.NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD SOLE SOURCE PROCUREMENT: Under the authority of FAR 6.302-1, it is the Government's intent to award a sole source service contract to the Centennial Museum, University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) for the curation of existing archeological materials and associated archival records, photographs, slides, maps, etc., recovered as a result of past U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects, and other curation associated tasks.

THIS IS NOT A FORMAL SOLICITATION.

This synopsis is not considered a Request for Quotation or Proposal. No solicitation document is available, and telephone requests for a copy of the solicitation will not be honored. Any response to this notice must show clear and convincing evidence that competition would be advantageous to the Government. All responses received within 15 days will be considered. If no affirmative written response is received, the service contract will be awarded without further notice.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Albuquerque District (SPA) intends to award a contract to the University of El Paso, Texas (UTEP) to provide curatorial services to manage and curate approximately 254 cubic feet of existing Corps archaeological collection(s) that include archaeological materials and associated archival records, photographs, slides, maps, etc., recovered as a result of past Corps projects, in their existing condition.

As required by 36 CFR 79.1, Federal agencies must preserve collections and associated records of prehistoric and historic material remains recovered during archaeological investigations. As noted in 36 CFR 79.2, the collections must be deposited in an institution with adequate long-term curatorial capabilities. When possible, the collection should be deposited in a repository that: Is in a within the State of origin; Stores and maintains other collections from the same site or project area; Houses collections from a similar geographic region or cultural area; e.g., Location relative to original source; Accessibility relative to major transportation; and Accessibility for research. The collection should not be subdivided and stored at more than a single repository unless such subdivision is necessary to meet special storage, conservation or research needs. The repository selected should maintain the integrity and research value of the collection.

A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed requirement is based upon the fact that University of El Paso, Texas (UTEP) meets the requirement as dictated by 36 CFR 79.2, in that this location is relative to the original source and in the state of origin, regarding the archaeological collections.

Detailed capabilities of interested vendors must be submitted to the following email addresses no later than 2:00 PM (Mountain Time) 28 March 2024: Loretta.D.Sanchez@usace.army.mil.