Archaeological Survey and Investigation Work

Added: Aug 31, 2016 5:40 pm This procurement will be issued as a Sole Source Award IAW Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.302-5(b)(7), Authorized or Required by Statute, Woman Owned Small Business Program, in support of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) mission.

The solicitation will be issued under North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541990. The corresponding SBA size standard is $15 million. The procurement will result in a firm fixed price contract.

DPAA's mission is to search for, recover and identify remains of missing personnel from World War II (WWII), the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the Gulf Wars, and other recent conflicts. DPAA's cases are based on information received from families, archival and historical research, findings from local residents in the area where these wars were fought, and field investigations.
This DPAA requirement is for underwater archaeological field investigation to locate two US Army Air Force service members who perished in World War II after their plane crashed in the Ems-Dollard Estuary, near the northernmost point of the Dutch-German border.

Contracted professional services are required for archaeological investigation to conduct and report on survey operations in search of a U.S. World War II military aircraft loss in the Ems-Dollard Estuary, Netherlands. No recovery of vessel(s), artifacts, or remains is envisioned as part of this contract. This contract is strictly for remote sensing investigation, phase 1 work, and limited test excavation.

A remote sensing capability will be required that can be fielded in the environment of the Ems-Dollard Estuary--which fluctuates from water-covered to muddy with the tidal period, roughly every six hours. The remote sensing capability must also be able to penetrate several feet of mud due to the likelihood that the plane's wreckage has been buried and continually re-covered in sediment since its crash over seventy years ago. The investigative team must be qualified to operate these remote sensors in the unique environment of the Ems-Dollard Estuary and interpret the sensors' findings. Information interpreted from remote sensors will be used to identify potential magnetic anomalies and acoustic reflectors representative of wreckage, which in turn will guide hydro‐probing investigation of select targets. Identification and correlation of wreckage is not expected to occur; however, test excavation(s) atop the mud flat will be made in order to determine the feasibility of future excavation and recovery efforts.

The anticipated contract period of performance is NTE 240 days. The exact duration will be stipulated in the solicitation.

Place of Performance: Overseas location - Ems-Dollard Estuary, near the northernmost point of the Dutch-German border.

It is anticipated that the procurement will be a negotiated contract action, under FAR Part 15.

POC: Lisa A. Sirois, 402-995-2072