CTUIR Monitoring

THIS IS A SPECIAL NOTICE PREPARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION (FAR) SUBPART 5.2 “SYNOPSES OF PROPOSED CONTRACT ACTIONS” The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Portland District (NWP) intends to negotiate/award a firm-fixed price (FFP) service, single source procurement to the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) to monitor properties, including historic properties of religious and cultural significance to Indian tribes, that can assist in the development of long-term cultural resource management decisions.

The following actions provide background and context in which the Corps makes decisions: Observation, documentation, and reporting on the physical dynamics involved in the erosional or depositional processes occurring at monitored sites. Recording site conditions in an effort to provide information from which future changes such as sediment loss, topographic change, vegetation change, human and animal use impacts, soil disturbance, and vandalism can be quantitatively determined.

Monitoring for looting, vandalism, and burial desecration at designated sites and ensuring the notification of proper authorities. Accurate documentation of the variation and diversity of potential impacts and causal factors at the site. Providing recommendations for treatment of monitored sites including recommendations regarding future monitoring frequency.

Background: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District (Corps) and Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), referred to as “the Agencies” hereinafter, are jointly responsible for compliance with Sections 106 and 110 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) under the terms of the 2009 System wide Programmatic Agreement (SWPA) for management of Historic Properties affected by operation and maintenance of the Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS).

The study area for this procurement includes federal land managed by the Corps located within the John Day Project on the Oregon and Washington side of the Columbia River. This area is within the ceded territory of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR).

Justification: The study area includes federal land managed by the Corps located within the John Day Project on the Oregon and Washington side of the Columbia River. This area is within the ceded territory of the CTUIR. The CTUIR possesses unique knowledge of Umatilla Indian ancestral village sites, prehistoric burial areas, and areas of traditional cultural properties and resources that exist within and overlap the known boundaries of the subject historic properties in the APE. Not all of this information is made public knowledge.

Impact: Failure to utilize the CTUIR’s knowledge of known archeological sites and resources within the APE would delay the Corps in being able to make required long term management strategies for the area and impact compliance with Sections and 110 of the National Historic Preservation Act under the terms of the 2009 Systemwide Programmatic Agreement for management of Historic Properties affected by operation and maintenance of the FCRPS. Furthermore, Government relations with the CTUIR would be negatively impacted.