Statement_of_Work_Special_History_Study.docx

SCOPE OF WORK

SPECIAL HISTORY STUDY

AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AT TEXAS & PACIFIC RAILWAY DEPOT

CANE RIVER CREOLE NHP

PMIS PROJECT NUMBER # 311685A

INTRODUCTION

The National Park Service (NPS), through the West Major Acquisition Buying Office, Interior Region 2 (West MABO), requires the performance of research and writing of a special history study for the Texas & Pacific Railway Depot (Depot) at Cane River Creole National Historical Park, headquartered in Natchitoches, Louisiana. The history will help complete historical documentation of the historic Depot’s history and resources as developed from the 1920s to present day, with particular focus on African American history. The information contained in the special history study is essential for present and future interpretation and resource management.

A special history study is an occasional historical research study commissioned either internally or externally by a park, region, or program. The studies are varied and can be on any historical topic from a specific resource to a broad theme or a national park unit. They contain in-depth research and are meant to focus specifically on the history of their topic. The purpose of these studies is to aid in interpretation, resource identification, and resource management.

The study shall conform to professional standards regarding methodology of historical research and writing. Stylistic, bibliographical, and report production standards shall conform to the current edition of the Chicago Manual of Style and the NPS style sheet derived therefrom. The study will include an oral history project whereby a wide variety of African American community members will be interviewed to capture their memories and experiences with segregation at the Depot, with interviews digitally recorded and transcriptions prepared. In short, the project contains the following components:

· Part 1: Reconnaissance (survey of existing research and gap analysis)

· Part 2: Oral Histories (collection of oral histories with people who have direct experience with the Depot, both African Americans and White community members)

· Part 3: Special History (writing of multi-chapter report that brings together Part 1 and Part 2 as well as additional research from primary sources)

· Part 4: Interpretive Component (identify personal stories to augment and improve existing interpretive exhibits within the Depot)

The special history study, including enumerated appendices, graphics, and index, shall be completed within thirty-six (36) months from the date of contract award.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PARK & RESOURCES

Cane River Creole National Historical Park (CARI) comprises 62.91 acres in two units located on Cane River Lake, near Natchitoches, Louisiana. The Oakland Plantation unit is about 10 miles south of Natchitoches, while the Magnolia Plantation unit is around 10 miles south of Oakland. Altogether, the park contains close to 70 historic structures, including dwellings, workshops, barns, plantation stores, cisterns, and pigeonniers; a rich and varied cultural landscape; and almost 500,000 museum objects and archival documents that, together, provide the context for a deep understanding of the evolution of plantation life from the eighteenth century through the mid-twentieth century in the Cane River region.

The park was authorized on November 2, 1994 (Public Law 103-449), through the Cane River Creole National Historical Park and National Heritage Area Act (16 USC 410ccc). The purpose of Public Law 103-449 was to:

1. recognize the importance of the Cane River Creole cultupre as a nationally significant element of the cultural heritage of the United States;

2. establish a Cane River Creole National Historical Park to serve as the focus of interpretive and educational programs on the history of the Cane River area and to assist in the preservation of certain historic sites along the river; and

3. establish a Cane River National Heritage Area and Commission to be undertaken in partnership with the State of Louisiana, the City of Natchitoches, local communities and settlements of the Cane River area, preservation organizations, and private landowners, with full recognition that programs must fully involve the local communities and landowners.

In September 2019, CARI and the City of Natchitoches (City) entered into a lease agreement, in which the parties agreed that the City would rehabilitate the historic Depot to serve as the park’s visitor center and administrative headquarters building within the heart of Natchitoches.

The Depot was constructed in 1926-1927 during the height of the Jim Crow era and was segregated into “white” and “colored” waiting rooms. The structure was continuously used as a passenger station into the late 1960s. In the late 1960s, passenger service stopped and the Depot was used as a freight station until it was abandoned in 1982. Today the structure remains as one of the last intact segregated train stations within Louisiana, as passenger service stopped prior to the Civil Rights Act and the building was never integrated. As such, it has a deep connection and meaning to the African American community within the City and Parish of Natchitoches. The Depot is part of the nationally significant National Register Historic District within downtown Natchitoches.

The Depot serves as the primary visitor center for CARI, providing visitors with information about Oakland Plantation, Magnolia Plantation, and the African American history along Cane River. The park began scoping an interpretive plan and framework for the Depot in early 2021 through several community outreach workshops and began planning interpretive exhibits that same year.

To date, there has been no comprehensive research conducted on the history of the Texas and Pacific Railway, the construction of the Depot, use of African American labor in the construction and operation of the railway, the travel experience for African Americans, the impact the building had on the African American community, its role in the Great Migration, and its role during the Jim Crow and Civil Rights eras. It is hoped that this special history study will illuminate the Depot’s role as a segregated building within Central Louisiana and capture the memories of several African Americans who have ties to the structure. Efforts to preserve the building and convert it into an "African American history museum” began in the 1980s, and it is imperative that the special history study capture the building’s associated history in one consolidated document.

SCOPE OF WORK – SPECIAL HISTORY STUDY

This project will complete a special history study of the African American history at the Texas and Pacific Railway Depot, a historically segregated structure which is Cane River Creole NHP’s new park headquarters and visitor center. It will also place the Depot within the larger railroad network and connect it to the larger corporate enterprise of the Texas and Pacific Railway. The project will include community outreach on the 20th century experience of African Americans in Natchitoches Parish to further illuminate National Register significance and apply that research to visitor programming and cultural resource management. Since 1994, historical and archeological reports have documented the building’s architectural significance, but limited research has been done to collect the personal stories of the people who used the segregated building on a daily basis.

This project seeks to answer critical questions about African American history at the Texas and Pacific Railway Depot, which is one of the last remaining segregated train depots within the rural South. Built in 1927, it was used by the community until the late 1960s when the structure was converted to freight service in 1982. It was the primary transportation route for several African Americans during the Great Migration (WWII to late 1960s), leaving Louisiana for places to the west and north. The African American community surrounding the train depot also has significant ties to the surrounding plantations, including the NPS-owned Oakland and Magnolia Plantations. As workers moved from the plantations into nearby towns and then northward and westward, it drastically changed life for thousands of families. These compelling stories have never been researched or told.

The park is working to build relationships between the park and the surrounding African American community adjacent to the Depot. This project will go a long way toward furthering those relationships and exploring personal stories of the African Americans who lived and worked in Natchitoches Parish in the 20th century.

The project has four components within a larger goal of improving visitor understanding and resource management. Working with the local African American community is essential to bring interpretation of the Depot to light. The four components of this project as are follows:

Part 1: Reconnaissance

A. Conduct an exhaustive[footnoteRef:1] level of research within archives and repositories to locate more detailed information, drawings, correspondence, historic photographs, etc to complete a comprehensive history on the development of the Texas & Pacific Railway within Natchitoches Parish, the construction of the Depot in the 1920s, and the continued use of the Depot from 1927 to 1982. Use of primary archival sources is preferred. Note: The CARI park archives do NOT contain any of this information. All research will need to be conducted as non-NPS repositories. [1: Exhaustive level of research as defined by NPS-28 Cultural Resource Management, NPS Office of Policy: NPS-28, Cultural Resource Management (Chapter 2))]

B. Conduct a thorough level research as defined by NPS Director’s Order 28 on the number of remaining segregated railroad depots in the State of Louisiana and the United States.

Part 2: Oral Histories

A. Conduct an exhaustive level of community outreach, workshops, oral histories, and healing sessions within the African American and Creole of Color communities within Natchitoches Parish to capture their stories, memories, and experiences associated with the Depot as a segregated space. It is anticipated that 30 oral histories will be conducted; the interviewees to be selected by NPS in consultation with contractor. NOTE: Capturing the memories, stories, and experiences of the African American and Creole of Color communities is critical to the success of this project. Older members of these communities have already begun to pass away and move out of the area. Frequently marginalized, very few of their stories have been captured to date. Such stories and memories shall be captured as oral histories; interviewed shall be digitally recorded and transcriptions prepared.

B. Conduct a limited number of oral histories with White community members to capture their experiences associated with the Depot. It is anticipated that 5 oral histories will be conducted; the interviewees to be selected by NPS in consultation with contractor.

C. Oral history interviews may be conducted in person or via Zoom or other virtual methods. In-person interviews will be digitally recorded, transcripts produced, a digital photograph of each interviewee taken, and assignment of interview rights forms signed. Interviews conducted via phone or other virtual means will be digitally recorded, transcripts produced, assignment of interview rights forms signed/verbally consented to, and must be comprehensively documented in a memorandum of telephone call. All interviewees will be given an opportunity to review and edit his/her interview transcript over a one-month period.

Part 3: Special History Study

A. Detailed history narrative in written report format expounding on all research (Part 1 and 2 above) with illustrations/photographs, along with a narrative of the Depot’s impact as a segregated building within the community. The special history study must place the Depot in context with the evolution and development of Jim Crow era laws and policies of the early to mid-20th century. This would include discussion of relationships between White, Black, and Creoles of Color in the region, and capturing the detailed experiences of the latter two groups.

B. The format of the multi-chapter special history study shall include:

a. Abstract

b. Executive Summary - Clearly states the utility of the study, including its importance and relevance

c. Introduction

d. Methodology

e. Findings – multiple chapters addressing the history of the Depot and answering questions related to:

i. history of the Texas and Pacific Railway in the US and Central Louisiana

ii. the construction of the Depot in Natchitoches and its role within the larger railroad network and corporate enterprise of the Texas and Pacific Railway

iii. use of African American labor in the construction and operation of the Depot and Railway

iv. the travel experience for African Americans vs White Americans

v. the building’s impact on the African American community in the City of Natchitoches

vi. the building’s role in the Great Migration (WWII to late 1960s)

vii. the building’s role during the Jim Crow and Civil Rights eras

f. Conclusion - a clear summary of main findings and how they relate to the park and/or the agency

g. Recommendations - including on how this history can be used, how it could be used especially for interpretation, and for future related research

h. Bibliography – including all source materials and repositories researched

i. Appendices – including useful information such as maps, drawings, newspaper articles, etc.

C. The study shall include appropriate photographs and figures within the narrative. The photographs shall have captions and identify their source. The report shall be properly cited using Chicago Manual Style.

Part 4: Interpretive Component

A. Working with park staff and African American community leaders, identify segments of oral histories and stories to augment and improve existing interpretive exhibits within the Depot. Fabrication of the improved exhibits will be carried out under separate contract.

Submittals & Reviews

A 50%, 75%, and 100% draft of the completed special history study with all above specified elements (Parts 1-4) will be prepared and provided to NPS for review and comment according to a project schedule and matrix outlined between NPS and contractor at the start of the project. The 100% draft report will also be peer reviewed.

After a 45-day review/comment period following the submittal of the 100% draft, the contractor will then incorporate all NPS and peer-review comments and resubmit a final draft. The final draft will then be reviewed by the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) and park Superintendent to ensure all NPS comments have been incorporated, and then submitted for approval signatures.

Additional submittal and deliverable requirements are listed below in ADDITIONAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS.

Final Deliverables

Final deliverables for the project include:

· 10 hard copies of the final, printed and bound special history study (submitted to COR)

· USB drive containing:

· 1 digital copy of the final report (both Word and PDF files). The digital version must be Section 508 compliant.

· Folders for each of the interviewees with an MP3 audio recording of the interview, a WORD document of the transcript as edited by the interviewee, and a .jpg file photograph of each interviewee (in person only).

· Scans of the original Gift Conveyance of Interview Rights form signed by each interviewee along with those original signed conveyance forms

· 1 hard copies of each interview transcript, printed on archival paper, to be included in the park archives

GENERAL PROPOSAL OUTLINE

The prospective contractor must formulate a study proposal and itemized cost proposal in response to this Scope of Work. The proposal must describe in detail the investigator's research strategy and qualifications of personnel responsible for completion of the study. Minimally, the study must individually address each topic (A-e) outlined above.

The proposal will consist of:

A. Research Strategy

1. A description of the methods, techniques, and procedures of research, including a summary of repositories and other sources of information to be used.

2. A planning schedule and matrix identifying key project milestones and associated products pertaining to the project.

3. A preliminary draft for NPS review, a final review draft, and following the recommendation of the Superintendent and approval by the Regional Director.

B. Personnel Qualifications

1. The Principal Investigator: The Principal Investigator (PI) is responsible for all aspects of managing the proposed study. The PI must have a Ph.D. or equivalent in United States History (no exceptions). A level of experience equivalent to a Ph.D. is acceptable and may be evidenced by a publication record demonstrating a professional level of research, analysis, and report preparation. It is expected that the publication record will reflect an understanding and ability to apply research methodology, and education and experience beyond that of a project historian.

2. Project Historian(s): Although the overall research design, guidance, and responsibility for the completed study lies with the Principal Investigator, the PI may utilize the assistance of project historians (PH) and other project staff at their discretion to accomplish the research. The minimum requirements for a PH are a Bachelor's and Master’s degrees in United States History from an accredited college or university followed by two years of graduate study with a concentration in the field. A Master's thesis in history or its equivalent in research and publication are highly recommended.

3. Standards for Consultants: Personnel hired or subcontracted for their special knowledge and expertise must carry academic and experiential qualifications in their particular area of expertise. Such qualifications are to be documented by means of vitae attachments when the proposal is prepared and submitted.

C. Price Proposal

The prospective contractor must submit a line-item cost proposal for the project, including the following items:

1. Personnel services

a. Principal Investigator

b. Other personnel

c. Miscellaneous personal expenses

2. Supplies and equipment

3. Travel

4. Cost of analysis and report preparation

5. Overhead, Indirect, and In-kind costs as applicable

6. Other expenses

7. Total project cost

The proposal must include a work schedule diagramming the duration of field and archival work outlined in the research strategy section of the proposal.

ADDITIONAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS

A. General provisions

1. Prospective contractors should note that the research design submitted by the contractor becomes a binding element of the contract and is expected to be carried out. The research performed and reported must meet the minimum requirements.

2. Within 30 days of award of contract, the contractor shall attend a post-award scoping meeting at Cane River Creole National Historical Park in Natchitoches, Louisiana to discuss technical aspects of the contract and to confirm the planning schedule for the submission of the deliverables. Contractor will within two weeks provide a summary of the meeting and the agreed upon contract schedule.

3. The production of the special history study shall be completed within thirty-six (36) months of contract award.

B. Report standards/format and submission schedule

The final report will be in the latest version of Microsoft WORD and include the information required in the specifications listed in Section II, above. It must be typed on 8-1/2 by 11-inch white paper. All pages must be numbered. Copies of photographs (screened for reproduction clarity), maps, drawings, and text must be clean, clear, and legible. The format must comply with the latest edition of the Chicago Manual of Style. The document must be Section 508 compliant.

In addition, all reports must contain the following:

1. Title/Cover page listing the name of the Principal Investigator. If the report is also authored by Project Historians, the title page must identify the author(s) and bear the inscription, "Prepared under the supervision of (name), Principal Investigator." The title/cover page shall also include signature and date lines for three approving officials in the following order: "Recommended/Chief of Cultural Resources, Interior Region 2/Date; Concurred Superintendent, Cane River Creole National Historical Park/Date; Concurred Deputy Regional Director, Interior Region 2/Date; and Approved/Regional Director, Interior Region 2/Date."

2. Digital copies of the chapter outline will be submitted six months following contract award for NPS review and approval. The outline shall include descriptions of each chapter containing sufficient detail to demonstrate the complete range of topics and themes to be discussed as well as chronological periods. NPS will provide review comments on the chapter outline to the PI within 30 days of receipt of the document. The PI shall make necessary revisions and submit the final chapter outline to NPS within 15 days of receipt by the contractor. The outline will provide the basis for the “Table of Contents” for the Special History Study.

3. Digital copies of the draft reports will be submitted twenty-four (24) months following contract award to NPS for review. The draft will be typed, double-spaced, with numbered reference lines in the left margins on each page of text and will include all maps, graphics, footnotes, and appendices to be included in the final report. The draft will be reviewed by NPS for contract sufficiency and professional quality. Within 45 days of receipt by NPS, the draft will be reviewed and the contractor will be notified when review comments will be transmitted. During the period of revision of the draft, the contractor will consult with NPS to ensure the satisfactory resolution of review comments and submission of a final draft in a timely manner.

4. A final draft report addressing review comments transmitted to the contractor by NPS will be submitted to NPS prior to printing of the final document. The contractor will design appropriate cover art/graphics including the NPS Arrowhead for the camera-ready final document. Printing on the document's spine will include title, author, National Park Service, and year of publication. Within 60 days of NPS acceptance of the final draft (indicated by the three required signatures specified above) and before expiration of the thirty-six (36) month contract period of performance, the contractor will furnish one (1) camera-ready unbound final document printed on archival paper, 25 dry ink digital printed and separately perfect-bound copies of the report, and a compact computer disk or disks containing the final document in the latest version of Microsoft Word and Adobe PDF formats.

5. All formal oral history interviews conducted will be digitally recorded and transcriptions prepared. All interview candidates must sign an interview rights release form (format to be supplied by NPS). Any additional interviews which take place on an informal basis (i.e., telephonically) must be comprehensively documented in a memorandum of telephone call. All additional recordings, transcripts, interview rights release forms, photographs, and memoranda of telephone calls will be transmitted to NPS with the final document.

C. Disposition of data

1. At the conclusion of research and within 60 days of written acceptance of the final camera-ready report, all notes, records, maps, drawings, photographs, negatives, slides, digital images, tapes, digital recordings transcripts, and other data acquired during the course of this study will be professionally organized for archival purposes and submitted to the Contracting Officers Representative, to be deposited in the archives of Cane River Creole National Historical Park.

D. Progress reports

Quarterly progress reports during the performance of the research and writing phases of this contract are required. The initial due date will be 90 days after contract award. All quarterly reports will be submitted to individual(s) named at the time of award.

PAYMENT

Partial payments may be made up to 80% of the contract award amount. Payments must be based on deliverables accepted by the government (see FAR 52.212-4(a), Contract Terms and Conditions – Commercial Items, Inspection/Acceptance & FAR 52.211-1, Time of Delivery). Payment requests must be in accordance with the clause titled, Electronic Invoicing and Payment Requirements - Invoice Processing Platform (IPP).