09A1077 - A&E On-Call Cultural Recourses and Paleontological Services

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) Number 09A1077 for an on-call contract for Cultural Resource and Paleontological Services in District 9, covering Inyo, Mono, and Eastern Kern Counties. The procurement seeks a qualified architectural and engineering (A&E) consulting firm to provide comprehensive cultural and paleontological services for transportation improvement projects. Required services include archaeological surveys, records searches, field investigations, monitoring, reporting, Native American consultation, and environmental compliance documentation. Key deliverables will encompass archaeological survey reports, historic resource evaluations, extended phase studies, data recovery plans, and paleontological identification and mitigation reports. Consultants must submit electronic statements of qualifications by 10:00 a.m. on July 8, 2025, with interviews scheduled for July 22, 2025. The selection will be based on the most qualified consulting firm, with firms required to demonstrate expertise in cultural resources, paleontology, and environmental compliance, adhering to federal and state regulations such as NEPA, CEQA, and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.

The contract includes a 3% Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) participation goal, with additional requirements for Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises (DVBE) participation. Consultants must provide detailed documentation of their efforts to meet these enterprise goals, including workforce analysis and nondiscrimination plans for firms with 50 or more employees. The estimated contract amount ranges from $5,827,277.60 to $9,469,326.10, with a proposed three-year term. Notably, the RFQ introduces new reporting requirements for Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) usage, mandating that consultants disclose any GenAI technologies used in their Statement of Qualifications, with potential disqualification for failure to do so. The contract will require comprehensive documentation, including indirect cost rate submissions for contracts valued at $3,500,000 or more, and compliance with various state and federal regulations. Consultants must also provide a code of business ethics and maintain an internal control system that meets stringent governmental standards.