B--Curation of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Albuquerque District Archaeological Collections

NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD SOLE SOURCE PROCUREMENT: Under the authority of FAR 6.302-1, it is the Government's intent to award a sole source service contract to University of El Paso, Texas (UTEP) to house the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Keystone Collection, which includes 87 cubic feet of artifacts and archived records and the PL84-99 Emergency Survey Projects Collection includes 11 cubic feet of artifacts and archived records for a total of 98 cubic feet. THIS IS NOT A FORMAL SOLICITATION. This synopsis is not considered a Request for Quotation or Proposal. No solicitation document is available, and telephone requests for a copy of the solicitation will not be honored. Any response to this notice must show clear and convincing evidence that competition would be advantageous to the Government. All responses received within 15 days will be considered. If no affirmative written response is received, the service contract will be awarded without further notice. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Albuquerque District (SPA) intends to award a contract to the University of El Paso, Texas (UTEP) to house the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Keystone Collection, which includes 87 cubic feet of artifacts and archived records and the PL84-99 Emergency Survey Projects Collection includes 11 cubic feet of artifacts and archived records for a total of 98 cubic feet. As required by 36 CFR 79.1, Federal agencies must preserve collections and associated records of prehistoric and historic material remains recovered during archaeological investigations. As noted in 36 CFR 79.2, the collections must be deposited in an institution with adequate long-term curatorial capabilities. When possible, the collection should be deposited in a repository that: Is in a within the State of origin; Stores and maintains other collections from the same site or project area; Houses collections from a similar geographic region or cultural area; e.g., Location relative to original source; Accessibility relative to major transportation; and Accessibility for research. The collection should not be subdivided and stored at more than a single repository unless such subdivision is necessary to meet special storage, conservation or research needs. The repository selected should maintain the integrity and research value of the collection. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed requirement is based upon the fact that University of El Paso, Texas (UTEP) meets the requirement as dictated by 36 CFR 79.2, in that this location is relative to the original source and in the state of origin, regarding the archaeological collections. Detailed capabilities of interested vendors must be submitted to the following email addresses no later than 2:00 PM (Mountain Time) 26 November 2014, [email protected].