Attachment_1_-_SOW_and_TEC.pdf

STATEMENT OF WORK

TITLE: In-House Conservation Services for Bound and Flat Paper Materials

I. Statement of Work A. Background Information

The History of Medicine Division (HMD) of the National Library of Medicine (NLM) located on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) campus in Bethesda, MD 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. Certain items in its collection are in a deteriorated condition and require conservation treatment or rehousing.

B. Objectives This contract shall provide the services of a professional book conservator, working on-site at the National Library of Medicine, who will perform repairs to bound and flat paper collection items, design and construct housings and exhibit mounts, prepare books for scanning, write condition and treatments reports, and provide collection maintenance to the book and manuscript collections. The contractor may also provide technical guidance to NLM staff engaged in book and paper repair and participate in training sessions on book preservation for NLM staff.

II. Services to be Performed A. General Requirements

Most of the work will be performed in the NLM’s Conservation Lab, which is equipped with a well-lighted work bench, conservation lab equipment, and general office supplies.

The contractor will be supplied with an NIH ID card and parking permit. Additional conservation supplies and small equipment, as needed, shall be supplied by the government.

B. Specific Requirements Normally work will be performed during at least two weeks of every month. The hours will be on a regular schedule to be arranged with the project officer with some room for flexibility. All work shall be performed in accordance with accepted 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).

III. Duties may include any of the following:

Working under the supervision of the Conservation Librarian in the History of Medicine

Division the conservator shall:

A. Maintenance of historic collection of books and manuscripts including:

1. performing repairs to bound volumes and manuscripts, using appropriate conservation materials and techniques

2. writing condition reports including digital photo documentation for bound and flat paper items using an online database

3. constructing custom-fitted protective housings for all repaired items and other individual collections as needed using appropriate materials and structures

4. performing preservation assessments of collections including surveys

5. carrying out regular maintenance of the collection, such as cleaning shelved books

6. identifying the need for ordering supplies required for treatments

7. applying NLM property stamp and bookplate to volumes

8. writing accurate condition and treatment reports including photo documentation and compiling American Research Libraries statistics for all treatments using an online database. Contractor must know how to search computer database for bibliographic information.

9. participating in research with conservation librarian

10. participates in disaster recovery of collections as needed

B. Preparation of volumes for reformatting including scanning, filming, or photography such as:

1. writing a condition report using an online database with digital photo documentation for all items to be reformatted after repair is completed

2. surveying collections before scanning or photography to determine need for disbinding or minor repairs or other factors which may necessitate special handling in scanning or photography

3. disbinding or loosening sewing of tightly-bound volumes, performing minor paper repairs, repairing or detaching foldout plates

4. handling and setting up books for scanning and photography

5. packing items for shipment and inspecting items returned after reformatting complete

C. Providing input in the design and set-up of exhibits, including:

1. inspecting conditions for exhibition including light levels, temperature, and humidity, etc.

2. designing and constructing exhibit mounts

3. creating facsimiles for exhibit using scanner and software

4. affixing collections items or facsimiles to mounts

D. Advising and training of NLM staff including:

1. providing technical guidance to NLM staff and contractors engaged in book and flat paper repair

2. holding training sessions for NLM staff on handling, housing, identifying problems, etc.

3. holding demonstration sessions or tours for visitors

E. Reporting Within five working days after the end of each month, the contractor shall prepare and Submit the following:

1. invoice (template provided by Conservation Librarian)

2. written report and statistics including:

- number of hours worked

- type of work performed

- number of volumes and/or leaves repaired

- number of housings constructed

Technical Evaluation Criteria

Mandatory Qualification Criteria

The work shall be performed by a single conservator, working at the NLM. Proposers shall submit detailed information regarding the training, academic background, experience, and availability of the personnel proposed for this project. Documentation shall include a detailed résumé, describing the proposer's education, training, experience, and achievements, and references, including current telephone numbers, from experienced conservators who have recent knowledge of the proposer's work. They shall also submit a narrative, describing the techniques, materials, principles, practices, and ethics that the proposer would employ to accomplish the goals of this contract. A site visit will be planned to review a portfolio of the proposer’s current work. The portfolio should include multiple examples of various repairs to manuscripts and bound books, exhibit mounts, and protective housings. The number of hours that the offeror can supply each year shall be indicated.

Proposed personnel shall demonstrate:

1. a Master’s or Bachelor’s degree

2. at least eight years of combined training and experience

3. training from a qualified conservator, apprenticeship, or formal library conservation training program as verified by examples of various book treatments and housings as seen in the portfolio. The proposer will be asked to explain the treatments and show written and photo documentation of all treatments, mounts, and housing in the portfolio

4. knowledge and experience in the ethics, principles, practices, and techniques employed in the conservation of printed and manuscript materials, both bound and manuscript materials, using conservation materials and techniques, and in the construction of protective housings and exhibit supports, using conservation materials and structures

5. demonstrated ability to work independently, making sound decisions concerning conservation treatments and techniques

6. on-going interest in new conservation techniques, materials, and theory, as evinced by professional activities, publications, and continuing education

7. good written and oral communication skills and the ability to work well with others in a collegial atmosphere

Proposed personnel shall demonstrate the following qualifications: Points

1. master’s or bachelor’s degree and training from a qualified conservator, apprenticeship, or formal conservation training program 30

2. at least 10 years combined training and experience in book conservation 30

3. demonstrated knowledge of the principles, practices, techniques, and ethics employed in the conservation of printed and manuscript materials as verified by examples in the portfolio, the ability to work independently, making sound decisions concerning conservation treatments and techniques, skill in oral and written communication, and the ability to work well with others 40

Total Maximum Points 100