CTUIR Determinations of Eligibility

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 service procurement to the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) for technical services to document and recommended National Register of Historic Places eligibility for three (3) CTUIR historic properties of religious and cultural significance to Indian tribes (HPRCSITs)/traditional cultural properties (TCPs) on National Park Service (NPS) 10-900 forms.

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 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 CTUIR.

Justification: The study area includes federal land managed by the Corps located within the Bonneville and John Day Projects 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 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 Section 106 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.

Alternatives: There are no known alternatives for these services that possess the knowledge of the CTUIR tribal history or could speak on the CTUIR’s behalf.