DOI - BOR - NGWSP Shiprock, Reaches 2-3 Monitoring and Disc. - MRAS

The Department of the Interior (DOI), in collaboration with the General Services Administration (GSA), is conducting market research for the Navajo Gallup Water Supply Project (NGWSP). This initiative is part of a broader effort to ensure sustainable water resources for communities in New Mexico and Arizona. The NGWSP, authorized by Public Law 111-11 under the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, aims to provide reliable water supply infrastructure. As part of this project, cultural resource management must be considered in compliance with federal historic preservation laws, specifically the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966.

The current solicitation seeks professional archaeological services to conduct a Class I file search and Class III cultural resource inventory for the Shiprock Connection segment of the NGWSP. This work will take place on Navajo Nation lands, focusing on identifying and documenting any cultural resources that may be impacted by construction activities. The scope includes not only inventorying existing sites but also monitoring ongoing construction activities to ensure that any inadvertent discoveries are properly managed and mitigated.

Additionally, the contract requires archaeological monitoring during construction along Reaches 2-3 Right of Way (ROW) and near the Sanostee turnout. The goal is to protect sensitive cultural sites identified through previous surveys conducted by PaleoWest in 2015 and 2017, Alpine Archaeological Consultants in 2021 and 2022, and Cornerstone Environmental in 2025. Two eligible sites within these areas have been earmarked for continuous monitoring to prevent potential damage during project execution.