Management of HPRCSITs

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District, CENWW, 201 North 3rd Avenue, Walla Walla, WA 99362, intends to issue a Sole Source Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity Solicitation to provide Traditional Cultural Knowledge Assistance Services for The Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District (Corps) in compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, 36 CFR Part 800, and a Programmatic Agreement signed April 2009. The statutory authority for permitting other than full and open competition for this requirement, 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1), and implemented by FAR 6.302-1(a)(2), which authorizes other than full and open competition when there is only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. Tasks under the proposed contracts will support Corps responsibilities regarding management of Historic Properties of Religious and Cultural Significance to Indian Tribes (HPRCSITs) associated with members of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR). The CTUIR will be offered a sole source contract for management assistance regarding HPRCSITs recognized by their own members. Such places may not come to light through the conduct of archeological, historical, or architectural surveys. The existence and significance of such locations often can be ascertained only through interviews with knowledgeable users of the area (National Register Bulletin 38). Only consultation and coordination with the living effected community can disclose the existence of possible HPRCSITs and determine their significance. CONTRACTOR SERVICES: Services under this contract will pertain to sites located within the Corps Federal Columbia River Power System Area of Potential Effects. The contractor will be expected to provide a wide range of management assistance services. The Contractor shall furnish to the Corps all services, labor, materials, and equipment to carry out work specified in, and in accordance with standards, quantities, and schedules described in, individual task orders. These activities shall include, but not be limited to, identification, assessment (including determination of project effects), and treatment. As more fully set out in individual task orders, the Contractor shall access traditional cultural data sources (records and oral histories), identify and evaluate HPRCSITs, assess project effects on such properties, and assist in preparing and implementing preservation plans. The Contractor will be required to submit reports of all work performed on individual task orders under this contract to the Government according to the schedule stipulated in each individual task order. The Corps will identify deliverables in each task order. PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: The principal investigator involved in fieldwork and report preparation for the tasks, shall meet the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Professional Qualifications (36CFR61.8 Appendix A). Crew leaders and other supervisory personnel who meet the Secretary of Interior's standard are preferred, but personnel with substantial pertinent experience and demonstrated ability to carry out HPRCSIT-related field and laboratory documentation procedures may be utilized in this role. Staff responsible for preparing reports must have demonstrated ability to carry projects to completion through the reporting phase. HPRCSITs, and the beliefs and institutions that give them significance, should be systematically addressed in programs of preservation planning and in the historic preservation component's land use plans (National Register Bulletin 38, Guidelines for Evaluating and Documenting Traditional Cultural Properties). The Bulletin states that "The unique aspects of identifying and evaluating traditional cultural properties have to do with tapping into the specialized knowledge and information that is maintained within the traditional community." Information pertaining to location, character, condition of, and potential impacts to traditional areas is necessary for the Corps to effectively manage these areas. Traditional information about areas identified as HPRCSITs is only available from the affected community. This notice is not a request for competitive proposal. Any interested party with capabilities to fulfill this requirement shall provide their organization name, address, point of contact, phone number, email address, business size, DUNS number, CAGE code, and capabilities to Ruth Johnson, Contract Specialist, via email to [email protected]. Your response to this notice must be received on or before 4:00 PM on April 16, 2020. All timely responses submitted will be considered by the Government as part of its market research and subsequent acquisition strategy decisions. A determination by the Government not to compete this requirement based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.