BLM CO LEE FIRE FENCING CRI

Statement of Work CULTURAL RESOURCE INVENTORY Lee Fire Fencing Rehabilitation 2026 White River Field Office Rio Blanco County 1.0 General: Furnish labor and equipment to complete Class III archaeological inventories. 1.1 Introduction The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) White River Field Office (WRFO) proposes to reconstruct 167 miles of fences damaged by the 2025 Lee Fire southwest of the City of Meeker in Rio Blanco County, Colorado. On August 2, 2025, three wildfires (Lee, Grease, and Elk RBX) were ignited by lightning strikes. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) White River Field Office (WRFO) and Northwest District Fire and Aviation Unit (NWDFA) responded to the incidents which would later be categorized as a Complex Incident. The Grease and Lee fires merged on the 4th of August, and the name “Lee” was retained. The Lee Fire became the 5th largest fire in Colorado state history at 137,758 acres. The fire encompassed 103,127 acres of public lands managed by the BLM-WRFO and through Burned Area Rehabilitation (BAR), the field office secured funding to reconstruct rangeland fencing on BLM administered lands. The Lee Fire occurred less than 2 miles southwest of Meeker, CO and spans between State Highway 13 and Rio Blanco County Road 5 (CR-5) with one slop over CR-5 to the south across Piceance Creek. This area is characterized by seasonal drainages, many deeply incised, as well as steeply sloped, rocky outcroppings and sandstone cliff faces. Vegetation interface is predominately pinyon-juniper woodland with sparse shrub understory, as well as mixed grass and shrubland, predominately oakbrush and serviceberry. Ground visibility typically exceeded 80% due to fire consumption, however, ash and soot obscured soils. Elevations range between 6,400 – 8,000 ft. Oil and gas industry, livestock grazing activities, and recreation (seasonal hunting) are the main historic and modern uses of the general area. 1.2 Project Description The BLM WRFO plans to reconstruct 167 miles of fences damaged by the 2025 Lee Fire and requires Class III cultural resource inventory of BLM-administered land. A 50 ft buffer will be surveyed on either side of each fence alignment for a total of 1,319 acres. Portions of fenceline on slopes greater than 30 degrees have already been removed from the survey area. BLM requests that the entirety of the APE is analyzed and that appropriate mitigation recommendations are discussed in the report by the contractor. Survey shall include a 100% pedestrian inventory at transect intervals spaced between 15 - 20 meters, to identify, record, and evaluate all cultural resources greater than 50 years old. All previously recorded Eligible, Needs Data, and Unevaluated sites in the inventory area shall be re-visited. New OAHP (Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation) management data and component forms shall be completed for newly recorded sites as well as sites previously recorded on old versions of site forms; BLM Linear Management Data and/or BLM Linear Segment Forms shall be used for documenting all linear resources. The definition of a site and isolated find shall follow the field office standards and procedures. The contractor shall confirm the definitions with the Project Inspector. Prior to fieldwork the contractor will be responsible for contacting the WRFO archaeologist to discuss procedures for completing the pre-fieldwork records search, survey requirements, and report requirements, including the pre-field files search with the WRFO and the OAHP Compass database. Inventory will involve linear surveys in the Piceance Basin (See Attached maps). No contract modifications shall be provided for unanticipated site density or logistic complexity not -- 1 of 5 -- considered by the contractor in their bid. Known sites in the vicinity of the survey area include a moderate density of historic roads, range features, and homesteads, as well as prehistoric open lithic scatters, open camps, and open architectural. In total, 16 cultural resources are within the APEs, two of which are eligible or potentially eligible: 5RB.3403, and 5RB.9632. Both sites have been recently re-visited in 2018 and 2023. Therefore, unless substantial changes to site condition caused by the effects of the wildfire, re- visitation forms are not required. Note that the contractor should not assume that this overview is anything more than an informed projection of the project area. 1.3 Project Location The Lee Fire occurred less than 2 miles southwest of Meeker, CO and spans between State Highway 13 and Rio Blanco County Road 5 (CR-5) with one slop over CR-5 to the south across Piceance Creek. 1.4 Access to Work Access to the location will be provided by the contractor at their expense. Terrain throughout the project area is fairly flat with slopes of 15% or less interspersed with steep finger ridges, and most areas are accessible by 4WD vehicle and/or ATV/UTV. County roads run near the project areas but can become impassable when wet. 1.5 Work Limits Bidders must have a valid Colorado Permit for Archaeological Investigation (PAI; formerly CRUP) or be able to obtain a permit (see attached BLM Handbook for more information). Bidders must also have, or be able to obtain, a Colorado Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation consulting permit prior to conducting work in the field office. In addition, the contractor must also carry a Fieldwork Authorization (FWA) at all times when conducting fieldwork. Please contact the BLM NWDFA archaeologist for the FWA after the contract is awarded. 1.6 Selection Criteria Selection will be based on a lowest price technically acceptable basis. Successful bidders will be selected based on technical details in addressing how standards and procedures for WRFO and Colorado are achieved to ensure a high quality product that requires minimal review and correction by the reviewing official, completed within the timeline of the contract. Selection will also be based on the quality of…