Archeologist for Cultural Resource Survey for Fifteenmile Creek Fish Ladder

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) is seeking an Archaeologist to conduct a comprehensive cultural resource survey for the Fifteenmile Creek Fish Ladder project located in Wasco County. The procurement is a Request for Proposal (RFP S-63500-00015040) for professional archaeological services involving a reconnaissance-level survey of the Historic Built Environment and a Phase I Archaeological Investigation. The project aims to improve fish passage at the Underhill Diversion by installing a prefabricated pool-and-weir style fishway, with survey work covering 0.75 acres of access and staging area and requiring excavation depths between 8 and 9 feet. The successful proposer will be responsible for conducting literature reviews, performing pedestrian surveys, executing subsurface exploratory probing, and preparing comprehensive reports meeting State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) guidelines. Proposals will be evaluated across 100 points, with scoring distributed as follows: cover letter (5 points), proposer experience and qualifications (25 points), understanding of services (20 points), statement of work (25 points), and price (25 points). The RFP was issued on September 30, 2025, with proposals due on October 16, 2025, and an anticipated contract period extending until April 1, 2026.

The state encourages participation from small businesses, specifically targeting disadvantaged, minority-owned, woman-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned, and emerging small businesses certified under Oregon Revised Statute 200.055. Proposers must complete a Certified Disadvantaged Business Form and Outreach Plan, detailing their certification status and potential subcontracting opportunities. Additional requirements include providing proof of insurance, taxpayer identification, business registry authorization, and potentially a Pay Equity Compliance Certificate for contractors with 50 or more full-time workers and contracts exceeding $500,000. The RFP emphasizes the importance of expertise in the Columbia Plateau cultural area and adherence to the Secretary of the Interior's professional standards for Archaeology. While no specific budget range is explicitly stated, the contract will be a fixed-price professional services agreement with compensation details to be finalized, including reimbursement for travel expenses at standard government rates. Proposers must demonstrate financial stability, operational capabilities, and professional qualifications through a comprehensive Responsibility Inquiry form that evaluates their business and technical competence.