Questions_and_Answers_Round_3.pdf

Solicitation W9128F-17-R-0064 Questions and Answers Round #3

1. Page 21: Does the Corps have any guidance on, or comments from the SHPO, regarding the acceptable level of effort for the National Register Testing for each of the sites listed in Section 5.6 of the solicitation? In other words, how many cubic meters of hand excavation, numbers and dimensions of mechanical trenching, etc.

There is no specific guidance from the SHPO as to the percentage of testing area and the site area.

2. Does the Corps have any information on the soil types for each site listed in the tables under Sections 5.3 and 5.6?

The Corps does not have any information on the soil types.

3. What are the vegetation conditions at the sites listed in the table under Section 5.3 of the

PWS?

There is no information on vegetation condition for the sites.

4. Does the Corps plan on the geophysical survey happening this year before winter sets in?

The contractor will write a work plan and develop a schedule. Therefore, the Contractor will determine if they would like to complete the geophysical survey this year.

5. Has there been any significant changes in vegetation or lake levels post the latest Google Earth imagery date of 8/2016?

There is no information on changes to the vegetation. There has been no significant changes in lake levels.

6. (Section 5.6) Is it a correct assumption that the use of the term “survey” means that you want the contractor to relocate the sites, and define site boundaries using shovel tests and/or soil augers. The phrase “Testing & Evaluation” means to locate, document, record, and assess the integrity of archeological deposits using a combination of mechanical trenching and 1x1-meter test units or limited block excavations?

Assumption is correct.

7. Is it correct to assume that invoicing will be conducted in accordance with the completion of and government acceptance of any deliverables associated with each CLIN # ? In other words, when the contractor completes the tasks outlined in the PWS for CLIN # 0001 and the government accepts the Geophysical Work Plan, the government will accept and process the contractor’s invoice for that CLIN#?

Yes

8. Will the Pre-Work Meeting (Section 1.8) be held at the Garrison Corps Office?

Yes based on the work plan schedule for fieldwork.

9. Base year 1: Are we supposed to make eligibility recommendations for the sites? If anomalies are identified, will those anomalies need to be ground-truthed through auger probes, test units, etc?

Yes they will need to be ground trothed through auger probes, test units, etc.

10. Section 5.71. Workplans

a. For the base year does the work plan need to include a research design that identifies the geophysical method(s) to be used and how they will be employed and the research questions to be addressed?

Yes

b. For years 2 and 3 – does the work plan need to include a research design that identifies the methodology(ies) to be employed and the research questions to be addressed?

Yes

c. If the workplans need to include research designs, will these be submitted to the

SHPO/tribes for review and approval?

No

11. Can you confirm that National Register Forms are to be completed, instead of North

Dakota site forms? If National Register Forms are to be completed, is the consultant expected to support the USACE with the review process to get each site listed to the NRHP? What documentation is required for sites not recommended eligible to the

NRHP?

North Dakota Site forms will be completed for all sites eligible/ in-eligible. For the sites identified as meeting the National Register Criteria the contractor will prepare draft and final National Register Forms. The forms will be submitted to USACE and we will proceed in supplying them to the National Register, no assistance from the contractor in getting the sites on the Register is needed.

12. Should Lodging, per diem, and direct expenses related for Fieldwork be included under

Travel costs?

Yes, all travel related expenses, to include lodging and per diem, should be included under travel costs.

13. In Section 5.4, it states that the geophysical report should include site descriptions. Is the consultant expected to complete a full archaeological recording of the nine sites where geophysical studies are being conducted or can this be information pulled from site forms from previous recordings?

Yes.