KDFWR - Phase I Archaeological Surveys and Ground Assessment

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) is soliciting qualified contractors through Request for Proposal (RFP) 660 2400000308 to conduct Phase I archaeological surveys and above-ground cultural resource assessments on KDFWR-managed lands statewide. The procurement requires contractors to execute 10 to 20 projects during State Fiscal Years 2025 and 2026, with deliverables including Phase I archaeological surveys at a per-acre rate, boat ramp assessments calculated at 0.5 acre each, woodland water hole surveys calculated at 1,000 square feet each, and above-ground cultural resource assessments for structures. Contractors must comply with the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, secure necessary permits from the Kentucky Heritage Council and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and deliver electronic reports and shape files to KDFWR for Section 106 compliance review. The procurement utilizes a weighted scoring system with a maximum of 1,000 points: 500 points for the technical proposal (evaluated on past performance with 200 points, staff qualifications with 100 points, years of experience with 100 points, and professional references with 100 points) and 500 points for the cost proposal (lowest-price evaluation). Technical proposals scoring below 50 percent of maximum technical points (250 points) are deemed non-responsive and eliminated from consideration. Written questions were due by March 28, 2024, with responses issued by April 3, 2024; the proposal submission deadline was extended to April 18, 2024, at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time through Addendum 2 due to an eMARS system upgrade. Proposals must be submitted electronically in three separate sealed documents (technical proposal, cost proposal, and any proprietary information) through Kentucky's Vendor Self Service System in Microsoft Word, Excel, or PDF format.

Kentucky resident bidders and qualified bidders, including nonprofit organizations serving individuals with severe disabilities, are eligible for scoring preferences of 15 to 20 percent of maximum points. All respondents must be registered with the Kentucky Secretary of State and comply with all applicable state and federal laws, including equal employment opportunity requirements and non-discrimination provisions; foreign entities must provide a certificate of authority from the Secretary of State within 14 days of bid opening. The cost proposal is weighted at 500 points in the overall evaluation, with vendors required to submit itemized pricing for each of four service categories: cost per acre for Phase I archaeological survey, cost per boat ramp, cost per woodland water hole, and cost per structure for above-ground cultural resource assessment. Vendors must account for all necessary materials, transportation, and software required to complete the work, as KDFWR will not provide these resources. The anticipated contract term runs from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2026, with the KDFWR reserving the right to renew for one additional two-year period subject to Commissioner approval and Legislative Research Commission Government Contract Review Committee authorization. No specific award value or budget range is provided in the solicitation documents; however, the cost proposal component will be evaluated on price competitiveness with the lowest-priced proposal receiving maximum cost points and remaining proposals scored proportionally.