SOW_Fine_Arts_Program.doc

Statement of Work Clinical Center Fine Arts Program Curator

1.

Introduction and Overview

This Statement of Work will be issued as a firm fixed contract in support of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Clinical Center (CC) requirement for a professional Curator to manage the CC Fine Arts Program.

1.1 Background

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is the largest biomedical research agency in the world. NIH’s mission is to seek fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and the application of that knowledge to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability.

NIH is comprised of twenty-seven Institutes, Centers and Division which includes the CC. The NIH CC is a clinical research hospital servicing the needs of the NIH Intramural Research Program by providing a safe, effective, and healing environment for the care and treatment of patients participating in structured biomedical research protocols. In 1984, the CC established an art collection to provide comfort to patients and enhance the healthcare environment. The collection has grown into and become the CC Fine Arts Program that maintains 2000+ original works of art and hosts six changing art exhibits annually. The Program’s mission is to pair art with medicine to promote healing in an aesthetically pleasing environment for patients, caregivers and staff. The CC Office of the Executive Officer (EO) is responsible for the Program and receives support from the CC Art Committee. The Committee supports the general oversight of the Program and makes recommendations regarding acquisitions, loans, donations, commissioned pieces, and special exhibits. The collection includes photography, sculpture, paintings, collages, watercolors, textiles, folk art and glass. The works explores imagery from abstract to representational. Artwork in the collection is carefully selected and placed for its healing potential and artistic quality and must be suitable for public government and healthcare environment. The collection is made possible in part through donations from artists, patients and staff.

1.2

Scope of Work

The CC EO seeks a professional art curator to manage the Fine Arts Program. The responsibilities include providing art consulting and curatorial services, art installation and removal, , providing changing art exhibits and displays that are suitable for a public government and healthcare environment, and maintaining the permanent collection.

1.3 Objectives

The contractor shall provide one (1) designated on-site professional art curator to manage the Fine Arts Program to include the following services:

a. Providing art consulting and curatorial services

b. Provide art installation, removal and storage

c. Provide changing art exhibits

d. Maintain the permanent art collection To provide these services, the individual must have excellent interpersonal skills, ability to communicate clearly and professionally, and have experience working effectively in groups. The individual must also have the ability to independently manage workload, establish priorities, and request assistance in advance when workload is deemed unmanageable.

The individual must demonstrate knowledge and experience with management and oversight of a large art program in a healthcare facility as complex as the NIH CC. The Contractor must provide extensive knowledge of art and display of art in a hospital/healthcare setting, and of potential artists in the local community. The contractor must have the knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully complete the requirements outlined in the SOW.

Additional personnel can be identified as needed.

1.4 Period of Performance

A base period and up to four one-year option period(s.)

Base Year May 1, 2019 – April 20, 2020

Option Year 1 May 1, 2020 – April 20, 2021

Option Year 2 May 1, 2021 – April 20, 2022

Option Year 3 May 1, 2022 – April 20, 2023

Option Year 4 May 1, 2023 – April 20, 2024 2.

Requirements

The Government is responsible for:

a. Providing necessary facilities to support contract completion including desktop computer, software, printer, and network services to aid in the performance of the work. The government will provide routine maintenance and software upgrades.

b. Providing mandatory training as required by Clinical Center Orientation and security clearance. Time for mandatory training and orientation is paid for by the Government.

c. Prioritizing work load when necessary through the CC Executive Officer or designee.

The Contractor is responsible for:

a. Providing a knowledgeable, fully-trained art curator to perform the functions listed in the SOW, an average of three days per week (6 hours per day), excluding holidays and any day declared an official Federal Holiday.

b. Successfully completing ongoing mandatory trainings and orientation requirements.

3.1 Tasks

The Contractor will support the hospital fine arts program by performing the following duties:

a. Provide art consulting and curatorial services The Contractor will provide guidance and expertise to the CC Art Committee.

The Contractor will liaison with the CC Art Committee, NIH community and extramural artists and organizations to ensure the art displays in the CC meet the CC Art Program mission and respond to the changing needs of the organization during the evolution of the CC facility.

Contractor will manage collaborative agreements with other Government agencies, museums and with the local arts community.

The contractor will provide art consultation services to the inpatient units, outpatient clinics and CC departments and special projects as requested.

Design and install art packages that are appropriate for target patient populations.

Completes requests for artwork or art consultation within 2 calendar weeks of receipt of the request.

The contractor will conduct research to create visually interesting, accurate and informative history exhibits, and maintain artist files to include artist contact information, artist statement and resume. This information will be captured in accurate, informative tour signs and art labels. In addition the contractor shall maintain records of all gallery sheets from exhibits, copies of sales receipts, and other pertinent information.

Facilitate site specific commissions.

Facilitate long and short term loans for special projects.

Prepare gift donation packages for review by the CC Art Committee.

b. Install, remove and store art Provide professional services to hang, handle, display, remove and/or store all types of fine art according to museum standards and healthcare requirements. If subcontracting these services, supervises all work to ensure standards are met.

c. Provide changing art exhibits

The contractor is responsible for soliciting, contracting, coordinating, and displaying six changing art exhibits annually. Artwork must be appropriate for display in a health care setting and must be matted and framed appropriately. Changing art exhibits are located in the East and West Galleries, East and West Alcove Galleries and North Gallery. Each show consists of 5 different artists. Artists generally must wait 5 years between shows. In the event that an artist cancels a show or is unprepared for the show; the Contractor is responsible for finding alternative artwork to be hung in its place. The gallery spaces may not be left vacant. All artwork for the changing art exhibits are submitted and reviewed by the contractor according to the Art Program Guidelines, including signing a contractual agreement with the exhibitor. The Contractor is responsible for answering queries and questions about artwork on display and in the changing exhibits, i.e. price, artist information, value, media, etc., keeping the gallery sheet information boxes filled, and coordinating the sale of artwork in changing exhibits. The contractor maintains government records of all gallery sheets from exhibits, copies of sales receipts, and other pertinent information. Questions or concerns about appropriateness of artwork must be brought before the CC Art Committee prior to the exhibit. The project officer retains the right to have artwork removed at any time if it is not appropriate for a healthcare setting.

The contractor will support the periodic changing of displays in the CC display cases to include the Library Hall Gallery.

The contractor will facilitate special art exhibits to include researching new initiatives or opportunities, presenting ideas, coordinating efforts with other NIH/CC offices, designing and installing the exhibit.

d. Maintain the permanent art collection Artwork on display throughout the hospital is referred to as the permanent art collection. All artwork owned by the Government is identified with an inventory number. On an annual basis the Contractor will conduct an inventory survey to confirm location of artwork. The location data shall be maintained into an inventory database. The Contractor will produce reports as required, and insure that artwork which is moved, removed or added to the collection is properly identified and inventoried. All installed art, permanent collections and temporary installations, is to be secured with approved locking devices. Secure locking devices will be procured via this contract.

Monitor the appearance of the permanent art collection. While making rounds in the building, the Contractor will note any artwork that is missing or damaged or any lights that are burnt out. The Contractor is responsible for notifying the CC of necessary repairs or maintenance required for art in the permanent collection, including framing, glass, restoration, etc. Upon approval by the CC the contractor will proceed with the repair and maintenance utilizing the allowance in the contract.

The Contractor will replace or move artwork as necessary to insure the appearance of the collection remains intact. While artwork is being repaired, the Contractor will place a sign on the wall, appropriate for the situation. Artwork installed from the storage room will be dusted and cleaned prior to installation. Repairs to artwork that are not in the permanent art collection or requests for new artwork are outside the scope of this contract and will be procured separately.

A summary report of the collection will be provided to the project officer on a monthly basis. The report should include the number of pieces removed or moved with resolution/disposition.

Keep the art storage room clean and organized. A designated storage room will be provided to the Contractor to temporarily house artwork removed for repair, cleaning, or temporary storage due to renovation or flooding. The Contractor will keep the space clean and organized.

3.2 End Results/Deliverables

The contractor shall provide one electronic version of each deliverable.