Title: Conduct Archaeological Site Condition Reassessments within Heavily Trafficked Corridors of Big Bend National Park, Brewster County, Texas
Conduct Archaeological Site Condition Reassessments within Heavily Trafficked Corridors of Big Bend National Park, Brewster County, Texas
Responses to this Request for Statements of Interest will be used to identify potential investigators for a project to be funded by the National Park Service (NPS) which provides professional and technical support for its Cultural Resources Program in order to facilitate successful implementation of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended (16 USC 470). Approximately $40,000 is expected to be available to support this project.
Background:
The 118-mile-long southern boundary of Big Bend National Park (BIBE) comprises 6% of the entire U.S.-Mexico International Border. Certain segments of BIBE’s southern boundary—like other stretches of the U.S.-Mexico border—have suffered considerable resource degradation stemming from the unregulated, cross-border movement of people and livestock from the neighboring Mexican states of Coahuila and Chihuahua. BIBE managers need to determine the extent and scale of archaeological site damage stemming from unregulated human and livestock traffic across the park’s southern boundary. This project will systemically reassess the conditions of previously recorded archaeological sites within several, specified corridors of BIBE prone to particularly high volumes of human and livestock trespass. The site damage assessment data acquired through this project will enable park managers to identify areas most susceptible to further archaeological site degradation and devise better site preservation strategies.
Cumulatively, this archaeological site damage assessment project will encompass an area of roughly 18,896 acres and involve the reassessment of approximately 39 previously recorded archaeological sites.
Type of Award:
This project is in support of the NPS’s federal mandates to inventory and preserve the historic properties under the Service’s management (16 USC 470), and as a result, it is anticipated that a cooperative agreement through the CESU program will be awarded. Such awards may be administered through a CESU only upon mutual agreement and official authorization by both parties of the acceptance of the application of the CESU Network IDC rate (17.5%).
Brief Description of Anticipated Work:
The proposed project shall facilitate better future management and stewardship of BIBE archaeological resources by accomplishing the following:
a) The systematic condition reassessments of previously recorded archaeological sites within several specified, highly trafficked corridors of BIBE extending northward from the U.S.-Mexico International Border. Cumulatively, this archaeological site damage assessment project will encompass an area of roughly 18,896 acres and involve the reassessment of approximately 39 previously recorded archaeological sites.
b) The site condition data collected during this project shall conform with standard NPS criteria for gauging archaeological site condition. These criteria include: 1. site condition (good/fair/poor/destroyed/not relocated); 2. depositional integrity (exceptional/lacking/moderate/poor/substantial/unevaluated); 3. data potential assessment (exceptional/high/medium/modest/low/none/unevaluated); 4. recommended site reinspection schedule (e.g., once every 5 years, 10 years, 15 years, etc.); 5. disturbance severity level (severe/moderate/low/unknown/ NA); 6. disturbance class (e.g., Grazing/Trampling-Livestock, Off-road Vehicle Traffic, Social Trails, Camping, Campfire Building, Arson, ARPA Incident, Theft or Looting, Unauthorized Collecting, etc.). These standardized criteria are stipulated in the NPS Cultural Resources Inventory System (CRIS) data dictionary and can be supplied upon request.
c) Each revisited site will be systematically photographed using a measuring scale and a photo board displaying the site trinomial and date. If the site has suffered anthropogenic or livestock damage, close-up photos should be taken of that damage.
d) A final report will be generated, summarizing the site condition reassessment project and its findings and offering recommendations for mitigation of further site degradation within heavily trafficked corridors of BIBE. This report will conform to all NPS and Texas Historical Commission (THC) standards.
All survey personnel and documents will meet THC standards and ARPA permitting requirements. All condition information collected during the project will be used to update archaeological records in the CRIS-AR database.
Applicants should possess a strong knowledge of Chihuahuan Desert culture, history, and archaeology. They should also possess experience in pedestrian survey across rugged, arid desert terrain.
Period of Performance. The base Period of agreement will extend 12 months from award.
Materials Requested for Statement of Interest/Qualifications:
Deadline for replies: March 25, 2022
Please provide the following via e-mail attachment to:
Herbert_Young_Jr@nps.gov(link sends e-mail)
(Maximum length: 2 pages, single-spaced 12 pt. font).
1. Name, Organization, CESU, Duns Number, Contact Information, Email address.
2. Brief Statement of Qualifications (including):
a. Biographical Sketch,
b. Relevant past projects and clients with brief descriptions of these projects,
c. Staff, faculty or students available to work on this project and their areas of expertise,
d. Any brief description of capabilities to successfully complete the project you may wish
to add (e.g. equipment, laboratory facilities, greenhouse facilities, field facilities, etc.).
Note: At this time we are only requesting that you demonstrate available qualifications and skills for performing similar or same type of work. A full study proposal and proposed budget are NOT requested at this time.
Review of Statements Received: All statements of interest received will be evaluated by a board comprised of one or more people at the receiving installation or activity, who will determine which statement(s) best meet the program objectives. Based on a review of the Statements of Interest received, an investigator or investigators will be invited to prepare a full project proposal. Statements will be evaluated based on the investigator’s specific experience and capabilities in areas related to the project requirements.
Please send responses or direct questions to:
Herbert Young
Chief of Science and Resource Management
Big Bend National Park/Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River
432-477-1143
