2025-S-001 (RFI) Office of Senate Curator Research and Analysis.pdf

Request for Information | February 2025 Page 1

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION FOR RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS PROJECT OF

ARCHITECTURAL RESTORATIONS AND HISTORIC FURISHINGS PLANS.

This announcement constitutes a Request for Information (RFI) for the purpose of determining market capability of sources or obtaining information. Responses to this RFI may be used for market research for future solicitations.

I. DISCLAIMER

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ONLY.

This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes – it does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future. This RFI does not commit the SAA to contract for any product or service whatsoever. Further, the SAA does not seek proposals at this time; will not accept unsolicited proposals; and will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI. All costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the interested party’s expense. If the SAA subsequently releases a solicitation, it may be published on the SAM.gov website. Potential contractors are responsible for monitoring this site for possible additional information pertaining to this requirement.

This synopsis contains the currently available information and is subject to change at any time.

II. BACKGROUND

II.A- Overview

II.A.1 The Office of Senate Curator (Curator) plans to evaluate the interpretation of the Old Supreme Court Chamber (OSCC) in the U.S. Capitol, a museum period room that was restored and opened to the public in the 1970s. In preparation, the Curator’s Office has conducted extensive primary source research into the original construction, configuration, and decoration of the room, as well as reviewing the previous research from the 1970s restoration. This request is seeking information on how to enhance the visitor experience in the Old Supreme Court Chamber through the development of an architectural restoration and historic furnishings plan to accurately interpret the room as it appeared during the period of interpretation, 1840-1853.

II.A.2 Please note that this RFI is for informational purposes only, and no contract will be awarded as a result. A firm or organization’s response to the RFI, or lack thereof, will have no impact on the evaluation of responses to any subsequent RFP. Responses will be used solely for information and planning purposes.

II.B - Background

II.B.1 The U.S. Senate Commission on Art (Commission) holds jurisdiction over the OSCC. The Commission maintains the OSCC as a museum space that is part of the public

Request for Information | February 2025 Page 2 tours. The Curator manages the day-to-day operations and interpretation of the OSCC on behalf of the Commission.

II.B.2 The OSCC is located in the original north wing of the U.S. Capitol. This wing was first occupied in 1800, at which time the room was configured as a two-story space intended to house the Senate. By 1805, the interior of the original north wing was in a state of decay that necessitated a reconstruction of the interiors. The architect working on the Capitol at the time, Benjamin Henry Latrobe, redesigned the north wing, crafting spaces with the serene grandeur he would become known for. During the north wing reconstruction, the OSCC was rebuilt as a single-story space designated for the U.S. Supreme Court, who first used the space in 1810.

II.B.3 On August 24, 1814, British troops burned the Capitol and destroyed much of the north wing interior. The reconstruction of the OSCC following the fire was overseen initially by Latrobe and later by Charles Bulfinch. It was built along the lines of the old space with only minor changes. This new chamber was completed in 1819 and remained in use by the Supreme Court until 1860, when they moved into a larger Capitol room.

II.B.4 After the Court left in 1860, the OSCC underwent various alterations to provide space for the law library, Senate committees, and storage. The chamber was restored in 1975 to an 1850s appearance and furnished to interpret the period when the Court met in the room. Today, the restored chamber features marble portrait busts of the first four chief justices of the Supreme Court, displayed in the locations where they were originally placed when acquired by the Court. The room also retains the plaster relief, Justice, one of the oldest works of art in the Capitol, and a working 1836 clock purchased by the Court from Simon Willard. The chamber is furnished based on an 1854 floorplan and includes a number of period furnishings purchased in 1819 (following the burning of the Capitol in 1814) and in 1835-1836 as part of a refurnishing campaign. Reproduction furnishings, seat coverings, draperies, and carpeting all date to 1975.

The OSCC has not undergone any major repairs since the restoration work in the 1970s.

Currently the room is experiencing the failure of paint and plaster layers, an inability to maintain the temperature and humidity levels leading to wide fluctuations, and an increase in dust to alarming levels. In addition, the light level provided by the light fixtures is inadequate for the needs of visitors and staff.

II.B.5 The major effort required to remediate these concerns, including the closing of the room for an extended period, provides an opportunity for the Curator to undertake interpretative and visitor experience enhancements. In anticipation of a potential restoration, the Curator undertook extensive primary source research into the original construction, configuration, and decoration of the room, as well as reviewing the previous research from the 1970s restoration of the space. The research included maintaining an account of the institutions and record groups reviewed, scanning all relevant records, and entering the data into a database. Conservators were hired to conduct a physical investigation of the plaster relief, Justice, and to examine many of the furnishings presently

Request for Information | February 2025 Page 3 displayed in the chamber. The Curator also worked with the Architect of the Capitol to perform paint analysis, HVAC assessment, and dust monitoring.

II.C - Significance

II.C.1 Applying the national significance criteria established by the U.S. Department of the Interior, the OSCC is significant for its association with events that have made a noteworthy contribution to broad patterns of our history, its association with the lives of persons important in our past, its embodiment of distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction, and its association with the work of a master that possess high artistic value.

II.C.2 Benjamin Henry Latrobe is responsible for the design of the OSCC through his 1808 reconstruction of the space and his subsequent reconstruction after it burned in 1814. He called himself the first professional architect in America and more recently he has been referred to by architectural historians as the “Father of American Architecture.” Latrobe is considered responsible for establishing architecture as a rigorous and respected profession and for introducing the Greek Revival style to the country. Latrobe was the first architect to use vaulted construction in the country and he brought this structural ingenuity to the Capitol, and the rebuilt OSCC.

II.C.3 The U.S. Supreme Court is the only court specifically established by the Constitution of the United States and is the highest tribunal in the Nation for cases arising under the Constitution or the laws of the United States. The Court ensures the promise of equal justice under law and guards and interprets the Constitution. The two Chief Justices who oversaw the Court in the OSCC were John Marshall (1801-1835) and Roger B. Taney (1836-1864).

Marshall’s Court was one of the most significant periods during the history of the Court with several important decisions relating to federalism, the powers of judicial review, and the supremacy of federal laws over state laws. The Taney Court included several controversial decisions relating to slavery, and ultimately added to tensions that led to the Civil War.

III. INFORMATION REQUESTED

The Curator is interested in hearing from an individual, a firm, or a consortium of experts (additional experts beyond your company that may need to be included in a team to make the project successful) with experience in developing architectural restorations and historic furnishings plans based largely on period documentation. Specifically, the Curator seeks information about the process to undertake an architectural restoration and develop a historic furnishing plan in an internationally significant public building. This process shall include, but is not limited to, undertaking archival research, physical investigations, documentation and development of recommendations for proposed changes, and creation of plans, specifications, and a budget for implementation. In addition, the Curator is interested in understanding the types of deliverables that could/should be generated as part of the project to successfully accomplish the goals.

Request for Information | February 2025 Page 4

Responses to this RFI may include a response to each of the questions and requests listed below.

III.A – Specific Information of Interest

III.A.1 The Curator seeks to delineate a research and analysis project and resulting deliverables that will:

i. Employ the research previously conducted by the Curator.

ii. Incorporate guidance from a Senate Advisory Board and internal stakeholders in the analysis and development of recommendations.

iii. Perform relevant physical investigations, in some cases building on previous work, to verify the accuracy of the 1970s architectural restoration.

iv. Identify deficiencies in the 1970s architectural restoration and historic furnishings plan.

v. Recommend preservation treatments (architectural and furnishings) to better depict the period of significance, including supported justifications.

vi. Identify appropriate, research-based replacements for the well-worn carpet and draperies.

vii. Provide options for enhancing the lighting of the room.

viii. Provide necessary specifications or plans to employ the recommended restoration treatments.

ix. Present the research and analysis in a format that will support educational and interpretative efforts.

III.B – Additional Information Requested

III.B.1 Brief overview of relevant background information about your organization, and any prior work experience you offer related to our needs. This experience may include, but is not limited to:

i. Knowledge of, and experience working with vendors who specialize in Latrobe architecture and mid-19th century decorative arts and architecture

ii. Knowledge of, and experience in undertaking architectural investigations and restorations, and creation of historic furnishings plans, for public buildings

iii. Knowledge of, and experience working with vendors who specialize in the creation of reproduction furnishings and textiles,

iv. Knowledge of, and experience working with vendors who specialize in lighting historic spaces.

v. Engagement of project stakeholders and/or advisory boards.

III.B.2 Three (3) examples of comparable past projects in a similar setting (public museum space, Latrobe or mid-19th century public building) within the last fifteen (15) years similar to this project.

Request for Information | February 2025 Page 5

III.B.3 A statement in response to the project goals, outlining your suggestions on the project team composition, methodology, tasks, and deliverables that will allow the Curator to successfully fill these needs.

IV. SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS and FORMATTING REQUIREMENTS

The information contained in this RFI will be the only information provided by the Senate during this process. All respondents should submit an information package in accordance with the instructions provided below.

Responses to this RFI are due no later than May 2, 2025, and shall be submitted electronically via email only to the attention of Holly McDonald at acquisitions@saa.senate.gov.

The subject of the email message shall be: “2025-S-001” U.S. Senate Curator Office Research and Analysis Project". No other method of transmittal will be accepted. Access by the SAA to information in any files attached to the response is the responsibility of the submitting party.

Neither the SAA nor the Senate is responsible for any failure to access respondent’s information.

V. QUESTIONS AND POINT OF CONTACT

Questions regarding this RFI may be sent to the following Procurement & Contract Specialist:

Name: Holly McDonald Title: Senior Procurement and Contracting Specialist E-Mail Address: acquisitions@saa.senate.gov

THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. THIS NOTICE CONSTITUTES THE

ENTIRE REQUEST FOR INFORMATION AND IS THE ONLY INFORMATION

PROVIDED BY THE SERGEANT AT ARMS OR SENATE. THE SERGEANT AT ARMS

WILL NOT RESPOND TO ANY REQUESTS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

mailto:acquisitions@saa.senate.gov mailto:acquisitions@saa.senate.gov