Managing Moving Water In SD: Cultural Resource Context

The South Dakota Department of Education's Division of History is seeking a qualified consultant to develop a comprehensive cultural resource context and National Register evaluation guidance for water-related structures and sites historically built in South Dakota up to 1980. The project requires an extensive research and documentation effort focused on creating survey documentation standards, identifying resource types, and providing comprehensive evaluation guidance for water management infrastructure. Key deliverables include a detailed context report, survey documentation standards, resource type identification, evaluation guidance documentation, and a virtual public workshop to present findings. Evaluation criteria will assess the consultant's cost, reliability, specialized expertise, available resources, past performance, local availability, proposed project management, and ability to handle special project constraints. Critical dates include an RFP publication on March 31, 2023, a deadline for written inquiries on April 14, 2023, proposal submission deadline of May 5, 2023 at 5:00 PM CT, and an anticipated contract award and negotiation period from May 8-23, 2023, with a contract start date of June 1, 2023.

The contract opportunity includes a specific certification requirement under South Dakota Executive Order 2023-02, which prohibits contractors from being entities ultimately owned or controlled by nationals from specific countries, including China, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Cuba, and Venezuela. While no specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises are explicitly mentioned, contractors must complete a Prohibited Entity Certification and agree to provide immediate written notice if their status changes. The contract term is set from June 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, with potential for a one-year extension. Payment will be structured in four stages, though the exact budget range is not specified in the provided documentation. The procurement is open to qualified consultants with expertise in cultural resource management, historical infrastructure documentation, and National Register evaluation processes, with the State reserving the right to negotiate with consultants and potentially make multiple awards if deemed in the State's best interest.