NHPA Specialist- Section 106

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The Maritime Administration (MARAD) is an agency of the U.S. Department of Transportation, which is responsible for strengthening the U.S. maritime transportation system - including infrastructure, industry, and labor - to meet the nation's economic and security needs. MARAD support the technical aspects of America's maritime transportation infrastructure and ensure its infrastructure integrates seamlessly with other methods of transportation. The agency supports the development and maintenance of a sufficient, well-balanced U.S. merchant marine to transport the nation's domestic waterborne commerce and a portion of its waterborne foreign commerce. Acting under the direction of MARAD and the U.S. Navy, the merchant marine serves as a naval and military auxiliary in time of war or national emergency. The agency also ensures that the U.S. maintains adequate shipbuilding and repair services, efficient ports, effective intermodal water and land connections, and reserve shipping capacity for use during national emergencies. MARAD maintains a government-owned fleet of vessels that support several different mission objectives including, but not limited to: national security surge sealift requirements; maritime education and training; natural disaster and emergency relief; and other specialized services. MARAD maintains and operates the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) in Kings Point, N.Y. Established in 1943, the academy is located on 82-waterfront acres, 20 miles from New York City. Its mission is to educate and graduate officers to serve in the nation's merchant marine, maritime and intermodal transportation industries, and in the Armed Forces.

To meet its missions and perform its activities, MARAD provides grants and other forms of financial assistance for projects that support, improve, and develop the nation's marine infrastructure (including vessels) and facilities within, connecting to, out of, or around coastal seaports, inland river ports, and Great Lakes ports. Among other laws and regulations, MARAD is responsible for compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (54

U.S.C. § 300101 et seq.) (NHPA), prior to funding, assisting, or approving projects or actions that the agency undertakes. Specifically, Section 106 requires federal agencies to consider the impact of their actions on historic properties.

MARAD is seeking the services of a cultural resources professional to provide technical expertise and support for project undertakings subject to review under Section 106 of the NHPA and its implementing regulations, 36 C.F.R. § 800. MARAD's Federal Preservation Officer (FPO) / Historian is responsible for overseeing the agency's Section 106 activities.

The contractor will work under the management and supervision of MARAD's Supervisory Grants Management Specialist, in the Office of Port Infrastructure Development, who will serve as the Contracting Officer's Representative. Providing support to the FPO, the contractor will serve as a point of contact with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP), State and Tribal Historic Preservation Offices (SHPO / THPO), other involved federal, state or local agencies, private entities, consulting parties, and the public as appropriate for projects and undertakings within the scope of this contract.

• Review documentation (e.g., project descriptions, grant or financial assistance applications, cultural resources surveys, reports, etc.) that supports potential undertakings to identify actions that require review under 36 C.F.R. § 800;
• Perform research and prepare supporting documentation for each project;
• Prepare draft Section 106 correspondence and documentation for FPO review, including evaluation of project / proposal effect;
• Resolve any comments on draft correspondence or documentation and prepare final versions for FPO approval and or signature;
• Complete the Section 106 review to ensure that historic properties are identified for each proposed undertaking and make determinations of effect as identified in 36 C.F.R. § 800;Prepare notification packages for the relevant SHPOs and THPOs that include a description of the undertaking, an illustration of the Area of Potential Effects (APE), a list of identified historic properties within the APE, and the justification for the finding of adverse or no adverse effect as identified in 36 F.R. § 800;
• When necessary, communicate and coordinate with grant applicants, consultants, and both internal and external entities to complete the Section 106 review process;
• If after consultation with the SHPO and/or THPO, it is determined that historic properties present in the APE will not be adversely affected, the contractor will document this determination. If it is determined that historic properties present in the APE will be adversely affected, the contractor will continue the review process and if required, draft Memoranda of Agreements (MOA) or other agreement documents;
• Submit all Adverse Effect findings and draft MOAs to the FPO for internal review prior to external distribution (such as with SHPO, THPO, or stakeholders);
• Establish schedules and priorities within project review cycles in coordination with MARAD staff;
• Draft and update MARAD Section 106 guidance, procedures, and policy documents as needed for both internal and external audiences;
• Serve as a point of contact with SHPOs, THPO's, the ACHP, project proponents, and other consulting parties as appropriate.

• A degree in historic preservation, history, architectural history, archaeology, anthropology, art history, or a closely related field;
• At least three years of full-time experience in cultural resource management with an emphasis on Section 106 review and compliance;
• Demonstrated knowledge of and experience working with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) ;
• Demonstrated knowledge of and experience working with Section 4f compliance;
• Experience working with state historic preservation officers and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation in developing agreements to resolve cultural resource