Description
The US Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 7 Alaska, an agency within the US Department of the Interior intends to award a sole source procurement to the State of Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Office of Natural History and Archaeology, to perform work related to the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 within and on several National Wildlife Refuges throughout Alaska. This procurement shall include a sole source Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract award and shall include the following: Background: With the passage of the National Historic Preservation Act in 1966 federal agencies became responsible for inventorying, evaluating and managing cultural properties on their lands. As a result of the Act the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was required to establish a preservation program for administering the Act (NHPA Section 110(a)(2). The same Act established a nationwide network of State Historic Preservation Offices to assist in historic preservation activities and to advise and assist the federal programs (NHPA Section 101(b)(1)). Section 101(a)(6)(A) allows the Secretary of the Interior to "enter into direct contracts or cooperative agreements with a State Historic Preservation Officer for any State authorizing such Officer to assist the Secretary in carrying out one or more of the following responsibilities within that State- (i) Identification and preservation of historic properties (ii) Determination of the eligibility of properties for listing on the National Register. (iii) Preparation of nominations for inclusion on the National Register. (iv) Maintenance of historical and archaeological data bases. (v) Evaluation of eligibility for Federal preservation incentives. Work Description: Individual projects will be described in more detail as the need arises but the Fish and Wildlife Service will in general develop small, specific project scopes of work within each delivery order placed against the awarded IDIQ contract to inventory for cultural resources on refuge lands, evaluate identified properties for their eligibility to the National register and prepare nominations for listing sites on the National register. Specific tasks may include: a) Identify and preserve historic properties. For this activity the SHPO Office would conduct pedestrian surveys of the study area, dig shovel or trowel test pits as necessary, prepare site maps of discovered remains and thoroughly document in writing and with photographs and cultural resources found. The information gathered would be of sufficient detail to evaluate the property for National Register eligibility. b) Determine the eligibility of properties for listing on the National Register. This would involve analysis of the physical remains, as well as conducting archival and historical research to determine the importance and historic context for each property. Each property would be evaluated using the eligibility criteria spelled out in 36 CFR 60. c) Prepare nominations for including historic properties on the National Register. This would involve compiling all historic and cultural records and physical evidence and preparing a formal National Register nomination for selected properties. They would also submit the nominations and shepherd them through the review process. d) Maintain historical and archaeological data bases. The State of Alaska maintains a statewide database of known sites. We could provide support to the office to update database information for National Wildlife Refuges and to facilitate on-line access by this agency. Products: The products developed and delivered will depend on the nature of the task. Typically they will include the following: a) Identify and preserve historic properties. The product would include a report of the field investigation, detailing the methodology used in data collection and analysis. This shall include a discussion of surveying and sampling procedures, the types of data collected, artifact and feature retrieval procedures, recording techniques, classificatory scheme, method of chronological determination, and any special analytical techniques. Survey area will be described including detailed locational information, acreage of project area, and geographic description. The results will include a brief evaluation of previous archaeological and historical studies of the region, including dates, extent, and adequacy of past work as it reflects on the interpretation of what might be found in the study area. All discovered historic properties will be described in detail including nature, physical remains, maps, photographs etc. An Alaska Heritage Resources Survey form will be submitted to the SHPO and entered on the state database. b) Determine the eligibility of properties for listing on the National Register. The product would be a report describing the property and a detailed analysis of the historic context (Eligibility Criteria) and historic integrity of the property (as spelled out in 36 CFR 60). There would be a definite conclusion as to whether or not the property was eligible for the National Register. c) Prepare nominations for including historic properties on the National Register. The product here would be the completed National Register documentation and a site being listed on the National Register d) Maintain historical and archaeological data bases. The product would be updated and complete listing of known sites on National Wildlife Refuges in Alaska. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals and the Government does not intend to accept any proposals or offers received. Award shall be made 30 days following publication of this notice and an award announcement shall be posted at that time. See Numbered Note 22.