Statement_of_Work_.docx

Emigrant Gap and NHT Parcels Class III Cultural Inventory 2021

Statement of Work

I. Introduction and Background

The contractor shall conduct a Class III cultural resource inventory on approximately 1,391 acres as depicted on the attached maps. These parcels are being considered for future recreational use and interpretation. All sites located within the inventory areas will be recorded to current standards using Wyoming Cultural Property Forms and will be evaluated (including appropriate site testing) to make recommendations of eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places.

II. Project Location and Scope

The parcels are located in Natrona and Goshen Counties in Central and Eastern Wyoming. Access to the areas is by county-maintained roads and two-track trails located on public lands. BLM personnel will advise the contractor on the best access routes. The contractor shall not drive off existing roads and trails.

III. Contractor Requirements

1. The Contractor shall hold a valid Cultural Resource Use Permit issued by the BLM Wyoming State Office and shall be in good standing.

2. The Contractor shall comply with all the standard stipulations attached to the Cultural Resource Use Permit and Fieldwork Authorization.

3. The Contractor shall obtain a valid Fieldwork Authorization issued by the Casper BLM Field Office through the automated WyoTrack program prior to initiation of the fieldwork.

4. The Contractor shall follow the general requirements of Class III cultural resource inventories outlined in the “Archaeology and Historic Preservation, Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines: (Federal Register, September 28, 1983, pp. 44716-44742).

IV. Government Supplied Property

The BLM, Casper Field Office shall supply successful applicant with maps and/or GIS .shp files (NAD 83) indicating the locations of project areas. The maps shall delineate land status.

V. Funding/Schedule

Work schedule and partial payment shall be divided into three phases.

Performance Period: Award August 16, 2021 – February 28, 2022

VI. Technical Requirements/Deliverables

1. Class III Inventory: The Contractor shall complete a professional Class III cultural resource inventory that meets the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office Format, Guidelines, and Standards for Class II and III Reports for the project area.

a. The Contractor shall follow all the general requirements listed above.

b. The Contractor shall conduct a file search through the automated WyoTrack program administered by the Cultural Records Office of the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office in Laramie, Wyoming, prior to conducting the field inventory for any given parcel. The files search will list all previous Class III inventories and cultural resource sites and isolates within the complete section(s) in which the project areas are located. The results of the files search shall be documented in the inventory report. The records search shall also include GLO maps, homestead records, and other historical documents and information pertinent to the survey parcels.

c. The Contractor shall record all historic and prehistoric cultural resources using the definitions laid out in the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Offices Wyoming Resource Definitions and Recording Guidelines.

d. All sites shall be recorded using the Wyoming Cultural Properties Form and isolated resources shall be documented using the Wyoming Isolated Resource Form utilizing the WyoTrack system. Previously recorded sites not recorded on a Wyoming Cultural Properties Form will be recorded on a new Wyoming Cultural Properties form utilizing the WyoTrack system.

e. All sites shall be evaluated as to eligibility for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Subsurface probing or minor testing will be necessary to identify subsurface remains on any cultural resource site encountered during the survey and as needed to determine the National Register eligibility of any cultural resource site and to assess the effects of the proposed activities. All locations of probing and testing shall be mapped with GPS.

f. Auger probes and/or shovel testing shall be completed to determine the presence or absence of subsurface cultural components, and if present, the component’s vertical and horizontal extent. Where subsurface cultural materials are identified, auger/shovel tests shall be spaced no more than 5 meters apart with additional test probes placed at one-meter intervals in each of the cardinal directions surrounding any isolated positive tests.

g. Any cultural materials identified during subsurface testing shall be collected, analyzed, and ultimately curated. Sample collection, such as radiocarbon and macrobotanical samples, shall only be collected and analyzed if recovered from auger/shovel tests.

h. All artifacts including all debitage and all features located on each site and/or isolated resource shall be individually mapped by GPS. Sketch maps generated from GIS maps shall be prepared for all sites and for all isolated resources that have multiple artifacts.

i. All prehistoric chronological diagnostic artifacts located on BLM land shall be collected. All collected artifacts shall be mapped with GPS. All collected artifacts shall be curated with the University of Wyoming. Large-sized historical artifacts that provide chronological dating, such as vehicles or cast-iron stoves, shall not be collected. Small-sized historical artifacts that provide chronological dating information shall not be collected unless they are a rare artifact or there is a high probability of unauthorized collection. Photographs and/or drawings shall be made that show the chronological information on all historic artifacts that are not collected, such as bottle bases, Makers’ marks, patent numbers, and other information. No artifacts shall be collected from private lands. No other artifact types shall be collected unless authorized by the Casper Field Office archeologist.

2. Deliverables: All correspondence and reports shall be delivered to the Technical Contact for Cultural Resources for review and acceptance. The contractor shall notify the COR and Technical Contact before commencing fieldwork and provide a brief summary of findings when fieldwork is completed.

a. Draft Report: One digital (electronic) copy in Microsoft Word or PDF files and one printed paper copy of the draft report shall be submitted to the BLM for initial review and comment. The BLM shall be allowed 30 days for review. The contractor shall make revisions and prepare the final report in accordance with BLM recommendations.

b. Final Report: Two printed copies of the final report shall be submitted to the BLM-Casper Field Office. In addition, the Contractor shall provide to the Casper Field Office an electronic copy of the final report and a complete set of all photograph digital files on a media device along with a photograph catalog. Digital files of all GPS and GIS data shall also be provided on a media device. Copies of all artifact catalog sheets sent to the University of Wyoming curation facility shall be provided to the Casper Field Office or included as an appendix in the report.

VIII. Evaluation and Award Criteria Respondents shall supply a written proposal, list of key personnel and qualifications (e.g., resume), statement of availability to perform the work, and a list of references. Respondents will then be evaluated on the specific evaluation criteria listed below, with 70% of the final score as qualifications and 30% price. Unsuccessful respondents will be notified as soon as possible. Respondents will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

Technical Proposal

Quality of the Proposal A. Does the proposal reflect a good understanding of the scope of issues involved?

B. Is there a clear description of how the work will be managed and coordinated with the BLM?

C. Does the proposal address the known and predicted site density in the contract area?

Respondent Qualifications and Experience A. Do the respondent and key personnel assigned to the project have experience with comparable work?

B. Does the respondent demonstrate professional past performance in cultural resource inventories?

Availability and Capacity to Perform A. Will the respondent be able to meet or exceed the timeframes described?

Cost Proposal:

A. Tabular breakdown of personnel costs by position, hours and cost.

B. Tabular breakdown of field support costs including travel and field supplies

ORDER OF IMPORTANCE

Technical factors, when combined, are considered:

|X| Significantly more important than price

|_| Approximately equal to price

|_| Significantly less important than price