Statement_of_Work_2019.pdf

Conservation Technician Statement of Work

Background

The National Library of Medicine (NLM), one of the three national libraries in the United States, is the world’s largest research library in a single scientific and professional field.

NLM’s primary mission, as mandated by the Congress, is to serve the health professions.

To support this mission, the Library comprehensively collects materials in biomedical subjects.

The NLM’s History of Medicine Division (HMD) maintains a pre-eminent collection of the world’s published medical literature, including books, journal volumes, pamphlets, and theses, printed from the 15th through the early 20th century; manuscripts ranging in date from the 11th century to the present; fine prints, and other graphic materials from the 15th century to the present; and historical audiovisuals up through 1970. The collection consists of more than 600,000 printed works, 4,000 linear feet of modern manuscripts, 3,000 historical audiovisuals, and 60,000 historical prints and photographs.

Objectives

The scope of work entails Conservation Technician(s) working on-site at the National Library of Medicine. The technician(s) will work primarily on stabilization and/or conservation of collection items prior to digital scanning and any related collection maintenance. As part of the digital workflow for oversized items, the conservation technician(s) shall provide digital photography services, on an as needed basis.

Services to be Performed by Contractor:

1. General Requirements:

The Conservation Technician(s) will carry out repairs to bound collections and paper objects, design and construct housings and exhibit supports, keep records of treatments, and provide collection maintenance to the collections.

The technician may also participate in training sessions on book and paper conservation with NLM staff. The bench work will be performed in NLM’s Conservation Lab. Photography services provided to NLM staff for internal projects and specific digital initiatives shall be performed at NLM. On an as needed basis, after a water or fire emergency affecting rare collections, the technician will aid NLM staff in salvage and recovery of damaged objects.

2. Specific Requirements:

The contractor shall provide between 1200 to 2200 hours of work time during each year (12-month period) of the contract. The hours will be on a regular schedule, to be arranged by the Contracting Officer’s Representative. All work shall be performed out in accordance with acceptable principles of rare book conservation and in adherence to American Institute for Conservation (AIC) “Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Practice (available at http://palimpsest.stanford.edu/aic/pubs/ethics.html.

Duties

Working under the direction of the Senior Conservator in the History of Medicine Division, the Conservation Technician shall:

Perform treatment and rehousing on the historic collection of bound and flat paper objects including:

1. Performing repairs to bound volumes and flat paper objects.

2. Constructing boxes, portfolios, and other housings using appropriate conservation materials and structures.

3. Preparing volumes for digital scanning.

4. Providing photography services for NLM staff on internal and digital projects.

5. Constructing exhibition mounts.

6. Performing regular collection maintenance, such as cleaning shelved books.

7. Applying NLM property stamp and bookplates to volumes.

8. Preparing condition and treatment worksheets including keeping statistical records of repairs.

9. Assisting NLM staff in salvage and recovery of damaged objects after an emergency.

Government Responsibilities

The government shall provide workspace, telephone, supplies, NIH PIV card, and parking permit. NLM shall also provide a detailed orientation.

Reporting Requirements and Deliverables

Within five working days after the end of each month, the contractor will submit an electronic monthly report to the project officer including the number of hours worked, type of work performed, and statistics for construction of rehousings and the number of volumes and/or leaves on which work was performed.

The contractor will supply an electronic monthly statistics, report, and invoice specifying billable hours, and estimating the number of hours left on the task order. The contractor will meet face-to-face with the Contracting Officer’s Representative to provide status reports.

All completed repaired items and constructed rehousings will be reviewed by the Senior Conservator. If any repairs or rehousings are not done correctly, the Senior Conservator will make suggestions for correcting the mistake on the contractor’s own time.

Work must be completed onsite except for reporting requirements.