Request For Information

AG-83A7-S-16-0001 Notice Type: Sources Sought/ RFI Synopsis: USDA Forest Service Request for Information (RFI) for the Archelogy Section Carson National Forest 11/11/2015 This RFI is for information purposes only and shall not be construed as a commitment or a promise of a contract by the Government. This is not a request for quotations. This notice does not constitute a Request for Bid, Request for Quote or Request for Proposal, nor does it restrict the Government as to the ultimate acquisition approach. PURPOSE 1. The US Forest Service, Carson National Forest, Archeology Section, Carson National Forest, Forest Service Building, 208 Cruz Alta Road, New Mexico 87571, is conducting market analysis to determine how many archeology companies may be interested in willing to offer a possible proposal to perform on this requirement. The information collected on this RFI will be used to conduct marketing the proper companies who meet the requirements to perform on this future contract. Responding to this RFI does not automatically include the responder on any bidders list, if such a list is developed. Depending on the quantity and quality of the responses received, the criteria may serve to generate the initial pool of potential contractors to be invited to respond to a resulting solicitation. The Archeology department is interested in collecting information on industry capabilities concerning Tusas San Antonio 3 Archaeological Survey, associated with the following qualified companies and their qualifications. 100% percent pedestrian survey of 3,118 acres. The US Forest Service is looking for The contractor shall provide any and all labor, equipment, supplies, services, permits, and licenses, necessary to perform a 100% pedestrian archaeological survey (equivalent to a BLM Class III survey) of approximately 3,118 acres during the period of 120 calendar days after the issuance of the notice to proceed, on the Tres Piedras Ranger District, Carson National Forest. The Tusas-San Antonio 3 Archaeological Survey is located in sections 1 and 2, Township 27 North, Range 8 East, sections 7, 8, 17, 18, and 19, Township 27 North, Range 9 East, sections 1, 2, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 24, Township 28 North, Range 8 East, and sections 5, 6, 18, and 19, Township 28 North, Range 9 East, as shown on the Las Tablas, and Mule Canyon, NM 7.5 minute USGS maps. This statement of work consists of completing the tasks, subtasks and the performance requirements identified in Section 5 of this Statement of Work. Site Definition: For the purposes of this survey, a site is defined as a locus of purposeful prehistoric or historic human activity. An activity is considered to have been purposeful if it resulted in a deposit of cultural material beyond the level of one or a few discarded or accidentally lost artifacts. Loci of human activity not classifiable as sites by this definition should be considered and recorded as isolated occurrences. Heritage resources, which include at least one of the following, are here defined as sites: 1. One or more features; 2. One formal tool if associated with other cultural material or more than one formal tool; 3. An occurrence of cultural material (for example; sherds, lithic debris, historic artifacts) that contains one of the following: a. three or more types of artifacts or material; b. two types of artifacts or material in a density of at least ten items per 100 square meters; c. a single type of artifact or material in a density of at least twenty-five items per 100 square meters. Locations of human activity not classifiable as sites by this definition should be considered isolated finds. For the purposes of this survey, an 100% archaeological pedestrian survey is defined as the systematic intensive inspection of the land surface using parallel transects spaced no more than 15 meters apart. Any proposed deviations from this transect interval must be identified and justified in the offeror's technical proposal. In addition, any proposed use of shovel testing during this survey must be clearly defined and justified in the technical proposal. Intensive Survey The contractor shall be required to survey all of the project area acres 100%, according to USDA-Forest Service Region 3 Cultural Resources Handbook. Records Search - Prior to conducting the fieldwork, the contractor shall review all available publications, manuscripts, site records, state files, Forest Service files, and any additional materials pertinent to the project region to become familiar with the history of archaeological work and site documentation for the project area. At a minimum, this includes the inspection of the Carson National Forest Site Atlas, Survey Atlas, and GLO plats as well as the NMCRIS files available through the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs and all survey reports and records available at the Carson National Forest Supervisor's Office or appropriate district office which deal with previous fieldwork in the vicinity of the project area. Locate, identify, and describe/document all heritage resource sites and isolated occurrences which can reasonably be detected from an inspection of the ground surface. Locate, identify, and describe/document all previously recorded heritage resources sites which have been determined eligible, or which have not received an eligibility determination and which, can reasonably be detected from an inspection of the ground surface. Any site, which has been previously determined to be not eligible, with documented concurrence of the NM SHPO will not be updated. The contractor shall conduct a complete 100% pedestrian survey utilizing 15 meter or less transects of the entire project area in the manner specified in the USDA-Forest Service Region 3 Cultural Resources Handbook. Acceptable quality level: 100% compliance with the USDA-Forest Service Region 3 Cultural Resources Handbook. THE COMPANY MUST BE FAMILIAR WITH THE FOLLOWING GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS/INDUSTRY STANDARDS/ STATE STANDARDS/GOVERNMENT STANDARDS/TECHNICAL EXHIBITS R-3 FSH - 5/87, FSH 2309.24 - Cultural Resources Handbook, USDA-Forest Service, Region 3. 36 Code of Federal Regulations Part 60 NRB 15 - 8/95, USDI, National Register Bulletin 15, How to Apply the National Register Criteria for Evaluation OCA/HPD/ARMS 93-101 Rev.1.0 - 7/93, State of New Mexico, Historic Preservation Division, Archaeological Records Management Section, New Mexico Cultural Resource Information System, Guidelines For Submitting Archaeological Records. State of New Mexico, Department of Cultural Affairs, Historic Preservation Division, - 11/2013 (Draft Release 2013.1) User's Guide to The New Mexico Cultural Resource Information System, Guidelines For Submitting Cultural Resource Records. State of New Mexico, Department of Cultural Affairs, Historic Preservation Division, - NMCRIS User's Guide Appendix A: Instructions for Completing the LA Site Form ARMS Note 2, Site Not Relocated - 5/09, State of New Mexico, Historic Preservation Division, Archaeological Records Management Section 1991, Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 43 Code of Federal Regulations Part 10. The period of performance of this contract is from 3 days after Issuance of Notice to Proceed (INP) through 150 calendar days. Special Contract Requirements See the AGAR; 452.215-71, Instructions for the Preparation of Technical and Business Proposals? The successful offeror will be that offeror that offers the best mix of past performance combined with the best price with community development considerations. The best price does not necessarily mean the lowest price but means that the best balance between past performance, price and community development has been determined for award by the Source Selection Authority who may determine that a trade-off, a higher priced offer for a quality contractor, is warranted. Types of Work to be Performed Perform an intensive 100% pedestrian archaeological survey; record all newly discovered sites and all previously recorded sites located within the project area; document all Isolated Occurrence encountered during the survey; produce a report of professional quality. The Forest Service is seeking qualified companies to perform on this type of proposal. The Forest Service (FS) is not seeking elaborate replies but rather companies that may be able to perform on this project. Vendors who may be interested may submit the following information on 8.5 x 11in paper no longer than 5 pages. Company Information: a. Name, address and DUNS number: b. Number of contracts performed on a similar project of scope in nature: c. Number of contracts for 1) Government and 2 commercial in the last 3 years d. Indicate whether your company is a small business, a small disadvantaged business, 8(a), hub-zone certified, woman owned, or historically Black College: e. Describe the capabilities, features and benefits of your solution, paying special attention to new capabilities/features that would be advantages of an Archeology Survey of this type of project. f. Provide three references within the past 2 years, by Customer, Name and phone number and email addresses for the customer you performed work for of a similar nature. g. Contract Name, and Contract Number: h. Contract Vehicle: i. Contract type: j. Any additional information that maybe helpful to the Forest Service to perform an Archeology Survey of this nature. k. Education and experience of personnel conducting this project: This is only to seek companies that maybe interested in proposing on a possible future contract. Submission of Information: All responses shall be treated as confidential/proprietary. Only Forest Service personnel will be involved in this project. Contracting Office: Cibola National Forest 2113 Osuna Road NE Albuquerque, NM 87113 Attn: pjondrasek@fs.fed.us Place of Performance: As indicated in Scope of Work