Archaeological Reporting and Curation Services

UNDER PROVISIONS OF THE STAFFORD ACT, AS AMENDED, THIS RFP IS RESTRICTED TO LOCAL BUSINESSES THAT MEET THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE 2006 AMENDMENT TO THE ACT FOR "LOCAL BUISINESS SET-ASIDES." January 08, 2009 SCOPE OF WORK Reporting for FEMA Western Parishes Demolition and Debris Removal Activities As a Result of Hurricane Rita INTRODUCTION The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has completed archaeological monitoring of approximately 565 individual monitoring events in Cameron, Calcasieu and Vermillion Parishes. The monitoring of both demolition and private property debris removal activities resulted in artifact collection at 9 previously recorded sites and the identification of 7 previously unrecorded sites. (Collectively referred to as the Sites). A total of 423 artifacts were collected during the investigations and are presently located in FEMA's Louisiana Transitional Recovery Office (TRO) at 1250 Poydras, New Orleans, Louisiana. I. OBJECTIVE There are two objectives to be accomplished under this Scope of Work: A. Written reports, in acceptable form, detail and content, that reflect the activities and ensuing discoveries noted above, the historical background, site forms, outstanding literature and contemporaneous notes, with respect to the Sites (the Reports); and, B. Written analysis and curation of the collected artifacts, completion of the necessary site forms and documents or reports as may be required to complete the Reports referred to in Section A. of this Part I. II. SERVICES The contractor shall perform in a timely and professional manner all work described below: Background Research The contractor shall conduct background research as it deems necessary and prudent to the carrying out of the tasks hereunder. At a minimum, background research will include an examination of the records on file at the Louisiana Division of Archaeology and the Louisiana Division of Historic Preservation, relevant property records, historic maps, and archive research. All notes, copies of documents, maps and the like, as are necessary to a full understanding of the data set out in the Reports, shall be collected and placed in an appendix, or appendices in the order of first reference in the Report to which it is attached. Data Analysis The contractor shall synthesize all notes, site forms, literature and records compiled during the investigations into a Report. All of the approximately 565 individual monitored demolition and private property debris removal events have associated monitoring forms and other documentation which will provide the basis for data synthesis and analysis. These materials will be made available to the contractor at the TRO offices as soon after the award as possible. Artifact Analysis and Curation All collected artifacts shall be curated in compliance with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and Guidelines for Archaeology and Historic Preservation as well as those guidelines stipulated by the Louisiana Division of Archaeology. Contractor and FEMA shall establish a protocol for the hand-over and subsequent tracking of the artifacts until permanently curated. All artifacts must be labeled and packaged for permanent curation. At such time or times as contractor and FEMA agree, the artifacts shall be submitted to the Louisiana Division of Archaeology or a state approved Deputy Custodian for long-term curation. Site Form and Report Preparation Contractor will complete all technical reports of the archaeological monitoring in Cameron, Calcasieu and Vermillion Parishes. A separate report will be required for each parish, written in accordance with the standards and guidelines set forth by the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and Guidelines for Archaeology and Historic Preservation (Federal Register 48(190) 1983:44716-44737) and as the Louisiana State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) Division of Archaeology monitoring report standards (http://www.crt.state.la.us/archaeology/REVIEW/MonRep.shtml). Technical reports and parish reports are considered as part of the Reports and will be contained in the final version of each Report submitted by contractor to FEMA. The technical reports shall, at a minimum, include a description of the study area; equipment used; observed demolition techniques; relevant historic documentation, maps and background research; the field studies/investigations; all field observations; a discussion of the methodology; analyses and results illustrated with appropriate tables, charts, and graphs; an evaluation of the investigations in terms of the goals and objectives of the investigations; an eligibility determination if appropriate; management recommendations; a bibliography; and updated site forms. Deliverables and Schedule Work will begin, starting with the background research, within five business days of award (the Start Date). Not later than 8weeks from the Start Date, 6 copies of a draft report for each parish (18 total), and a digital copy of each draft on CD, shall be submitted to FEMA TRO Historic Preservation Department at 1250 Poydras Street. Following a review and comments by FEMA and the Louisiana SHPO of the drafts, contractor will incorporate recommended changes into a final Report for each parish. Submission of final Reports shall occur not later than two weeks from the date contractor receives comments from the State and FEMA. Six copies of a final Report for each parish (18 total) and a digital copy of each Report on CD, will be submitted to the Historic Preservation staff at FEMA. Upon submission of the final Reports, in form and substance satisfactory to FEMA, all artifacts collected and processed as a result of the monitoring, and in the same condition as originally received, shall be submitted by the contractor for curation. Contractor shall provide FEMA with written evidence of the proper transfer of all artifacts to the appropriate permanent curation with the State of Louisiana.