Deschutes National Forest, Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District - Darlene Cultural Heritage Surveys

The contract pertains to cultural heritage surveys conducted by the Deschutes National Forest’s Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District under solicitation number 1240BE26Q0038, issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service. The work involves pedestrian cultural resource inventory and documentation across up to 446 acres within designated survey areas in central Oregon, in full compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and applicable federal regulations including FAR and AGAR. The acquisition is a total small business set-aside under NAICS code 541620, restricted exclusively to small business concerns, with performance required between April 1, 2026, and September 30, 2026. The primary deliverables include completed Site Forms, Isolate Forms, scaled site maps, photograph logs with scale and aspect, and GIS-ready data, all governed by Oregon SHPO definitions and Forest Service standards. The contract includes a base scope covering 672 acres and an optional increment of up to 446 additional acres, with the government retaining discretion to exercise the option based on funding. Fieldwork is performed on-site, while administrative acceptance occurs at the USDA Forest Service office in Bend, Oregon, with inspections conducted both in the field and through review of digital submissions. Contractors must adhere to federal labor standards under the Service Contract Labor Standards, paying Heritage Specialists at a rate equivalent to a GS-11, or $35.78 per hour. All personnel require PIV-compliant identification for access to federal property, and contractors must implement basic cybersecurity safeguards for any information systems handling federal data. Payment will be processed electronically through the Electronic Invoice Processing Platform, and accelerated payment terms apply for small business subcontractors. The award will be based on best value, prioritizing technical approach and key personnel qualifications first, followed by relevant past performance and price, with no tradeoff analysis between technical merit and cost. The contract incorporates numerous FAR clauses covering whistleblower rights, anti-trafficking, ethical conduct, subcontractor restrictions, and prohibitions on internal confidentiality agreements. The contractor is responsible for correcting all non-compliant work at their own expense, and failure to meet documentation or procedural standards may result in rejection of deliverables. All proposals must be submitted electronically by March 24, 2026, and offerors must be registered in SAM.gov with a valid UEI and CAGE code, and must certify their small business status in accordance with