SOI Archaeology Consultant

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is seeking a Secretary of the Interior (SOI) Qualified Archaeological Consultant through Request for Proposal (RFP) 25ESDWQBJSHEE-0003 to provide professional archaeological services for State Revolving Fund projects. The contract will span 36 months with potential renewal for up to six years, focusing on compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and the Code of Iowa. Key deliverables include project scope development consultation, review of archaeological findings, development of minimization and mitigation plans, archaeological review guidance, training, and monthly reporting. Respondents must possess a graduate degree in archaeology or related field, demonstrate at least one year of professional experience, and be SOI-qualified. The evaluation will utilize a 100-point system, with 75 points allocated to the technical proposal (covering business information, compliance, work product summaries, and presentation) and 25 points to the cost proposal. The RFP was released on June 14, 2024, with proposals due by July 26, 2024, and a pre-proposal virtual conference scheduled for July 9, 2024.

The RFP does not explicitly outline specific set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises, though it does indicate a preference for Iowa-based businesses. The contract will be an on-call, as-needed service with work requests provided by the DNR as they are received, covering archaeological consultations for Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act projects. While no incumbent vendors are mentioned, the procurement involves five primary tasks with estimated annual service quantities: 100 services each for project scope consultation and work product review, 70 services for minimization/mitigation plan development, and 12 monthly reporting services. The cost proposal requires all-inclusive pricing in U.S. dollars, with pricing based on Net 60 Days Payment Terms. Though specific budget ranges are not explicitly stated, the comprehensive nature of the services and the three-year contract term suggest a significant potential contract value for the selected archaeological consultant.