Intent to award sole source purchase order for mechanical excavation services related to NPS archeological testing, Fort Vancouver NHS, Vancouver WA.

This publication advertises our intent to procure mechanical excavation services described below in support of National Park Service archeological testing on a sole source basis from David Delyria (DBA Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap), a local small business, in accordance with FAR 5.203(a) and 6.302-1. The value of this procurement is estimated to be between $10,000 and $15,000 for services to be rendered through 10/31/12. A signed justification for other than full and open competition is on file. The NPS anticipates conducting archaeological testing for the East and South Vancouver Barracks Utility Project. Mechanical backhoe stripping of fill sediments that overlie archaeological deposits is necessary in some areas of the project area that are scheduled to be affected by the proposed utility work. Archaeological testing is scheduled to occur within areas that are currently paved. Hand-excavation of this pavement and the fill immediately below it would be time-consuming and costly, incurring a much greater expense in time and archaeologists' salaries than the cost of having the pavement and sedimentary fill mechanically stripped. Archaeological deposits are fragile and susceptible to damage from mechanical excavation equipment. To safeguard the underlying cultural materials, it is essential to have a mechanical excavator operator who is also trained as an archaeologist. Once the fill layers are removed, hand excavation of the cultural strata will be conducted by NPS archaeologists. Furthermore, the volume of excavated sediments created by both the mechanical excavator and the archaeological excavations will result in the creation of large piles of backdirt that will need to be replaced in excavation trenches and compacted. It is most efficient to have a mechanical excavator back-fill the trenches and compact the sediments using weighted tires. For the East and South Vancouver Barracks Archaeological Project, it is anticipated that the NPS will require mechanical excavation services for ten to twenty days. This Notice of Intent is not a request for Expressions of Interest (EOIs), proposals, or quotations. No solicitation document exists and no telephone inquiries will be accepted. No contract award will be made on the basis of EOIs, proposals, or quotations received in response to this notice, however, any firm that believes they have capabilities to provide this requirement may give written notification to the Contracting Officer at [email protected]. All comments received before 9:30 am on June 13, 2012, will be considered.