4 mounds Archeological InvestigationTHE CITY OF
DuB E MEMORANDUM
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January 9, 2007 ~ '
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TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Request for Proposals for the Four Mounds Archeological Investigation
The State Historical Society of Iowa has awarded the City of Dubuque a Certified Local
Government (CLG) grant on behalf of the Four Mounds Foundation, to conduct a
Phase I Four Mounds Archeological Investigation at the Four Mounds Estate, 4900 Peru
Road.
Planning Services Manager Laura Carstens recommends City Council approval of a
Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Four Mounds Archeological Investigation.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
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Michael C. Van Milligen
MCVM/jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Laura Carstens, Planning Services Manager
T.HE C1TY OF
DuB E
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MEMORANDUM
January 9, 2007
TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Laura Carstens, Planning Services Manager
SUBJECT: Request for Proposals for the Four Mounds Archeological Investigation
Introduction
This memorandum transmits a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Four Mounds Archeological
Investigation for City Council review and approval.
Discussion
The State Historical Society of Iowa (SHSI) has awarded the City of Dubuque a Certified Local
Government (CLG) grant on behalf of the Four Mounds Foundation, to conduct a Phase I Four
Mounds Archeological Investigation at the Four Mounds Estate, 4900 Peru Road. The Four Mounds
Estate is owned by the City of Dubuque and managed by the Four Mounds Foundation as part of the
City's park and recreation system. The archeological investigation will occur on approximately 16
acres within the Four Mounds Estate. The results of the field investigation will be summarized in draft
and final reports.
The Consultant Selection Committee for this project includes:
Christine Olson, Executive Director, Four Mounds Foundation
Kristin Anderson-Bricker, Associate Professor, History Program, Loras College
Cynthia L. Smith, Associate Professor of Classical Studies, Loras College
Gil Spence, Leisure Services Manager
David Johnson, Assistant Planner
Laura Carstens, Planning Services Manager
Ken TeKippe, Finance Director
Students in the Archeology and Cultural Heritage Program at Loras College will be assisting the
selected consultant with the archeological investigation. City Legal staff, SHSI staff, and the
Consultant Selection Committee were asked to review the RFP.
Recommendation
I recommend that the City Council review and approve the enclosed RFP for the Four Mounds
Archeological Investigation.
Enclosure
THE CIlY Pf C;. "
CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
Four Mounds Archeological Investigation
December 20, 2006
INTRODUCTION
The City of Dubuque, Iowa is soliciting proposals from qualified consulting firms to provide
professional services for the Four Mounds Archeological Investigation, in accordance with the
Secretary of the Interior's Standards forArcheologicai Documentation .
COMMUNITY BACKGROUND
The City of Dubuque is located on th a Mississippi River in northeastern Iowa, adjacent to Illinois and
Wisconsin. The City is approximately 30 square miles in area, with a population of approximately
60,000 persons. The City's annual operating and capital budget is over $100 million and funds a full
range of services. The City's web site is www.citvofdubuaue.oro.
The Four Mounds Foundation mission is to demonstrate and teach the stewardship of natural,
architectural, historical, and agricultural resources in a way that is environmentally, economically, and
culturally sustainable and to have these resources utilized for hands-on experiential education.
The Four Mounds Archeological Investigation is to allow Four Mounds to plan for multiple projects
over the next five to ten years. By identifying significant resources throughout the project area, Four
Mounds can properly avoid archeologically significant areas and complete project planning and
execution.
PROJECT SUMMARY
The project goal is to complete an intensive survey and evaluation of the cultured and immediate
surrounding grounds of the Four Mounds Estate which consists of approximately 59.76 acres. The
archeological investigation is to occur on approximately 16.15 acres contained within the Four
Mounds Estate. This project includes the grounds around all the buildings and other structures (root
cellar, rock garden, rock walls) at Four Mounds.
Figure I: Project Area
The project area is covered with grass, prairie, buildings, roads, formal landscaping and trees.
Figure 2: Hog Shed Figure 3: Grey House
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Figure 5: Root Cellar
Figure 7: Lane and Farm Campus
PROJECT SITE
Four Mounds is located on the north side of Dubuque along the banks of the Mississippi. A location
map is enclosed. The Four Mounds Estate is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as
locally significant. Four woodland Indian burial mounds are located on the site and are listed on the
National Register of Historic Places as locally significant. These mounds are not included in the
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Figure 4: Lane to Four Mounds Estate
Figure 6: White House
project area because of previous knowledge of their archeological significance; however the project
area meets the mounds along their southwest side.
The archeological survey will need to be coordinated with the activities of the Four
Mounds Foundation. Within the project area, the Four Mounds Foundation operates an Inn,
conference center, ropes course, hiking trails and numerous onsite educational programs.
SCOPE OF WORK
The City has been awarded a FY2007 State of Iowa Certified Local Government grant by the State Historical
Society of Iowa (SHSI) for the Four Mounds Archeological Investigation. The approved scope of professional
archeological services for the Four Mounds P roject, in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards
forArcheologica! Documentation, includes:
1. Prepare methodology or research plan to be used for implementing any archeological
investigations orground-breaking activities;
2. Conduct an archeological investigation within the project area;
3. Prepare an Archeological Documentation Report that:
A. Incorporates and discusses the background research about the Four Mounds E state and
any other identified archaeological information from the area.
B. Presents the methodology and process of investigation
C. Presents the findings of the archeological investigations. Archaeological Site Forms will be
completed for any identified sites.
D. Describes the potential impacts to the historic property and any identified significant
archeological sites.
E. Provides management recommendations for the historic property and any identified
significant archeological components.
4. Coordinate with Loras College of Dubuque for students in the college's Archeology and
Cultural Heritage Interpretation Program to participate in the archeological investigation. As
part of student participation, some field work will be expected.
QUALIFICATIONS OF CONSULTANTS
An archeologist meeting the Secretary of the Interior's professional standards as a historic
archaeologist will be retained by the City to conduct the Phase I Four Mounds Archeological
Investigation, in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards forArcheologica!
Documentation and the Guidelines for Archaeological Investigations in Iowa (9999).
The selected archeologist will be expected to consult with the City, and SHSI so that the professional
standards and best practices for the archeological investigation will be followed. The selected project
archeologist will also be expected to work with Four Mounds staff, who will be serving as on-site
project managers.
The selected archeologist will submit a methodology or research plan to be used for implementing any
archeological investigations or gro und-breaking activities to the City and SHPO for review and
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approval for compliance with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Archeological
Documentation and the Guidelines for Archaeological Investigations in Iowa (1999) prior to beginning
such work on the property.
The selected archeologist will submit an Archeological Documentation Report that addresses the
items discussed above in the Scope of Work to the City and SHSI for review and approval.
All consultants, contractors, and subcontractors will be selected competitively in accordance with
Federal, State and City requirements.
The City of Dubuque, and all consultants and co ntractors retained by the City, will comply with Section
106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and its im plementing regulations under 36 CFR Part 800
prior to the commencement of the archeological work.
INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN PROPOSAL
To simplify the review process and to obtain the maximum degree of comparability, the proposal shall
include the following information and shall be organized in the manner specified below.
Letter of Transmittal
Provide a letter of transmittal briefly outlining the consultant's understanding of the work and the
name, address, telephone number and fax number of the consultant's primary contact person. Email
is the preferred form of communication.
Profile of Firm
Provide general information about the consultant firm and firm's area of expertise as regards to this
RFP, including the qualifications of the project manager and other key personnel who would be
assigned to this project.
(a) The proposal shall include the name of the anticipated project manager, his or her qualifications
and experience and the names, qualifications and experience of other key personnel who would
be associated with the project.
(b) Name and location of other consulting firms that would be used by your firm in the project; the type
and approximate percentage of the work that would be performed by each of these firms; and the
names, qualifications and experience of their personnel who would be associated with this project.
(c) Experience of the anticipated project manager and other key personnel in performing similar
archeological services for historically significant properties in accordance with the Secretary of the
Interior's Standards for Archeological Documentation and the Guidelines for Archaeological
Investigations in Iowa (1999).
(d) The proposal shall include at least three r eferences of past clients for archeological services on
historically significant properties done in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards
for Archeological Documentation and the Guidelines for Archaeological Investigations in Iowa
(1999). These projects must have been completed within the past five years with the same project
manager, sub-consultants and other key personnel proposed for this project.
(e) The proposal shall discuss the firm's ability to integrate this contract into the present workload.
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Scope of Services
Describe the firm's approach to accomplishing the scope of services described above.
Proposed Project Schedule
Provide a project schedule outlining the time period and estimated completion date of the proposed
scope of services.
Fees and Compensation
Provide a proposed cost plus expenses budget for completion of the scope of services with cost
breakdowns. Quotation of fees and compensation shall remain firm for a period of at least 90 days
from the proposed submission deadline. Please separate the proposed budget from the other portion
of the RFP submittal. Initial screening will be done by the selection committee without benefit of
knowing the consultant's proposed fee for services.
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
An original plus four (5) copies of the proposal must be received in the Planning Services Department,
50 W. 13"' Street, Dubuque, Iowa 52001 by 12:00 p.m. CST on Friday, March 2, 2007.
Each consultant assumes full responsibility for delivery and deposit of the completed proposal
package on or before the deadline. The City of Dubuque is not responsible for any loss or delay with
respect to deliver of the proposals. The City of Dubuque reserves the right to reject any and all
proposals and negotiate changes with any consultant. The City of Dubuque is not liable for the cost
incurred by any consultant prior to the execution of an agreement or contract. Nor shall the City of
Dubuque be liable for any costs incurred by the consultant that are not specified in any contract. The
City of Dubuque is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
All questions and correspondence regarding this RFP should be directed to David Johnson, Assistant
Planner, Planning Services Department, Dubuque, Iowa, 52001, by telephone at 563-589-4210, by
fax at 563-589-4221, or by email at djohnson@cityofdubuque.org.
EVALUATION CRITERIA
Proposals will be screened to ensure that they meet the minimum requirements of the proposal
format. A review of qualifying proposals will be evaluated by a selection committee. Consultants may
be invited to an interview with the selection committee. Evaluation criteria will include the following:
• Experience and achievements of the firm.
• Qualifications and experience of principal consulting staff or project team on similar projects
involving historically significant structures with work done in accordance with the Secretary of
the Interior's Standards forArcheological Documentation.
• Qualifications and experience of any sub-consultants on similar projects.
• Grasp of project requirements, understanding of project scope and level of interest by
firm/consultant.
• Design approach/methodology in completing the scope of services.
• Approach to communication throughout the project.
• Ability to deliver the products in a timely manner and within budget.
• Proposed schedule to complete the project.
• Proposed cost to complete the project.
• Willingness to incorporate Loras students into the project by helping them gain knowledge
through their work and interaction with the consultant and allowing them to providing them field
work experience with the project.
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