLM will review all site forms for adequacy prior to the submission to the SHPO for site numbers. The BLM reserves the right to request site forms be submitted as many times as necessary to verify the appropriate changes have been completed before submission to the SHPO. The contractor is responsible for addressing SHPO comments on site forms.

8. The Contractor Shall Not employ the use of prompt engineering technologies (Artificial Intelligence models) to produce, write, complete, analyze, or summarize, any of the information, data, photographs, or results of the on the ground inventory effort. No work generated or submitted by these means is acceptable. Documents and language will be inspected at the discretion of the BLM archeologist, COR, Authorized Officer, or Contracting Officer.

9. The Contractor shall obtain any permissions required if accessing project locations through private land, ROW, roads, or any other means of access of project location that is not administered by the BLM and communicate that permission has been granted by the landowner to the BLM archaeologist.

VII. Methodologies.

The Contractor shall determine the methods and techniques necessary for completion of this study using the guidelines identified herein, discuss those methods and techniques in their bid proposal, and conduct the work according to the procedures so specified. Survey methodology or proposed avoidance of certain areas needs to be addressed in the proposal and inventory report.

VIII. Specifications and Standards

i. Inventory guidelines and standards for BLM generated cultural resource investigations can be found in BLM's Guidelines for Identifying Cultural Resources (H- 8110-1). The Handbook is available upon request. Additional requirements for the recordation of tipi rings are described in the Handbook and SHPO guidance.

ii. Additional guidance can be found on the Montana State Historic Preservation Office website: http://mhs.mt.gov/shpo/.

iii. The “Project Name” for site forms and report is the “Report Number” depicted on the Fieldwork Authorization.

IX. Analysis and Report Preparation.

Upon completion of the Class III Cultural Resource Inventory, prepare a professional quality report, addressing the general categories outlined below:

A. Title Sheet. Signed by the Principal Investigator.

B. Abstract. Provide a 250-word or less abstract of the report. The abstract must outline the report contents and refer to specific highlights from the narrative.

C. Table of Contents. Provide a complete inventory of report contents.

D. Introduction. Provide an overview of the project including its purpose. Identify the units inventoried for this project, by legal description in table form.

E. Literature Search. Provide a brief but complete discussion on the work that has been conducted in the project area.

F. Environmental and Cultural Setting. Provide a brief but complete overview of the environment in which the survey units are located. In addition, discuss the cultural setting, again briefly, including both the pre-contact and historic periods.

G. Inventory Results. Provide a summary description of each cultural resource recorded that is narrative in nature and illustrates the environmental and cultural constituents of the site (refrain from simply rehashing the site data in a list format). Include photographs of cultural properties located during the surveys. Use other graphics and tables as appropriate. Note any issues connected with the property's recordation. If a site boundary extends outside of the project boundaries, the site will be recorded in its entirety if on public lands or if on private lands where landowner permission is obtained. If the site extends onto private property and landowner permission is not obtained, then other methods (i.e. aerial photography) shall be used to document the site, if possible.

H. Indicate recommendations from evaluation of eligibility and determinations of effect (36 CFR 800.9). Measures to avoid, minimize, or mitigate adverse effect findings shall be identified in the inventory report and treated as recommendations to the BLM Lewistown Field Office.

I. Evaluate each historic property for its eligibility to the NRHP using guidance found in National Registers Bulletin 15. Contractor shall use an appropriate "Context" in which to evaluate historic properties and shall employ the National Register Criteria (describing both significance and integrity) in those evaluations. The report should clearly identify the approach that is being taken to determine the significance of historic properties. This evaluation design should be reflective of the “Context” and cultural setting of the area. Contractor shall clearly describe the rationale used to determine which sites are eligible or not eligible. Contractor shall recommend treatment needed to better assess eligibility on unevaluated sites; recommending “unevaluated” on site eligibility is not an acceptable default in lieu of a site eligibility recommendation.

J. To determine if a site possesses Criterion D values, it must be able to contribute to the theoretical and substantive knowledge of archaeology. A justification of eligibility under this value should clearly state which research issues can be addressed by investigation of the site, especially through reference to existing pre-contact and/or historic context documents; and it should outline the most pertinent methods of analysis, comparison, and synthesis of archaeological materials.

K. Summary and Recommendations. Discuss the results of the inventory in summary form. Include the following information in one table:

L. Identify the sites recorded, whether the sites are pre-contact or historic, and what type of site is represented.

M. Evaluate each cultural property for its eligibility to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Contractor shall use an appropriate "Context" in which to evaluate cultural properties and shall employ the National Register Criteria in those evaluations. Contractor shall clearly describe the rationale used to determine site eligibility, determinations of effect and measures to avoid, minimize, or mitigate adverse effect findings for each site.

N. References Cited. Include a list of all sources cited in report.

O. Maps and Graphics. Provide appropriate maps, charts, tabulations, and graphics necessary to support the report narrative. Maps, graphics, and photos in all copies of reports must show the same degree of detail as the electronic images.

X. Health and Safety Concerns The Field Director shall ensure that all field work is done in a safe manner. Areas considered by the Field Director to pose health or safety concerns shall not be inventoried or otherwise entered by any field crew members. In such cases, the Contractor shall immediately report these conditions to the NCMD BLM Archaeologist who will then advise the contractor on how to proceed.

XI. Acceptance

Final acceptance of all items/services to be delivered under this contract shall be the responsibility of the Contracting Officer. The government may withhold final payment pending completion of any necessary rework by the Contractor.

XII. Deliverables (to be submitted to the COR)

a. The Contractor shall submit digital copies of typed site forms with original photographs to the BLM for review prior to submission to the Montana SHPO for issuance of site numbers.

b. Site form maps should have both the location of the cultural resource described and the delineated survey unit plotted and labeled in black. After review and changes, if any, the Contractor will obtain site numbers. The Contractor will be responsible for addressing comments SHPO may have on site forms.

c. One digital copy of the draft Class III cultural resource inventory report. Additional draft reports may be requested as many times as necessary to ensure the report meets what is described in this SOW.

d. One bound hard copy of the final Class III cultural resource inventory report. The report shall be typed and printed on 8 ½ " x 11" paper and shall be single-spaced. All temporary site numbers shall be replaced with Smithsonian numbers assigned by the SHPO across all deliverables, including GIS data.

e. One completed Meta Data-D form.

f. One set of final site forms with Smithsonian site numbers and with original color photos, unbound but stapled.

g. One copy of photographic record.

h. One copy of all field notes.

i. One electronic copy (thumb drive required, CDs are NOT ACCEPTABLE) of the report, site forms, photos, photo log, GIS data and associated metadata. GIS data should contain, at a minimum, shapefiles of unit boundaries, area surveyed, and site boundaries. If the Contractor chooses to submit shapefiles for site contents like artifacts or features, one shapefile depicting only all site boundaries is required. The Contractor will use NAD 1983 Zone 12 or 13 as the projected coordinate system. KMZ files are not acceptable.

XIII. Period of Performance

A. Site file and literature search shall begin no later than 15 calendar days after the order has been issued and completed within 10 calendar days. A summary table of this information shall be turned in with the fieldwork authorization request.

B. Contractor shall prepare a table summarizing the results of the inventory and site shapefiles to the COR within 45 days of completing fieldwork. The table shall contain legal locations and results of survey, including the type/number of cultural resources recorded, and initial recommendations of NRHP status.

C. Draft site forms shall be submitted within 2 months of fieldwork completion. One digital copy of the draft Class III Cultural Resources Inventory report shall be submitted within 6 months of contract award.

D. The COR will review all deliverables and comment on their adequacy within 20 calendar days of submission. All deliverables (including associated documentation and a completed CRABS form) are due within 1 months of submission of draft report.

XIV. Payment Schedule

A. Payment shall be tied to completion and acceptance of tasks identified in Section XIII. Period of Performance per the following: A (10%), B (40%), C (30%), and D (20%).

B. Invoices shall not be submitted unless the contractor has received approval from the COR.

Payment requests are submitted electronically per the contract language and not directly to the COR. Rejected invoices are the responsibility of the contractor.

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