STATEMENT OF INTEREST PACIFIC NORTHWEST OR COLORADO PLATEAU CESU NUMBER W912HZ-18-SOI-0013 PROJECT TO BE INITIATED IN FY 2018
Project Title: Archaeological Research and Field Investigations Portland District, Willamette Valley Project, Oregon
Responses to this Request for Statements of Interest (SOI) will be used to identify potential researchers to oversee an archaeological applied research and field investigations project to be funded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Portland District, Willamette Valley Project (WVP) covering 13 Operating Project locations in Northwest Oregon. Approximately $270,000 is expected to be available to support this project for one (1) year. Additional funding may be available for follow on work for up to four (4) years at $370,000 per year for a total of $1,750,000 over five (5) years.
Background:
Congress authorized Portland District Corps, to acquire lands within the Willamette River Basin and construct 13 dams and their associated lakes or reservoirs, which include Detroit, Green Peter, Blue River, Cougar, Fall Creek, Lookout Point, Hills Creek, Dorena, Fern Ridge, and Cottage Grove dams and the Big Cliff, Dexter and Foster reregulating dams, creating the Willamette Valley Project. The defined purposes for these various dams include flood risk management, hydropower generation, water quality improvement, irrigation water supply, recreation, navigation, and fish and wildlife habitat. In addition to the management of these facilities for these authorized purposes, management of project lands that are not routinely inundated includes activities such as land-based support facilities for water control, facilities and measures for recreation, general public use, access, and the enhancement of the environment, fish and wildlife. Combined, both the direct operations of these projects as well as supporting activities result in adverse effects to evaluated and unevaluated properties potentially eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.
Brief Description of Anticipated Work:
A research protocol will be developed in collaboration with USACE. The preliminary research component will provide a structure for future cultural resources investigations in the middle and upper Willamette Valley River floodplain and Oregon Cascade foothills study area. The research protocol and method guidelines, as designed, will reflect a broad current understanding of the regional valley and foothills historic context and may provide new data analysis approaches that will refine this existing context. The protocol guidelines will suggest considered field methods that are designed to effectively gather useful information that relates directly to the research design. The protocol guidelines will be designed to be effective from fall through spring and suitable for both the upland and seasonally inundated environments west of the Oregon Cascade Mountains.
An initial 3,250 acres of survey area for this applied research approach is estimated, with some subsurface inventory necessary (estimated 1,250 ̶ 1,950 shovel probes) during the proposed first field season. Research areas will be prioritized in collaboration with USACE Project and District staff. Because of the seasonal reservoir draw down the field work will be performed from August through February to maximize the amount of visibility on the landscape. This protocol will be tested in the field using traditional field methods (pedestrian survey, shovel tests, test units) and new technologies, as appropriate. The protocol, as designed, is expected to gather useful data efficiently.
Objectives:
The objectives of the proposed effort include:
Objective 1: Conduct extensive surface and subsurface archaeological inventories for targeted project areas annually to inform comprehensive cultural resource management of resources.
Objective 2: Provide data through reports and Oregon SHPO forms to inform regional research on topics that may include, but not be limited to: pre-contact and historic lifeways, settlement patterns, travel and trade, and resource procurement.
Objective 3: Summarize cultural resource data to evaluate risks from changing reservoir elevations and from recreational access points that led to lake bed looting.
Materials Requested for Statement of Interest/Qualifications:
Please provide the following via e-mail attachment to:Deberay.R.Carmichael@usace.army.mil
Maximum length: 2 pages, single-spaced 12 pt. font.
1. Name, Organization and Contact Information
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: A proposed budget is NOT requested at this time.
Review of Statements Received: Based on a review of the Statements of Interest received, an investigator or investigators will be invited to prepare a full study proposal. Statements will be evaluated based on the investigator’s specific experience and capabilities in areas related to the study requirements. Additionally, the evaluation method and selection criteria for research and development awards must be: (1) The Technical merits of the proposed research and development; and (2) Potential relationship of the proposed research and development to the Department of Defense missions.
Please send responses or direct questions to:
Deberay R. Carmichael U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) ERDC Contracting Office (ECO) 3909 Halls Ferry Road Vicksburg, MS 39180 Deberay.R.Carmichael@usace.army.mil
Timeline for Review of Statements of Interest: Review of Statements of Interest will begin after the SOI has been posted on the CESU website for 10 working days. (Posted 6-17-18)
W912HZ-18-SOI-0013_Archaeological_Research_Willamette_Valley_