Inactive

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) SOURCES SOUGHT 1. Responses to this Sources Sought must be in writing. The purpose of this Sources Sought Announcement is for market research purposes only, to ... THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) SOURCES SOUGHT 1. Responses to this Sources Sought must be in writing. The purpose of this Sources Sought Announcement is for market research purposes only, to make appropriate acquisition decisions and to gain knowledge of Small Businesses, Veteran Owned Small Businesses (VOSB), including Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB), interested and capable of providing Consultation and drafting documents in compliance with Archeological, Curatorial, and NHPA Section 106 work, per paragraph five (5) below, for the VA Long Beach Healthcare System (VALBHS). 2. The NAICS for this requirement is 541620, Environmental Consulting Services. The product service code is U009, Education/Training - General. 3. Interested and capable Contractors should respond to this notice not later than January 11, 2022 at 10:00 am (PST) by providing the following via email only to Corina.Hinsley@va.gov. (a) company name (b) address (c) point of contact (d) phone and email of primary point of contact (e) DUNS number (f) A capability statement that addresses the organization s qualifications and ability to perform as a contractor specifically for the work described in paragraph 5 below. Respondents are also encouraged to provide specific examples (e.g. contract number, point of contact information) of the Contractor s experience providing the same or similar services described in paragraph 5 below. 4. SDVOSB/VOSB respondents. SDVOSB/VOSB respondents are encouraged to provide proof of registration in the Veteran Information Pages at https://www.va.gov/osdbu/. Further, SDVOSB and VOSB Contractors are asked to acknowledge that they understand the limitations on sub-contracting pursuant to FAR 52.219-14, Limitations on Sub-Contracting, which will be included in the impending solicitation. 5. Required Services and Timeline. Due to emergent requirement and time sensitive construction projects on the campus of the Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Long Beach Healthcare System, 5901 E. 7th Street, Long Beach, CA 90822 the Contractor needs to be able to start the project by or about January 25, 2022. Services may include the following: 1. VALBHS is seeking a Contractor with experience performing Cultural Resources Management and in Archeological, Curatorial, and National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) Section 106 work. The contract is only to cover work as needed by the facility to maintain Section 106 compliance. The Contractor must be familiar with current archeological documenting in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior s Professional Qualifications Standards (SIPQS) for prehistoric archeology (48 FR44738-39), preferably with experience working in the California/Great Basin/Southwest regions. The Contractor shall provide supervisory personnel who will be responsible for employing appropriately qualified workers, for assembling and utilizing necessary equipment (e.g. Positioning System units, such as Trimble© Geo6000 units), and for developing and implementing the scope of work, subject to VALBHS approval. All written analysis prepared for the technical report shall be written by an archeologist meeting the SIPQS for prehistoric archaeology. The Contractor shall be responsible for assisting VALBHS in meeting the terms of the 2015 MOA and for supporting the development and execution of a new campus-wide Programmatic Agreement (PA) to govern future VALBHS undertakings (e.g. drafting, consultation, revisions, etc.). The Contractor shall provide NHPA Section 106 Consultation Support as required. The Contractor shall prepare draft NHPA Section 106 consultation documents/materials in compliance with 36 CFR Part 800 for any proposed undertakings that have the potential to cause effects on historic properties. Pursuant to 36 CFR 800.11, the documentation package shall include: (1) a description of the undertaking, specifying the Federal involvement, and it s Area of Potential Effects (APE), including photographs, maps, and drawings, as necessary; (2) a description of the steps taken to identify historic properties; (3) a description of the affected historic properties, including information on the characteristics that qualify them for the National Register; (4) a description of the undertaking's effects on historic properties; (5) an explanation of why the criteria of adverse effect were found applicable or inapplicable, including any conditions or future actions to avoid, minimize or mitigate adverse effects; and (6) copies or summaries of any views provided by consulting parties and the public. The Contractor shall update the submitted draft package to address any VA comments and submit a final package within 5 calendar days of receiving comments. Following VA submittal of the final Section 106 package to the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) and other consulting parties, the Contractor shall draft for VA responses to any comments and/or requests for more information received from the SHPO and/or consulting parties. The Contractor shall be provided with a schedule of ground disturbing activities within the revised 2017 boundaries of CA-LAN-234, which require archeological monitoring, in writing a minimum of seven calendar days prior to work. The Contractor shall manage the Native American monitoring program on behalf of VALBHS. The Contractor shall coordinate with those Tribal Organizations involved in the program and schedule Native American monitors on a rotation basis and shall ensure that work is offered on a reasonably equal basis to all four groups. Within the 2017 revised boundaries of CA-LAN-234, no ground disturbance for the undertaking deeper than 4 inches below the current surface will occur without the presence of a Native American monitor. During projects that meet the monitoring requirement, the Contractor shall provide monitoring services to include documenting the earth movements and providing necessary reports as detailed in the Historic Property Treatment Plan (HPTP). During monitoring of projects, the Contractor shall provide VALBHS with a timeline of report completion along with a weekly update on the report progression. The final report will be provided upon completion for distribution. The Contractor shall provide Cultural Awareness Training to all earth-moving personnel prior to commencement of any ground disturbing work. The field presentations will be conducted using flipbooks in conjunction with the preconstruction meeting and safety tailboards. The monitors will have the training materials on hand each day of work. The training shall include instruction on: (1) the reasons for conducting the archeological and tribal monitoring, (2) the possibility of unearthing cultural artifacts and deposits; (3) the types of artifacts and deposits that may be unearthed, including human remains; (4) the importance of, and legal basis for, the protection of such materials; and (5) the requirement to immediately halt work within 50 feet of artifacts, archeological deposits or human remains. The Contractor shall ensure all attendees sign a training roster that signifies they understand the cultural requirements and will be issued hard-hat stickers. In the event human remains are exposed during monitoring, the Contractor shall be required to protect the remains and assist in determining whether the remains are of Native American or non-Native American origin, and work with the County Coroner as needed. In the event the remains are determined to be of Native American origin, the Contractor shall assist VALBHS in carrying out the terms of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) Plan of Action (POA), including assisting in consultation with the POA consulting parties. The Contractor shall assist VALBHS in the consultation with SHPO and Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) in the event the remains represent a non-Native American burial, and the Contractor shall assist VALBHS regarding the proposed treatment of these remains. The Contractor shall assist VALBHS in implementing (or updating/replacing if unable to implement) the Curation Agreement in Attachment D to the 2015 Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for any archeological resources recovered and accessioned into VA s collection from previous archeological investigations (e.g. development of a collections policy to guide examination, analysis, culling and accessioning, and preparation for curation) and for any archeological resources recovered as the result of future monitoring. The Contractor shall submit compact disks with any reports conducted and will assist in the preparation all reports, field paperwork, photos, and shapefiles to delivery to the South-Central Coastal Information Center. If discovery of artifacts occurs during any calendar year, the Contractor shall assist VALBHS in the development of any required yearly reports required to the SHPO, affected tribes, and other consulting parties. The Contractor is responsible for ensuring all paperwork, including monitoring reports are available and ready to submit along with the yearly report. Contractor shall ensure no conflicts of interest exist with the local tribes affected by the Memorandum of Agreement signed in 2015, ensuring advice given is at the best interest of VA Long Beach. Contractor shall have an understanding of the Memorandum of Agreement between the Facility, State and Local Tribes pertaining to CA-LAN-234. Consultant Qualifications: Contractor shall: Provide proof of work experience demonstrating a thorough understanding of the regulations and procedures for compliance with NHPA, Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), and related laws, executive orders, regulations, and guidelines. Furthermore, document significant practical experience in consultation with the California SHPO, Indian Tribes, and other parties interested in historic preservation matters. Be qualified in at least one of the historic preservation disciplines described in the Secretary of the Interior s Professional Qualification Standards (http://www.cr.nps.gov/local-law/Prof_Qual_83.htm). 6. The intended contract period will be for a base year and up to two (2) one-year option periods with the base period of performance anticipated to be from January 25, 2022 January 24, 2023. 7. Please note that if VA s pending market research establishes that two or more VOSB or SDVOSB, who are certified in VA s Vendor Information Pages (VIP) can perform the required services, the VA will set aside the underlying solicitation per 38 U.S.C. §8127. --End of Sources Sought Announcement--