Atch_1a_REVISED_Scope_of_Work_JELA_CCS_0001.pdf

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Scope of Work

For

Collection Condition Survey for Collections at

Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve

National Park Service

Revised May 25, 2022

Confidentiality

The information developed under this Contract is the property of the U. S. Government and shall be kept in strict confidence.

Introduction

This project consists of an on-site visit by a professional conservator or conservators to complete a

Collection Condition Survey for museum collections associated with Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. The project includes survey of objects in storage and on exhibit at six locations around southern and central Louisiana. The collections are comprised of objects of different material types including (but not limited to): wood, metal, textiles, ceramic, glass, paper, plastic, stone, bone/ivory, and synthetic materials.

Information about National Park Service Collection Condition Surveys can be found in the NPS Museum

Handbook, Volume I, Chapter 3: Preservation (https://www.nps.gov/museum/publications/MHI/MHI.pdf)

The address for park headquarters is:

419 Decatur Street

New Orleans, Louisiana 70130

I. Background

The Park has objects in two storage rooms at the main headquarter offices (HQ) located at 419 Decatur

Street in New Orleans. Museum items are displayed on exhibit at the park’s six (6) visitor center locations

(419 Decatur Street and at park sites in the State of Louisiana in the municipalities of: Eunice, Lafayette, Thibodaux, Marrero, and Chalmette). All the sites have been variously affected by power outages and severe weather events over the past several years, particularly Hurricane Ida in August 2021. Inventories for all controlled property and random samples (~200 items) of collections were completed in the summer of 2020 and after Hurricane Ida, but it has been over a decade since a 100% inventory was conducted.

Hurricane Ida did not directly affect, damage, or negatively affect any priority 1, 2, or 3 objects.

However, there were extended periods without environmental control at various sites; the visitor center in

Eunice still does not have any operational climate control systems. The power was quickly restored at

419 Decatur where the main storage room is located. As a result of Hurricane Ida, all the sites experienced approximately 1 week of power outage and variable temperature and humidity as power was restored or climate was controlled somewhat using a generator and dehumidifiers. In February 2022, mold was observed on objects in one storage room at 419 Decatur, on and within exhibit cases at

Thibodaux, and on several museum items on display in Lafayette. Most of this mold is thought to be a result of recent severe weather events, however mold has been observed on several leather objects at the park’s visitor center in Lafayette since 2019.

https://www.nps.gov/museum/publications/MHI/MHI.pdf

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During Hurricane Ida, a window was broken in the 419 Decatur Store Front exhibit and a thin layer of dirt and grime now covers most of the exhibit. The exhibit and the objects within were exposed to an unknown amount of moisture. In February 2022, ferrous objects were observed with active, bright orange corrosion.

The following charts give a brief summation of the material type and quantity of museum objects to be assessed at each park location. Objects are roughly categorized by material type. Objects that are made of multiple materials are classified as “composite” within the material type that predominates in that object.

For example, a drum made of metal and plastic and a stirrup comprised of metal and leather would both be included in the “metal/composite” category.

Cataloged museum collections on display at 419 Decatur Street:

Material Type Approximate Number of Objects

Bone/Ivory 4

Wood/Composite 9

Metal/Composite 9

Ceramic 1

Books 3

Cataloged museum collections on display in Eunice:

Ceramic 5

Glass 25

Metal/Composite 80

Stone 1

Textiles 45

Wood/Composite 120

Paper 100

Leather 20

Cataloged museum collections on display in Lafayette:

Bone 1

Ceramic 20

Glass 30

Metal/composite 300

Textile 50

Paper 75

Wood/Composite 180

Leather 30

Cataloged museum collections on display in Thibodaux:

Bone 4

Ceramic 10

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Glass 20

Metal/composite 200

Textile 50

Paper 75

Wood/Composite 100

Leather 10

Cataloged museum collections on display in Marrero (Barataria Preserve):

Ceramic 9

Metal/composite 3

Wood/Composite 3

Painting 1

Plastic 18

Cataloged museum collections on display in Chalmette:

Glass 1

Metal/Composite 55

Wood/Composite 5

Paper 2

Leather 1

Cataloged museum objects in storage at 419 Decatur Street (HQ):

Bone 60

Ceramic 1250

Glass 140

Metal/composite 300

Textile 15

Paper 660 records (some individually cataloged, some collections in LF)

Paintings 37 (most are relatively small 40x50 cm)

Wood/Composite 200

Leather 30

II. Purpose and NPS Responsibilities

A. The purpose of the work is to

1) conduct an on-site Collection Condition Survey (CCS) for all objects in storage at HQ and on exhibit at the 6 exhibit locations (419 Decatur Street, Eunice, Lafayette, Thibodaux, Marrero

(Barataria Preserve), and Chalmette)

2) produce a report that: identifies the conservation and preservation needs of individual objects stored and exhibited at JELA; identifies which exhibited items are too fragile to remain on exhibit

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The survey shall focus on material stability to determine object conservation treatment needs including determining and recording the condition of individual objects or groups of objects in the collection in need of professional conservation treatment. The survey report shall also include recommendations for preventive care and improvements to museum storage and exhibit conditions.

The results of the survey will provide guidance to park and regional curatorial staff in setting priorities for object stabilization and/or treatment, and preservation management of the park collections. The survey will also facilitate budgeting, scheduling, and subsequent communications with conservators regarding treatment. Object-specific data, using a compatible documentation or software format that identifies equivalent ICMS data fields from the survey will be entered into ICMS, the park's automated collections management system.

B. Post-award, the park will provide all requested documents to provide specific context and information about the history of park collections.

C. Approved in advance by the superintendent, the COR or Park designee will provide on-site:

• supervised access to collection storage rooms, vaults, cabinets, shelves, and other locations of museum objects

• opening and closing of storage cabinets and vault or other containers that may be locked

• assistance with moving heavy or unwieldy objects

• access to museum property accountability (catalog and accession) and conservation

(treatment and survey) records when required

• answers to questions about existing environmental monitoring and control, preventive care of objects, uses of objects, plans for future acquisition and disposition of objects, plans for future exhibition of objects, and the park's pest management program

• other information as needed

III. Conservator Tasks

The conservator will

A. The contractor is responsible for all travel to each of the 6 park sites, professional, editorial, and duplication services required to produce a site-specific Collection Condition Survey report. This document shall include the following sections:

• Executive Summary

• Project Background

• Six chapters (one for each location) which feature the following topics

i. Facility and Storage Furniture

ii. Housekeeping

iii. IPM

iv. Environmental Conditions

v. Fire/Security

vi. Treatment Priorities

• Observations/Recommendations including completion times (Groups of Objects)

• Observations/Recommendations including completion times (Individual Objects)

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B. Conduct an entrance interview with the NPS upon arrival at the park. The purpose of the interview is to explain to the staff the conservator's methodology and anticipated survey schedule and to detail any local support that may be needed.

C. Conduct a hands-on survey of collections at each storage and exhibit location by examining each object individually, or, as appropriate, by examining representative samples of large groups of similar objects. Priority shall be given to objects with known or suspected condition issues (see

Appendix A). The following factors shall be considered in determining the object condition and conservation treatment needs of groups of similar objects in storage and on exhibit. Discussion of each of these factors should also be included in each site-specific chapter of the survey report.

• The nature of the environment in which collections are stored or exhibited including building structure, temperature, relative humidity, dust, natural and artificial light sources, pests, air pollution, and other agents of deterioration, as well as the local climate conditions.

• Storage methods, mounts, and techniques including appropriateness, quality, and efficiency of use.

• Evidence of recent damage or deterioration, including failure of preservation treatments, damage to objects during their use for interpretation and study, effects of visitor handling or vandalism, and deterioration due to adverse environmental factors.

• When preventive maintenance treatment or simple treatments can be done by the park, park staff will be identified, the treatment will be briefly described, and materials will be recommended. All recommended materials shall be commonly used by conservators and selected for reversibility, stability, and ease of use. Materials shall be described generically, though brand names also may be given for reference purposes. Provide instructions for park staff to follow when carrying out work that the conservator recommends, they perform. In most instances, instructions will be common practices.

• Any other general or specific issues concerning the collection's preservation, conservation, and/or treatment needs.

D. Upon completion of the survey, the conservator will meet with the NPS to review the survey results. The close-out meeting can be conducted virtually or in person and should cover the findings and recommendations the conservator anticipates including in their report. At this time, the conservator will gather any data or information not already obtained that will be required for production of the survey report.

E. The conservator will prepare a written report of the completed survey using Microsoft Office software (Ex. Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel).

F. Provide a time estimate required for a professional conservator to carry out each recommended treatment. If possible, provide a cost estimate for the treatment if done by a conservator specializing in that discipline. The Park can use this information to program funds to accomplish the work. When appropriate, note economies of cost or other benefits that might be realized by simultaneously treating similar objects, or objects with similar treatment needs.

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IV. Contractor Qualifications

A conservator performing or supervising the conservation of works of art, objects, or architectural features should have as a minimum the qualifications as defined in the American Institute for

Conservation’s (AIC) definition of Professional Associate and have achieved Professional Associate status with AIC or compatible status in a similar conservation organization:

• EDUCATION: an undergraduate university degree in conservation or historic preservation with an emphasis on conservation, or the international equivalent [or the equivalent in work experience under a qualified conservator, in addition to the training and experience noted below]:

• TRAINING: The applicant is required to have:

o two years of full-time formal education or related supervised training in conservation method and theory OR o two years of full-time formal education or related supervised training in a field appropriate to other professional involvement in conservation (e.g., chemistry for conservation scientists, library science for library preservation administrators, art history for museum conservation administrators, business management for administrators).

• EXPERIENCE: The applicant is required to have three years of full-time work or its part-time equivalent in conservation or in a conservation related profession after training. Program training internships may not be counted toward this requirement.

• PROFFESSIONAL ETHICS: Applicants must demonstrate ability to adhere to the AIC Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Practice. [See Appendix Two] Evidence may include: recent examination forms; proposed and completed treatment forms; reports of scientific investigations; lecture materials; planning documents; survey reports, etc. The conservator must comply with the Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Practice of the American Institute for Conservation (AIC) in all work performed.

V. Deliverables and Payment Schedule

A. Provide two copies of the draft survey report on single sided 8 1/2" x 11" paper. Each line must be numbered on the left side of the page. The following must be included; a title page listing the park name, the conservator's name, project completion date and numbered table of contents. An electronic file of the document must be provided to the park in Microsoft Word.

B. The final CCS report must be on 8 1/2" x 11" neutral pH, high alpha cellulose, white paper such as Permalife Bond Paper or equivalent, single-sided and paginated, and printed using carbon-based, black laser printer ink. The following must be included; a title page listing the park name, the conservator's name, project completion date, and paginated table of contents. An electronic copy and two hard copies must be provided to the park. The electronic file (USB flash drive or other compatible format) must be labeled with the same title as the report plus the file name.

C. Photographic documentation:

The conservator must provide the following:

• Digital files with full color images of each object in an uncompressed TIFF format and

JPEGS with Dublin Core metadata provided for each image and transmitted via USB thumb

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• The filename for the images will include the catalog number associated with the object. If there is more than one object per original number they will be labeled as “a, b, c” accordingly. This number will also appear in the image. This can either be on a card during image capture or added as a layer in Adobe Photoshop after the images are taken.

• A signed release form granting copyrights of all photographs to the park. (See NPS Museum

Handbook, Part III, Figure 3.4, Assignment of Copyright by Contractor.

https://www.nps.gov/museum/publications/MHIII/mh3ch3.pdf). The Conservator may keep a copy of each image for private or educational use. Images kept by the Conservator may not be used in for-profit publications, for commercial distribution, or for exhibitions by the surveyor or any other individual or institution without written permission from the

Superintendent or Museum Curator. The credit line shall include the following information:

"Courtesy of the National Park Service," Park Name, Object Name, Object Date, Catalog

Number.

A separate sheet of photographic captions will be prepared, and the electronic file will be included in the flash drive with the report. When applicable, the captions will link directly to an object's accession or catalog number. The number shall be written in carbon black ink or pencil on the non-emulsion side of the image on the border or non-image area in neat, easily readable print.

PROJECT SCHEDULE

Task Date

Award Contract TBD

Kick-off Conference Call Within 30 calendar days of contract award

First Site Visit/On-site work Within 60 calendar days of kick-off call

Final Site Visit/On-site work Within 180 calendar days of kick-off call

Chapter Drafts Due Within 45 calendar days of end of relevant site visits

NPS Review of Chapter drafts Within 30 calendar days of receipt of draft

First Complete Report Draft Due Within 45 calendar days of final site visit

NPS Review of Complete Report Draft Within 30 calendar days of receipt of the draft

Consultant Responses Within 14 calendar days of completion

NPS Review of Consultant Responses Within 14 calendar days of completion

Final review and close-out meeting Within 30 calendar days of receipt

Final Acceptance Upon acceptance of project completion

POINTS OF CONTACT:

Contracting Officer

Lara Wood lara_wood@nps.gov

828-243-3466

VI. Protection of Information

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All information and documentation gathered or produced by the Contractor during this work shall be held in strictest confidence and shall be fully protected from access by unauthorized persons. Any documentation furnished by the site and retained by the Contractor during the work or thereafter shall be secured in a locked filing cabinet or safe at a minimum. During the initial visit to the site, the Contractor shall indicate to the park curatorial staff the way he/she intends to secure any documentation the site may furnish; the park curatorial staff will have the prerogative to specify when more stringent security must be provided for any particular documentation furnished to the Contractor. Documentation that cannot be secured to the park curatorial staff’s satisfaction still will be furnished to the Contractor, but only for on-site use.

Notes and other information produced by the Contractor, including all versions and copies of his/her report and any drawings that may be produced, shall be secured in a locked filing cabinet or safe, at a minimum. Word processor and other computer files shall be secured in an equivalent manner, such as by retaining files only on CDs or flash drives kept in a safe, rather than on a hard drive, and using passwords or encryption. During the initial visit to the site, the Contractor shall indicate to the park curatorial staff the way he/she intends to secure computer data generated during the work; the park curatorial staff will have the prerogative of specifying that additional security measures be taken whenever circumstances so dictate.

All documents and other work developed in the performance of this contract, shall be and remain the sole property of the Government and may be used on any other work without additional compensation to the

Contractor, with respect, thereto, the Contractor agrees not to assert any rights and not to establish any claim under the patent or copyright laws. The Contractor, for a period of 3 years after final payment under this contract, agrees to furnish and provide access to all retained materials on the request of the

Contracting Officer. Unless otherwise provided in this contract, the Contractor shall have the right to retain copies of all such materials beyond such period.

RIGHTS IN DATA - SPECIAL WORKS

(FAR 52.227-17) (DEC 2007)

A. Definitions. As used in this clause—

“Data” means recorded information, regardless of form or the media on which it may be recorded. The term includes technical data and computer software. The term does not include information incidental to contract administration, such as financial, administrative, cost or pricing, or management information.

“Unlimited rights” means the rights of the Government to use, disclose, reproduce, prepare derivative works, distribute copies to the public, and perform publicly and display publicly, in any manner and for any purpose, and to have or permit others to do so.

B. Allocation of Rights.

(1) The Government shall have—

(i) Unlimited rights in all data delivered under this contract, and in all data first produced in the performance of this contract, except as provided in paragraph (c) of this clause.

(ii) The right to limit assertion of copyright in data first produced in the performance of this contract, and to obtain assignment of copyright in that data, in accordance with paragraph (c)(1) of this clause.

(iii) The right to limit the release and use of certain data in accordance with paragraph

(d) of this clause.

(2) The Contractor shall have, to the extent permission is granted in accordance with paragraph

(c)(1) of this clause, the right to assert claim to copyright subsisting in data first produced in the performance of this contract.

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C. Copyright.

(1) Data first produced in the performance of this contract.

(i) The Contractor shall not assert or authorize others to assert any claim to copyright subsisting in any data first produced in the performance of this contract without prior written permission of the Contracting Officer. When copyright is asserted, the Contractor shall affix the appropriate copyright notice of 17 U.S.C. 401 or 402 and acknowledgment of Government sponsorship (including contract number) to the data when delivered to the Government, as well as when the data are published or deposited for registration as a published work in the U.S.

Copyright Office. The Contractor grants to the Government, and others acting on its behalf, a paid-up, nonexclusive, irrevocable, worldwide license for all delivered data to reproduce, prepare derivative works, distribute copies to the public, and perform publicly and display publicly, by or on behalf of the Government.

(ii) If the Government desires to obtain copyright in data first produced in the performance of this contract and permission has not been granted as set forth in paragraph

(c)(1)(i) of this clause, the Contracting Officer shall direct the Contractor to assign (with or without registration), or obtain the assignment of, the copyright to the Government or its designated assignee.

(2) Data not first produced in the performance of this contract. The Contractor shall not, without prior written permission of the Contracting Officer, incorporate in data delivered under this contract any data not first produced in the performance of this contract and that contain the copyright notice of 17 U.S.C. 401 or 402, unless the Contractor identifies such data and grants to the Government, or acquires on its behalf, a license of the same scope as set forth in paragraph

(c)(1) of this clause.

D. Release and use restrictions.

Except as otherwise specifically provided for in this contract, the Contractor shall not use, release, reproduce, distribute, or publish any data first produced in the performance of this contract, nor authorize others to do so, without written permission of the Contracting Officer.

E. Indemnity.

The Contractor shall indemnify the Government and its officers, agents, and employees acting for the Government against any liability, including costs and expenses, incurred as the result of the violation of trade secrets, copyrights, or right of privacy or publicity, arising out of the creation, delivery, publication, or use of any data furnished under this contract; or any libelous or other unlawful matter contained in such data.

The provisions of this paragraph do not apply unless the Government provides notice to the

Contractor as soon as practicable of any claim or suit, affords the Contractor an opportunity under applicable laws, rules, or regulations to participate in the defense of the claim or suit, and obtains the Contractor’s consent to the settlement of any claim or suit other than as required by final decree of a court of competent jurisdiction; and these provisions do not apply to material furnished to the Contractor by the Government and incorporated in data to which this clause applies.

If the Government uses any of the above-mentioned materials for purposes other than those covered under this contract or other than for which it was provided, the Contractor shall not be held liable for any personal or property damage arising from such use.

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Appendix A

The following are museum objects with known or suspected condition issues. These items are prioritized for review by a professional conservator.

419 Decatur

• JELAC 35 – Cannonball (Active corrosion)

• JELAC 167 – Cannonball (Active corrosion)

• JELAC 185 – Cannonball (Active corrosion)

• JELAC 148 – Map (Tears, insect damage, tape)

• JELAC 186 – Flag (Check for potential damage)

Lafayette

• JELAF 2040 – Saddle, Racing

• JELAF 2009 – Saddle, Stock (Mold)

• 25 agricultural tools made of wood, leather, and metal exhibited in the same case as

JELAF 2009. They may also have mold growth or active corrosion.

o JELAF 150 – Singletree o JELAF 151 – Hame o JELAF 154 – Whip o JELAF 167 – Cutter, Stalk o JELAF 241 – Hook, Meat o JELAF 1291 – Collar, Horse o JELAF 1292 – Rope o JELAF 1314 – Scythe o JELAF 1318 – Trowel o JELAF 1340 – Digger, Post-hole o JELAF 1631 – Hayfork o JELAF 1632 – Hoe o JELAF 1634 – Shovel o JELAF 1635 – Hoe o JELAF 1711 – Sickle o JELAF 1712 – Sickle o JELAF 1954 – Crook, Hay o JELAF 1961 – Whip o JELAF 1971 – Stirrup o JELAF 2011 – Bench, Harness

Maker’s o JELAF 2083 – Scraper o JELAF 2088 – Trowel o JELAF 2089 – Trowel o JELAF 2186 – Barrel o JELAF 2292 – Lariat

Thibodaux

• JELAF 1001 – Chair (Mold?)

• JELAF 1540 – Guitar (Mold?)