Clachtoll Broch Project - Archaeological and

Conservation Brief

1. Introduction

1.1 Project Aims

The Clachtoll Broch project forms part of the Coigach and Living Landscape partnership Scheme. The project involves Historic Assynt and the Scottish Wildlife Trust. The three year project has the following aims;

 To fully excavate and consolidate the broch and give visitors a unique insight into its original structure and use, as well as safeguarding it for future generations.  To conduct thorough post-excavation analysis of all finds and samples  To provide opportunities for the local community and the wider public to engage with the project through educational, training and archaeological experimentation programmes  To provide opportunities for local schools to be become involved through primary and secondary schools programmes  To restore visitor access through the original entrance, open up the interior of the building and improve understanding of how the possible settlement surrounding the broch was used.  To install an architect designed structure that gives access to the higher levels of the broch and views of the surrounding settlement without visually distracting from the original setting.  To provide state of the art interpretation of the site in relation to its local, regional and national context

1.2 Instructions for return of quotation

The intended timetable for the tender process is:

Activity Date Issue invitation to tender w/c 10 April 2017 Tender return date Friday 5 May 2017 Evaluation of proposals w/c 8 May 2017 Notification of award decision to all tender responses w/c 8 May 2017 Award contract w/c 8 May 2017 Contract Start-up Meeting date w/c 29 May 2017

Tenders should be submitted by post to Gordon Sleight, Historic Assynt, CALL Office, 1 Old Coach House, IV27 4LE to arrive no later than Friday 5 May 2017 and titled Coigach and Assynt Living Landscape: Clachtoll Broch.

1.3 How to structure response

Applicants shall provide the following:

1. Provide a method statement consistent with the importance of the site an d demonstrate how you will approach the project.

2. A supporting document that will: a) State your firm contract price for delivery of the full scope of the contract; b) Outline your full fee structure, including a breakdown of costs against each of the deliverables; c) Demonstrate how you will approach the project and meet the contract specification and overall aims of the project (outlined above); d) Provide a full programme for the works, broken down into key stages (including mobilisation) and deliverables (pdf of a Gantt chart generated in Microsoft Project or Excel or similar); e) Provide a detailed breakdown of your programme for year 1 to form the basis of the start up meeting; f) Demonstrate your capacity to undertake and deliver the full scope of the project in the required time frame; g) Outline your track record in delivering similar archaeological and conservation projects and community archaeology projects; h) Provide Curriculum Vitaes and details of the key personnel and specialist technical equipment and facilities you will use during different stages of the project. It is expected that personnel proposed for this project shall see it through to completion. Should the key personnel concerned leave the contractor's employment or are otherwise incapacitated the contractor shall propose replacement(s) of equal or better qualifications and experience at no cost penalty to the project; i) Explain your Quality System, Diversity Policy and Volunteer’s Policy; j) Confirm that your organisation is a Registered Archaeological Organisation; k) Explain your policy governing any activities involving young people including disclosure statements for associated staff; l) Advise proposed arrangements for management of waste materials; m) Outline the proposed arrangements for the management of Health, Safety and the Environment during all activities, the provision of adequate insurance, Health and safety Policy, risk assessment for the works; o) Detail proposed local infrastructure requirements.

1.4 Supplier selection criteria  Relevant experience  Track record  Technical skills  Management

1.5 Award criteria  Understanding the brief and its requirements  Methodology  Delivery programme, deliverables and key milestones  Track record of delivering similar projects  Relevant skills and experience of team and assigned staff  Cost and financial proposal

2. Background Information

2.1 key abbreviations

CALLP - Coigach and Assynt Living Landscape Partnership HA - Historic Assynt SCIOSWT - Scottish Wildlife Trust HS/HES - Historic now renamed Historic Environment Scotland SMC - Scheduled Monument Consent CMP - Conservation Management Plan PDG - Project Delivery Group BLO - Broch Liaison Officer

2.2 Historic Assynt SCIO was originally formed as a Charitable Company ( SC181459) in 1997 but on 16 June 2016 became a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation. It's overall aims are to 'investigate, conserve and interpret, for the advancement of education and the general benefit of the people of Assynt in and of the nation at large, the archaeological and built heritage of Assynt in the form of sites, buildings and structures of particular archaeological, historical, architectural, constructional or aesthetic interest.' It's members and officials are all unpaid volunteers.

The initial focus of its work was the Inchnadamph Project to conserve and restoreArdvreck Castle, Calda House, Assynt Old Parish Kirk and the Mausoleum of the MacLeods of Assynt (1997 - 2008) Since then the society's main projects have been - Clachtoll Broch Feasibility Study (2007 - 2009) Hidden Lives (2009 - 2010) a professionally led community survey to record archaeological features found within 300m of the main road networks in Assynt. Life and Death in Assynt's Past (2011 - 2012) another professionally led community project, it conducted excavation and consolidation work at Loch Borralan East neolithic chambered cairn, at Clachtoll broch's dangerously unstable entrance area and at an 18th century longhouse at Glenleraig. Fire and Water (2012 - 2013) a further community excavation with professional leadership to investigated a burnt mound and a moated enclosure close to Inchnadamph.

Historic Assynt has always sought to work with other community groups where there were areas of common interest. When Coigach and Assynt Living Landscape began to explore the possibility of forming a Landscape Partnership to provide an integrated approach to the future development of the area, Historic Assynt joined them to become a founder member of CALLP which now has Landscape Partnership funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund to deliver twenty eight projects which have been put forward by the 14 partners. The Clachtoll Broch Project is promoted by Historic Assynt within that scheme .

2.3 The Scottish Wildlife Trust The Scottish Wildlife Trust is the largest charity in Scotland working on all aspects of wildlife conservation incorporated on the 14th April, 1964 (charitable registration SC 005792, company registration 40247). The Trust’s vision is for a “connected network of healthy, resilient ecosystems supporting Scotland’s people and wildlife”. The Trust has 90 staff, is supported by over 750 volunteers and has 120 wildlife reserves across Scotland. The largest if these at approximately 6,000 ha is located in the south-west of the CALL area. The Trust is the lead partner for the CALL project and supports the various project delivery partners through the Scheme Delivery Committee, employment of the CALLP project team, advisory support on project development; especially with respect to finance, procurement, fundraising, information management and reporting, and communications.

2.4 The context for the project Clachtoll broch is one of the most iconic monuments in northern mainland Britain and a Scheduled Ancient Monument. It stands on a rocky outcrop at the northern end of the Clachtoll coastline overlooking Stoer Bay (NC 0366 2784). It is currently in a dilapidated state and choked with rubble debris. As a result, visitors can only access the broch by climbing over rubble to walk around the site on the wall head. This is both damaging to the broch and hazardous for visitors. Following concern expressed at Assynt Community Council about the state of the broch, a public meeting, sponsored by Assynt Community Council, Historic Assynt, Comunn Eachdraidh Asainte (Assynt Historical Society) and the local Ranger, was called in October 2006 to air concerns and decide on options. It was agreed that HA should seek funds for a feasibility study. Following that study and in consultation with Historic Scotland and others, AOC Archaeology was invited to survey the structure and produce a Conservation Management Plan (CMP) in 2008/9 (attached). Their CMP has provided the basis for all work at the broch since then. Every stage of planning and conducting work at the site since 2009 has also involved regular public consultation in the locality and liaison with Historic Scotland (HS) - since 2016 Historic Environment Scotland (HEs).

The 'Life and Death in Assynt's Past' project in 2011/12 included Scheduled Monument Consent (SMC) and funding from HS to stabilise the entrance and the walling immediately to the east of it as well as conducting some limited excavation alongside the conservation work. This fieldwork indicated that in all probability the Broch fell down suddenly and dramatically in the last few decades BCE (based on charcoal preserved along the scarcement ledge) and that it has not been re- occupied since then. This opened up the tantalising possibility that undisturbed occupation layers await discovery underneath the rubble that currently fills the interior.

Emergency work to provide temporary props to the unstable south wall of the broch received SMC and funding from HS in 2014 and, as with the LDAP Project, the contract was again awarded to AOC Archaeology. The propping was a temporary measure to secure the south wall until such time as the necessary permissions and funding had been secured for the current, final programme of excavation and stabilisation.

The current Clachtoll Broch Project is envisaged as the final stage in the implementation of the CMP and has been devised as a community archaeology project which engages the local community and visitors in the excavation, stabilisation and post excavation analysis. The Project will provide open and free access to the excavations, opportunities for site visits, training in archaeological and conservation techniques, a schools programme and experimental archaeological workshops.

The project findings will inform the development of future interpretation and be made widely available through reports, publications, the internet and other media, to ensure that the information reaches as wide an audience as possible.

3. Scope of the Project

3.1 Overall aims of the project

To transform Clachtoll Broch into  a structurally stable, fully excavated, consolidated and interpreted monument, fully recorded and accessible both through the original entrance and at a higher level via an architect designed structure in line with the CMP and SMC.  an innovative visitor attraction which boosts the local economy.

To provide opportunities for  school pupils, volunteers and visitors to participate in education, training and experimental programmes

To create  archaeological reports which are widely disseminated and archived at national, regional and local levels enhancing understanding of the Scottish Iron Age generally and of the architecture, structure and use of brochs in particular  multi-subject interpretation which incorporates geology, natural history, archaeology, history and present land use,  more awareness of, pride in and engagement with the richness of Assynt's built heritage by local people and visitors, many of whom have benefited from the education and training offered

3.2 Key activities

2017 May - June Project initiation with the PMG Establishment of Project Website, advertising and promotion Appointment of Broch Liaison Officer Project Launch event July - September/ October site preparation Main programmes of excavation and conservation Workshops, Experimental Programme, Training Programme Schools Programme Development by Architects of plans for visitor installation structure

2018 Archaeological post-excavation programme Public participation and schools events and workshops Visitor installation structure construction and installation Development of interpretation materials

2019 Completion of archaeological post-ex programme Production and dissemination of archaeological reports Completion of interpretation and installation Project evaluation

3.3 Focus of activities  The fieldwork and some of the educational, training and experimental activities will be centre on Clachtoll Broch (NC0366 2784) and 0.2ha of land surrounding it which is leased by HA.  The Project Launch and other public meetings together with some aspects of the educational, training and experimental programmes and the post-excavation workshops will be set up in Stoer Hall and other community facilities in the Rhu Stoer and Lochinver areas of Assynt.

3.4 Division of Responsibilities and Co-ordination

Scottish Wildlife Trust (the 'Trust') The Archaeological and Architectural contracts for this project will be with the SWT as the lead partner in CALLP. The BLO will be appointed on a part time, self-employed basis.

Project Management Group Representing the Board of HA and other local stakeholders this group will have overall responsibility for the delivery of the project and will be involved, with the Trust, in the appointment of the Archaeological Contractor, the Architect and the BLO

Archaeological Contractor Will undertake the archaeological, conservation, education programmes of the project . They will be directly responsible to the PMG for their work and also to HES for the fulfilment of all SMC and other relevant conditions. They will also need to work closely with the Architect and HES over the design and installation of the access structure. The conservation work envisaged will require professional engineering and experienced conservation stonemason input and these should be sub-contracted by the Archaeological Contractor. For the educational programmes, publicity, website blogs and all other aspects of public engagement the contractor should work closely with the BLO

Architect Will be responsible for the design, planning permission, construction and installation of an access structure to facilitate high level access to the monument. They will also be directly responsible to the PMG and will need to work closely with the archaeological contractor, the planning authority and HES to ensure that the structure complements the monument and fulfills all planning and SMC requirements.

Broch Liaison Officer Will liaise between project partners, the wider Assynt Community and visitors to facilitate all the various ways in which the project will engage the public. The work will be largely restricted to the summer months of 2017 and 2018 when fieldwork and post excavation programmes are operating in the locality

Project Team meetings and liaison with HES  The PMG and some or all of the other members of the project team (Archaeological Contractor, Architect, BLO and subcontractors) will meet at least monthly during the year one preparatory stages and the on-site fieldwork to oversee the progress of the project and plan the next stages in the light of that progress.  During the preparatory phase of the project the PMG and the Archaeological Contractor shall agree with HES an agreed liaison procedure, in order that the fieldwork fulfils all SMC and subsequent HES conditions.  At the end of the year one fieldwork mutually agreed patterns of meetings and liaison for years two and three will be put in place.

3.5 Specification - the programme of works

The suitably qualified Archaeological Contractor is to co-ordinate, lead and project manage a community archaeology programme to excavate, stabilise, interpret and improve access to Clachtoll broch under the guidance of the PMG and in close liaison with the Architect and HES. The Contractor shall be responsible for delivering the aims and key activities outlined in Section 3.2 above, and shall work with the Architect to develop and install a structure to provide access to the higher levels of the excavated and consolidated broch. The Broch Liaison Officer will work with the Contractors to facilitate the various outreach programmes in years 1 and 2 and to develop any other mutually agreed initiatives . The Contractor will be responsible for providing appropriate insurance for the period of the works and shall deliver as a minimum

In year one of the project Preliminaries  A project launch event, including an overview presentation of the project, plus advertising, publicity and promotion throughout the duration of the project.  Development of a project website holding a web diary that will record events and activities as the project progresses, and full access to all the outcome reports and project archives. This web based portal shall be maintained for a period of at least five years after project completion.  The provision of on-site facilities. NB Access to the site for the delivery and removal of facilities such as portaloos, storage cabins and lifting equipment is across 700metres of beach ,the state of which varies dramatically each summer according to the effects of the previous winter's gales, but includes a high shingle bank, some sand and an extensive area of large rocks and boulders.

The main excavation and consolidation programme Because of the exposed nature of the site and the prevalence of autumn gales, which can limit access, this fieldwork should ideally not extend beyond the end of September/early October  Removal of rubble from the interior, intra mural chambers and staircases of the broch, the excavation of the deposits found in those spaces and associated finds processing and sample taking  The consolidation of the surviving parts of the structure The removal of the rubble accumulation between the broch tower and the perimeter wall close to the entrance to the broch in order to survey and, if appropriate, to excavate possible structures in that area.  A rolling programme to provide full training in archaeological excavation, survey and recording skills for a minimum of 50 people with a further 50 people receiving casual or introductory training in archaeological techniques. The programme should be delivered at least 3 times during the fieldwork.  A schools programme for both primary and secondary schools to include visits, site tours and workshops. Budgets should allow costs for coach hire. The programme should be offered at least twice during the fieldwork season and also provide for the creation of schools packs and local archaeology CPD training for teachers.  A programme of three experimental workshops to be repeated at least twice during the fieldwork and focussing on different aspects of broch construction and use.  Regular consultation with the architect concerning the development of plans for the high level access structure.  An end of season project review event open to the public to explore progress so far, preliminary findings and plans for year two .  The preparation of end of year reports. In year two of the project  A year two launch event updating preliminary findings and plans for the year ahead, web site updating and publicity.  The delivery of locally based post-excavation analysis laboratories open to the public and covering artefact analysis, conservation treatment, illustration etc.  The delivery of a training programme in post-excavation analysis techniques targeting similar numbers of trainees to year one.  Opportunities for local schools to follow up their year one programmes through participation in the post-excavation analysis programme.  Liaison with the architect to facilitate the installation of the access structure.  Preparation of interpretation materials and facilities.  An end of season project review event. In year three of the project  Preparation of final publications.  Completion of interpretation displays and facilities.  And end of project review event. The Contractor may wish to propose additional activities which it feels benefits the project as part of their tender return based on their previous experience in similar work. Provision of any such additional activities shall be offered as an in kind contribution by the contractor at no cost to the project. In delivering the project the Archaeological Contractor shall

 Perform in accordance with the Codes, Guidelines and Standards issued by the Chartered Institute of Field Archaeologists;  Comply with all relevant regulatory constraints, requirements and regulations, as may be stipulated by SEPA, SNH, SOED and The Highland Council;  Ensure the project is ASPIRE and OASIS compliant, to ensure information is compatible with the digital archives;  Ensure that the excavation and consolidation programmes are undertaken in collaboration with the Architectural team engaged in the development and installation of the visitor access structure and with the PMG;  Ensure each phase of the archaeological and conservation work is undertaken in close collaboration with HES and fulfils all SMC conditions and any subsequent HES requirements..  Maximise accessibility to the site and all project activities free of charge.

The attention of the applicants is drawn to the Trust's Standard Terms and Conditions attached .

4. Outputs and milestones

4.1 Presentations & Reports The following public presentations will be required from the Archaeological contractor  Project Launch  End of year one community report back  Year two launch  End of year two community report back  End of project community report back They are also to provide Data Structure Reports at the end of years one and two and at the end of the project and make these available to HES, HAS, and funders. The final reports will be lodged with HA, HES, the Highland Council HER and widely disseminated at local, regional and national level.

4.2 Final Deliverable Outputs  A fully excavated, consolidated and interpreted monument, accessible to the public.  School pupils, volunteers and visitors who have benefited from the education, training and experimental programmes.  Archaeological reports which have been widely disseminated and archived at national, regional and local levels

4.3 Anticipated Outcomes  An innovative visitor attraction which boosts the local economy, is in excellent structural condition, fully recorded and accessible  More awareness of, pride in and engagement with the richness of Assynt's built heritage by local people and visitors, many of whom have benefited from the education and training offered  Excavation findings which have enhanced understanding of the Scottish Iron Age generally and of the architecture and the structure and use of brochs in particular  Multi-subject interpretation which incorporates geology, natural history, archaeology, history and present land use

4.4 Milestones Year 1 . Initial project management meeting and project set up . Site preparation . Main programmes of excavation and conservation . Workshops, experimental, training and schools programmes . Development of plans for visitor access structure

Year 2  Archaeological post-excavation programme . Workshops, training and schools programmes . Visitor access structure construction and installation . Development of interpretation materials

Year 3  Completion of archaeological post-excavation programme  Production and dissemination of archaeological reports  Community engagement activities  Completion of interpretation and installation  Project evaluation

5. Fees and Costs

 Contractors are invited to submit a financial proposal for the work which should not exceed xxxxx  The project is structured by year and the financial proposal should similarly be structured by year.  The financial proposal should also be set out so that costs, excluding VAT, for each of the key elements of the project as outlined at Section 4 , are clearly identified.

6. Contractor Selection Criteria  Relevant experience (previous community archaeology project work of this type)  Track record (general reputation for work competence, capacity)  Technical skills (people, systems, specific abilities)  Management (capacity, organisation, health and safety, insurance, stability, quality)

7. Award Criteria and weighting  Understanding the brief and its requirements 5%  Methodology (approach and scope of work) 20%  Delivery programme, deliverables and key milestones 5%  Track record of delivering similar projects 15%  Relevant skills and experience of team and assigned staff 15%  Cost and financial proposal 40%

7.1 Assessment Scoring The responses will be assessed based on the above criteria. For each criterion the Evaluation Panel will give scores from 1 to 5. The table below details what is required to achieve 1, 3, and 5 etc. Tender submissions will be ranked based on the weighted score.

Evaluation Rating Unsatisfactory - response which suggests the applicant will have serious difficulty with 1 the tender requirements or no information has been provided Poor - lack of understanding of what is required or insufficient detail 2 Satisfactory - meets the baseline requirements of the contractor, potentially with some 3 minor gaps that do not threaten overall delivery of the project Good - meets all requirements and has good understanding and appreciation of the work 4 with some innovations Excellent - comprehensively meets all the project requirements, full grasp of 5 requirements, detailed responses, innovative and with significant benefits over and above the expected

8. Key performance criteria  Delivering of the project within the timeframe dictated by funders and detailed within the Invitation to Tender document.  Meeting the Historic Environment Scotland requirements for the project.  Successfully delivering all the project's aims and objectives.

9. Additional Information Any queries please contact Gordon Sleight [email protected] 01571 855207