NC26-66 Fishlake National Forest's 2026 Timber Stand Cultural Resources Inventory

The State of Utah Division of Purchasing, through the Wildlife Conducting Procurement Unit, is issuing an Invitation for Bid (IFB) for archaeological survey services related to the Fishlake National Forest's 2026 Timber Stand Cultural Resources Inventory project (NC26-66). The procurement seeks to conduct a comprehensive Section 106 cultural resource review and intensive-level archaeological survey across 2,308.7 acres spanning seven sub-project areas (Happy Valley, Baker Springs, Circleville TSI, Cy's Cache, Little Reservoir, Timid Springs, and Gunsight Aspen) located in the Richfield Ranger District of the Fishlake National Forest in Beaver County, Utah. The selected contractor must complete cultural resource literature searches, conduct pedestrian surveys using 15-meter transect intervals, document and GPS map all cultural resources in accordance with Utah State Historic Preservation Office and United States Forest Service guidelines, and deliver comprehensive reports meeting Secretary of the Interior standards. Deliverables include draft reports, site forms, and GIS data due January 20, 2027, with final deliverables due March 17, 2027; all fieldwork must be completed by September 30, 2026. Evaluation will be based on cumulative scoring combining a previous RFP AS24-114 Best Value score (300 points) and a SOW Cost Point Award (700 points) derived from individual bids, with contract award to the highest scoring, responsive, and responsible vendor. The IFB closes on April 15, 2026, with no mandatory site visit required. Qualified contractors must be on the State of Utah's approved vendor list for archaeology, hold a valid state permit to conduct archaeological surveys on federal and state property, have principal investigators and field directors meeting Secretary of the Interior Professional Qualification Standards, and maintain commercial general liability insurance of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence and $3,000,000 aggregate.

This procurement is restricted to invitation-only bidding limited to vendors on the approved vendor list for archaeology; no other organizations or entity types may submit proposals. No incumbent vendors or existing contractors are identified in the solicitation documents. The contract structure is a lump-sum fixed-price agreement with no cost modifications or change orders permitted, even for unexpected findings, and all work must comply with non-negotiable standard terms and conditions established by the State of Utah Division of Purchasing. The payment schedule consists of four installments: ten percent upon completion of pre-field literature review, fifty percent upon completion of fieldwork, thirty percent upon delivery of draft deliverables, and the final ten percent upon full acceptance of final deliverables by the Fishlake National Forest Heritage Program Manager and Department of Wildlife Resources and successful consultation with the Utah State Historic Preservation Office. Key personnel, including approved field directors, must receive written approval from the Fishlake National Forest and Department of Wildlife Resources with no substitutions permitted without written authorization. The project is funded through the U.S. Forest Service Shared Stewardship program with billing PO 202620, though no specific budget range or award value is disclosed in the solicitation documents.