NC27-113 IWild Goose Fire ESR, Cultural Resources Inventory, WRI 8048

The State of Utah Division of Purchasing is requesting bids for an archaeological survey and cultural resources inventory in Millard County under IFB NC27-113, with bids due September 24, 2026. This is an invitation-only procurement restricted to vendors on the State of Utah's approved vendor list for archaeology — the primary eligibility gate.

The scope encompasses a Class II archaeological survey of approximately 1,443.1 acres within the Wild Goose Fire burn area using 30-meter transects, plus revisits and updates to previously recorded sites within a 606.4-acre "Past Adequate Survey Area," for a total Area of Potential Effect of 2,049.5 acres spanning private lands (1,694.9 acres), Trust Lands Administration property (231.3 acres), and Bureau of Land Management lands (123.2 acres). Work must comply with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and the State Protocol Agreement between the Utah State Historic Preservation Office and the Bureau of Land Management. Fieldwork is expected to be completed by November 18, 2026, with draft deliverables due April 1, 2027, and final deliverables due June 1, 2027. Rolling consultation reporting is required within seven days following each field session. Bidders must hold current Bureau of Land Management Cultural Resources Use Permits and Public Lands Policy Coordinating Office Principal Investigator Permits.

The contract is structured as lump sum with no change orders permitted for unexpected findings. Payment occurs in four milestones: 10% upon completion of pre-field literature review, 50% upon fieldwork completion with preliminary results, 30% upon delivery of draft deliverables, and 10% upon final acceptance. Vendors must guarantee pricing for the entire project with no escalations. Award will be determined by combining a previously established Best Value score (300 points) from an earlier RFP with a new SOW Cost Point Award (700 points) based on individual bid responses, with the highest cumulative score receiving the contract. Four vendors submitted bids: SWCA Environmental Consultants at $88,518.14 (lowest); Paleowest, LLC at $90,733.24; Wilson & Company, Inc. at $96,071.76; and Alpine Archaeological Consultants, Inc. at $144,054.48. The contract requires workers' compensation insurance covering full statutory liability and commercial general and automobile liability insurance with minimum limits of $1 million per occurrence and $3 million aggregate.