A04_SOW_RFPRugSurvey.pdf

Survey Historic Rugs in the Museum Collection at

Edison’s Home, Glenmont

PMIS PROJECT 305038

Request for Proposal

March 10, 2023

1.0 BACKGROUND

2.0 SCOPE/RFP REQUIREMENTS AND EVALUATION CRITERIA

3.0 OBJECTIVES

4.0 TASKS

5.0 DELIVERY

6.0 GOVERNMENT-FURNISHED PROPERTY

7.0 SECURITY

8.0 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

9.0 DELIVERY/PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

10.0 PAYMENT SCHEDULE

1.0 BACKGROUND

The purpose of the contract is to produce a condition survey of 81 historic rugs on exhibit and in museum collection’s storage in Thomas Edison’s Victorian home, Glenmont.

Conservator will create a detailed object survey narrative that identifies the condition of each rug, the material of each rug, previous repairs for each rug, suggested treatment for each rug, number of conservation hours needed for each rug, the provenance of each rug, each rug’s location and catalog number, a brief description of each rug and corresponding photographs, and identify priorities for treatment of these objects. The completed survey will inform upcoming conservation treatments which will support the park’s goal of returning more period rooms within this nationally significant mansion to their historic appearance.

The historic rugs likely range in age from 1880 to circa 1930 and include various types such as throw rugs, area rugs, and prayer rugs. The rugs are functional objects and were used regularly during the historic period by the Edison family. Due to these objects’ direct association with the Edison family, as well as their association with the overall interior decorating scheme for Thomas Edison’s home, these rugs play a key role in both the interpretation and the academic study of Glenmont. Rugs from this collection are part of the historic scene that is interpreted to the public and are also available for examination by researchers who study the history of interior decoration in the United

States.

Thomas Edison National Historical Park is a National Park Service site located in West

Orange, New Jersey. The park consists of two separate sites, approximately one mile apart. Thomas Edison’s home, Glenmont, is located in a private residential community known as Llewellyn Park. Built in 1880, Glenmont is a 29 room Queen-Anne style mansion which remains intact, complete with interior furnishings and finishes that reflect the rich historic decorative period during the years when Thomas Edison and his family resided in the home.

The majority of the work will be performed off-site, in the conservator’s studio. This includes producing a condition survey of these objects in narrative form, as well as the conducting the corresponding research. Details related to the survey are provided in section 4.0 of this document.

On-site work for the project will include: examination of the 81 rugs associated with this project and photographing the rugs. These rugs are located throughout all five floors of

Glenmont, both on exhibit and in museum storage areas. In some cases, the rugs are stored in protective coverings and/or boxes, which must be removed by the vendor for examination of the object. The vendor will then be required to rewrap the rug in its protective covering, and/or its associated box, after their examination is complete, to return the rug to its original storage conditions. In other cases, large scale rugs will be examined in-situ, with furniture resting on top of them as they are on exhibit in the period rooms in the museum. These limitations for examining the rugs should be considered when the vendor is formulating their bid, their bidding proposal, and their approach to the project.

In all instances, the selected contractor will be responsible for protecting-in-place adjacent artifacts, historic finishes and surfaces in the Glenmont work areas associated with this project, as required, if deemed necessary to prevent damage to any aspect of the historic interior of Glenmont, including its artifacts and its modern carpet runners, during the course of the project. It is important to note that the mansion includes original historic architectural features, surface finishes, fully furnished period rooms, historic staircases, etc. with narrow spaces commonly found in Victorian homes. The selected vendor will also be required to adhere to park safety and security policies which will be further detailed in this document.

1.1 HISTORIC BACKGROUND

Mina Edison, Thomas Edison’s second wife, resided at the Glenmont mansion from 1886 until her death in 1947. She spent over five decades at Glenmont with Thomas Edison, raising their three children in this location. Over the years, Mina Edison undertook several major decorating campaigns in order to remain current with her decorative motifs inside this fashionably decorated residence.

A varied collection of rugs ranging from prayer rugs to throw rugs to large-scale room size rugs, was acquired and used by the Edison family at Glenmont during the historic period. Many pieces are prominently displayed throughout the home in the period rooms and play a key role in the decorating scheme installed in the mansion in the 1880s by renowned decorating firm Pottier & Stymus. Described in the park records using such terms as Oushak, Ghiordes, Sultanabad, Gorevan, and Serapi, the rugs are significant decorative arts objects in their own right. Additionally, several rugs found in collection’s storage can also be documented to date back to the period of significance and will eventually be conserved and returned to exhibit in their historic locations. A comprehensive rug condition survey is needed in order to achieve this goal.

Existing Conditions:

Museum staff at Glenmont must enter the period exhibit rooms to perform opening and closing procedures for tours as well as to care for the museum objects. This regular wear and tear on the historic rugs on exhibit in these areas has accelerated their deterioration.

Rugs are torn at the edges in high traffic areas and the weaves of some rugs are beginning to unravel. The problem is also accelerated by the rugs being in a dry and brittle condition. Several rugs in storage have remained rolled up for extended periods of time.

They require inspection and analysis by a rug expert in order to determine next steps for care and conservation. They also require analysis to authenticate the approximate age of the rugs, to ensure they date back to the historic period at Glenmont and were not added into the museum collection post-Edison.

To date, no comprehensive condition survey has been executed for this collection at

Glenmont. This project will provide baseline documentation and baseline research for the collection’s condition. The rug survey will inform future management decisions in regards to the care and exhibit of this historic collection.

Also, outdated catalog records provide few details of maker or provenance. Filling in the gaps for documentation of these objects, namely their provenance, will also improve their interpretation, transferring the knowledge gained to the public through exhibit and programming related to this collection.

1.2 SOLICITATION PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS AND EVALUATION

FACTORS:

A. To facilitate consistent review and comparison of responses, proposal submissions must correspond in format to the heading sequence, and content of the following outline.

Respondents to the Request for Proposals (RFP) must include, at a minimum, the following:

Relevant Past Performance (Required):

Submit evidence of comparable past work including a minimum of five years of experience conserving historic rugs with at least one example of a rug that is considered to be nationally significant. Past performance must also include one example of historic rug conservation of a room size, woven Persian or woven Asian rug and also one example that is a rug of Native American origin, all from the historic period (c. 1880-

1930).

Comparable past work must also include a conservation survey of a rug collection (eight rugs or more), which includes identification (provenance research) of and conservation recommendations for rugs of Asian or Persian origin and/or rugs of Native American origin. Comparable past work must also provide evidence of a minimum of two examples of executing historic rug related conservation projects within public properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which are projects of similar scope, complexity, age, and historic resource value to that required by this solicitation.

Please note that this criteria cannot be met by using a contemporary rug project or a reproduction as any of your examples or by citing a rug project that is not related to an

AAM accredited museum or one that is part of the collection of a museum property listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Rug projects associated with interior decorating projects, craft guilds, houses of worship, private residences, or local historical societies do not meet this criteria. Bidding proposals that do not meet the identified criteria will not be considered.

The lead conservator overseeing this project must have a minimum of three years of textile conservation training obtained through a degree program or a comparable period of apprenticeship with a reputable conservation services provider. This lead conservator shall be considered the key personnel for this contract and is responsible for performing the associated conservation work. This qualified conservator shall have conservation experience in conformance with the American Institute for Conservation (AIC) Code of

Ethics and Guidelines for Practice (website address - http://www.conservation-us.org/docs/default-source/governance/code-of-ethics-and-guidelines-for-practice.pdf). Applicant must also demonstrate familiarity with the NPS conservation and preservation standards and the Secretary of the Interior Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties (See NPS Museum Handbook at https://www.doi.gov/museum/npshandbooks and https://www.nps.gov/tps/standards.htm for more information).

Please include:

*Point of Contact (with verifiable telephone number and email address)

*Company Name and Address *Company Telephone Number and Email Address (verifiable)

*Identification of Historic Resource Treated *Brief Description of the Project with Illustrations which demonstrates similarity in scope and complexity to this project *Dates Work Was Performed http://www.conservation-us.org/docs/default-source/governance/code-of-ethics-and-guidelines-for-practice.pdf http://www.conservation-us.org/docs/default-source/governance/code-of-ethics-and-guidelines-for-practice.pdf http://www.conservation-us.org/docs/default-source/governance/code-of-ethics-and-guidelines-for-practice.pdf https://www.nps.gov/tps/standards.htm

Cost proposal:

Contract Type

The government anticipates awarding a firm-fixed price contract.

SAM Registration

Contractor shall be registered in SAM.gov prior to contract award.

B. Pre-Proposal meeting:

All Proposers are strongly encouraged to visit the site in preparation for submitting a proposal to view the historic rugs in-situ (in their original locations and the condition of the locations) and to assess the spacial constraints that must be safely navigated in order to examine and photograph the historic rugs. Failure to do so shall not relieve the Contractor from responsibility for having estimated properly the difficulty or cost of successfully performing the work.

The Contractor must arrange a site visit at a date and time to be determined. Please contact Beth Miller should you plan to attend a site visit. Any questions that a Proposer has regarding the project must be submitted in writing to the Contracting Officer assigned to this project no later than five days prior to the closing date for this solicitation.

Beth Miller Curator of Thomas Edison’s Home, Glenmont

973-809-4360 beth_miller@nps.gov

C. Limitations of Liability:

The Government assumes no responsibility and no liability for costs incurred by

Proposers in responding to this RFP.

D. Evaluation of Solicitation Proposals (Selection criteria):

Award of the contract to complete this project will be made on the basis of technical qualifications of the Proposer and on the basis of the Proposal offering the best value to the government with technical and price factor being approximately equal.

Proposals will be evaluated based on the following Factors and Sub-factors:

Factor 1: Experience

Contractor must possess a minimum of three years of textile conservation training obtained through a degree program or a comparable period of apprenticeship with a reputable conservation service, demonstrating rug object conservation experience in conformance with the American Institute for Conservation (AIC) Code of Ethics and

Guidelines for Practice (website address - http://www.conservation-us.org/docs/default-source/governance/code-of-ethics-and-guidelines-for-practice.pdf). Applicant must also demonstrate familiarity with the NPS conservation and preservation standards and the Secretary of the Interior Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties (See NPS Museum Handbook at https://www.doi.gov/museum/nps-handbooks and https://www.nps.gov/tps/standards.htm for more information).

Factor 2: Relevant Past Performance

Submit evidence of comparable past work including a minimum of five years of experience conserving historic rugs with at least one example of a rug that is considered to be nationally significant. Past performance must also include one example of historic rug conservation of a room size, woven Persian or woven Asian rug and also one example that is a rug of Native American origin, all from the historic period (c. 1880-

1930).

Comparable past work must also include a conservation survey of a rug collection (eight rugs or more), which includes identification (provenance research) of and conservation recommendations for rugs of Asian or Persian origin and/or rugs of Native American origin. Comparable past work must also provide evidence of a minimum of two examples of executing historic rug related conservation projects within public properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which are projects of similar scope, complexity, age, and historic resource value to that required by this solicitation.

Please note that this criteria cannot be met by using a contemporary rug project or a reproduction as any of your examples or by citing a rug project that is not related to an

AAM accredited museum or one that is part of the collection of a museum property listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Rug projects associated with interior decorating projects, craft guilds, houses of worship, private residences, or local historical societies do not meet this criteria. Bidding proposals that do not meet the identified criteria will not be considered.

Factor 3: Price

A price evaluation will be performed to determine the reasonableness of the proposed price. Reasonableness will be determined considering other competitive prices received and comparison to the Independent Government Estimate.

http://www.conservation-us.org/docs/default-source/governance/code-of-ethics-and-guidelines-for-practice.pdf http://www.conservation-us.org/docs/default-source/governance/code-of-ethics-and-guidelines-for-practice.pdf http://www.conservation-us.org/docs/default-source/governance/code-of-ethics-and-guidelines-for-practice.pdf https://www.doi.gov/museum/nps-handbooks https://www.doi.gov/museum/nps-handbooks https://www.nps.gov/tps/standards.htm

Any proposal containing suggestions, approaches, options, or ideas that do not conform with National Park Service, the Secretary of the Interior, and AIC conservation and preservation standards will not be considered.

Background materials attached to the scope of work include a copy of Rules for

Contractors in Historic Buildings (Attachment B) which identifies specific guidelines that must be followed by Contractors when they work on-site. In general, no food, drink, or smoking is permitted within site work areas. Contractor must protect-in-place adjacent artifacts in immediate work areas and areas required along the path of travel, as needed to prevent damage to the resource and its artifacts (such as historic floors, plaster walls and ceilings, historic light fixtures, historic staircases, historic furniture, etc.), and refrain from storing project equipment on-site during the course of the project. The Contractor is responsible for the cost of all supplies related to the project.

When working on-site, Contractor shall be responsible for removal of all trash debris on a daily basis. Please note that on-site hot work, including use of heat guns, tack irons, or other heat generating equipment or welding, is prohibited for this project. Any bidding proposals that include on-site hot work shall not be considered.

2.0 SCOPE

On-site work for the project, will take place inside of Glenmont, in the fully furnished period rooms and in museum collection’s storage areas, on all floors of the Edison home.

Contractor is responsible for safely navigating through historic spaces in order to complete tasks associated with this project (including examining the historic rugs in the fully furnished period exhibit rooms and in museum collection’s storage and photographing the rugs associated with this project). Contractor must protect in place the architectural features, historic finishes, adjacent artifacts, surfaces, floor coverings, etc.

when completing this work in the Glenmont interior, to the extent required to prevent damage to any of these components during the course of the project. All stated in the statement above is the responsibility of the Contractor. Contractor is responsible for any damage that occurs to these historic areas, buildings, artifacts, and features during the course of their work.

Off-site work for this project includes completion of the associated rug condition survey in the format described in other sections of this document and any related research.

Selected vendor must comply with National Park Service standards, the Secretary of the

Interior standards, and AIC standards for preservation and conservation which govern this project. Any proposal containing suggestions, approaches, options, or ideas that do not conform with National Park Service, the Secretary of the Interior, and AIC conservation and preservation standards will not be considered.

3.0 OBJECTIVES

The goal is to produce a survey of 81 historic rugs from the museum collection which will inform the upcoming conservation and exhibition of these objects from the Glenmont museum collection.

This project enables the park to continue the work of actively preserving and maintaining the park’s museum collections while maintaining and improving exhibit areas. The end product, namely the object survey, will improve the documentation for this collection and assist in the development of conservation projects for similar collections.

4.0 TASKS

4.1 A qualified conservator will produce the object condition survey of 81 historic rugs in

Thomas Edison’s Victorian home, Glenmont. The survey condition report will be produced, as per the specifications identified in this document. Conservator will use industry standard museum techniques and NPS approved materials, adhering to appropriate safety, preservation, artifact handling, museum packing, and park security guidelines, in order to perform this work. On-site work will include the survey, photographing, and inspection of 81 historic in various locations throughout the five floors of the mansion. Documentation work, such as generating the survey report, and related research, may take place off-site in the conservator’s studio.

On-site work will consist of in-person analysis of the rugs to determine the condition of each rug, the material of each rug, previous repairs for each rug, suggested treatment for each rug, approximate number of hours required to conserve each rug, photographing each rug, and establishing priorities for treatment for this collection. On-site work will also include recording the general description, location, and catalog number for each rug.

On-site work will also include unwrapping stored rugs from their protective coverings and/or boxes for examination, potentially partially/fully unrolling them for review, and re-wrapping the rugs/returning them to their associated museum boxes for museum storage when inspection of the rug is complete. Please note that this includes, as the contractor’s responsibility, returning the rugs to their original locations. It is also expected that the contractor shall return each stored rug to its original location directly after its on-site examination.

The survey narrative (completed object condition rug survey) will identify each historic rug by its catalog number, location, and a general description. The survey narrative will also identify the condition of each rug, the material of each rug, previous repairs for each rug, suggested treatment for each rug, approximate number of hours required to conserve each rug, each rug’s provenance (with circa date range), and establish priorities for treatment for this collection. Selected vendor will also take photos of each rug, identifying condition issues, which will be included in the final survey.

Off-site work will include research. Selected vendor will conduct research to determine the maker, provenance, and circa date for each historic rug which will also be included in the final survey report for this project. Off-site work will also include producing the completed condition survey, with photo documentation for each rug, which includes the specific information identified in this section.

For the purposes of this project, no portion or part of each rug identified as being on exhibit, to be surveyed during this project, shall be relocated during on-site analysis and inspection of the rugs. It is important to note that many of the rugs are room size and installed in-situ (in their original locations) in the period rooms, complete with furniture resting on top of the rugs. These rooms, and their artifacts, will not be disassembled or dismantled in any way, either fully or partially, in order to perform any of the associated work during the course of this project. Additionally, space may not allow for the historic rugs located in storage to be unrolled completely for review. Selected vendor is expected to produce a general analysis/survey of each rug with the identified parameters under these limiting site conditions.

Please note that the historic rugs shall not be removed from Glenmont for analysis, inspection, testing, photography or any other task that may be associated with this project. Bids that include and/or identify any of the historic rugs to be surveyed, either being transported off-site or relocated within the mansion for further analysis, will not be considered.

It is also important to note that some of the rugs in storage are rolled and the Victorian mansion does not provide adequate space to completely unroll them for inspection. Rugs will be reviewed and analyzed on the basis of what can be seen and handled. This requirement also applies to any on-site visit that may be conducted as part of the bidding process. Any proposal containing suggestions, approaches, options, or ideas that do not conform with the above stated information regarding the on-site analysis of the historic rug collection will not be considered.

The 81 historic rugs for survey are located throughout all five floors of Glenmont. A chart identifying the rugs to be surveyed is attached to this solicitation for further review.

Please note that the identified catalog numbers and descriptions may need to be updated by the contractor, as the project progresses. Selected contractor will be required to successfully navigate historic pathways and doorways. The contractor is strongly encouraged to make an appointment for an on-site viewing of the property and to see the rugs in their current locations prior to bidding.

4.2 81 historic rugs of various types and sizes, all likely original to Thomas Edison’s

1880 mansion, Glenmont, will be surveyed with a corresponding report produced (as per specifications outlined in this document). On-site survey work will take place with the historic rugs in-situ (in place in their original location without alteration to their location or position in any way) at Thomas Edison’s home, Glenmont, in West Orange, New

Jersey. Contractor must protect-in-place adjacent artifacts in immediate work areas and refrain from storing project equipment on-site during the course of the project and is responsible for purchasing all supplies related to the project.

Contractor is responsible for any damage that occurs during the course of their work while working on site, including but not limited to, architectural elements such as stairwells and wall treatments, historic light fixtures, decorative finishes, floors, doors, artifacts, windows, historic steps, modern carpeting, etc. This includes during the time of any on-site work, including the installation, and de-installation of any project equipment.

Selected vendor will be responsible for using safe artifact and museum handling techniques, specifically those for historic rugs and textiles, during the project’s examination and analysis phase. Vendor must familiarize themselves with NPS artifact handling guidelines in order to ensure compliance to these guidelines. Please note, as part of these guidelines, the use of ball point pens or markers is prohibited in areas with historic rugs. During any on-site work or pre-bid meeting the vendor is expected to use pencil to take notes when working in these historic areas. Additionally, no food, drink, or smoking is permitted inside of the mansion.

4.3 Selected vendor must ensure that they provide sufficient labor (ie number of individuals required) to safely complete all aspects of this work.

4.4 Selected vendor must comply with National Park Service standards, the Secretary of the Interior standards, and AIC standards for preservation and conservation which govern this project. Any proposal containing suggestions, approaches, options, or ideas that do not conform to National Park Service, the Secretary of the Interior, and AIC conservation and preservation standards will not be considered. Conservator will use appropriate museum techniques and approved materials, adhering to appropriate safety, preservation, and security guidelines, as identified in this document, in order to perform this work.

4.5 The contractor is required to present a certificate of insurance in the coverage amount of $200,000 including coverage for when the Contractor is working at the Glenmont estate to complete the on-site work for the project. This includes during times of equipment delivery, equipment installation, and equipment deinstallation, as well as during any other time when the Contractor performs on-site work.

4.6 Selected vendor is responsible for any damage that occurs during the course of their work while working on site. This includes, but is not limited to, damage to historic finishes and features, damage to historic staircases and steps, damage to historic walls and ceilings, damage to historic floors and historic light fixtures, damage to any historic artifacts, or to any building systems or estate areas, such as the landscaped grounds. This includes, but is not limited to, during the time of transport of supplies/equipment, and during any other aspect of on-site work.

Contractor is strongly encouraged to make an appointment for an on-site viewing of the interior of Glenmont and the artifacts associated with this project that are located throughout all five floors of the mansion.

4.7 Hot work is defined as the use of any heat generating equipment such as a heat gun, blow dryer, or a tack iron to complete the project tasks. This includes welding. No on-site hot work is permitted for this project. If any proposed on-site hot work is included in the bidder’s proposal, the proposal will not be considered.

4.8 Contractor must refrain from storing project equipment on-site during the course of the project. Contractor must be present for any associated project deliveries which will be arranged by advanced appointment only.

4.9 Background materials attached to the scope of work include a copy of Rules for

Contractors in Historic Buildings (Attachment B) which identifies specific guidelines that must be followed by Contractors when they work on-site. In general, no food, drink, or smoking is permitted within site work areas. Contractor shall be responsible for removal of all trash debris on a daily basis when working on-site.

Please note that, on some days, the grounds of Glenmont and the interior of the home may be open to the public. On the days that the grounds are open to the public, the

Contractor must take appropriate safety measures to ensure the safety of the visitors. This includes not blocking the main paths of travel or foot traffic areas, using barriers to delineate work areas so the public cannot access them, and refraining from driving vehicles on the grounds when they are open to visitors and volunteers.

5.0 DELIVERY

5.1 The work of this section consists of submittal requirements before start of work.

A. Within ten days of the award and prior to the commencement of on-site work, a Certificate of Insurance must be provided to the NPS.

• Pre-start meeting – Within 30 days of award, selected vendor will contact COR to discuss project and work schedule.

• Vendor will be required to submit an NPS approved health and safety work plan within 30 days after the award. In this plan the Contractor must address how they will adhere to CDC guidance related to COVID-19 in the work place while working on-site at the Glenmont estate. The manual “Guidance on Preparing Work

Places for COVID-19” (OSHA 3990-03 2020) is attached to this solicitation for the bidder’s reference. The goal of the health and safety work plan is to ensure work is being performed safely, both for the resource and the personnel involved in the project. The health and safety work plan must be NPS reviewed and approved, to ensure its methods and materials are in accordance with the NPS and the Secretary of Interior for conservation, preservation, and safety. On-site work shall not commence until the approved plan is executed. This includes on-site meetings to discuss the project, to examine the resource, or to conduct any project related testing or photography.

• Within 30 days after the award, Vendor will also be required to submit an NPS approved Protect-In-Place plan detailing how walkways, carpeting, built-in features such as steps, floors, adjacent furniture and light fixtures, historic staircases and stained glass windows, as well as adjacent plaster walls and ceilings, architectural features, adjacent artifacts, etc. will be protected in place by the Contractor, identifying specific techniques and materials to be used to avoid damage to these elements during their on-site work. The protect-in-place plan must be NPS reviewed and approved, to ensure its methods and materials are in accordance with the NPS and the Secretary of Interior for conservation, preservation, and storage standards. Work shall not proceed until the approved plan is executed.

5.2 During work progress the selected vendor shall furnish upon request:

A. Daily report detailing work attempted or accomplished

5.3 At the conclusion of the contract the selected vendor shall provide the following:

A. The selected vendor must produce a completed object condition survey in narrative form for all 81 rugs, a survey that identifies for each individual rug: its catalog number, room location, a basic description, condition, material, previous repairs, suggested treatment, number of conservation hours needed to conserve the object, and its provenance (with circa date range). Survey will also identify priorities for treatment of these objects and include color photos of each object as part of the completed report. The Contractor will provide the following to the COR:

1. three bound paper hard copies of the completed rug condition survey on 8

1/2 x 11 paper with color photographs

2. one electronic copy of the completed condition rug survey in PDF format on a flash drive.

5.4 Submit all delivery requirements to the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR).

6.0 GOVERNMENT-FURNISHED PROPERTY

6.1 The Contractor is responsible for the cost and acquisition of all project related materials, labor, and services necessary to complete the work of this contract. The government will not provide any materials, labor, and services necessary to complete the work of this contract. Project related expenses of any kind are the responsibility of the

Contractor.

6.2 Background materials attached to the scope of work include a copy of Rules for

Contractors in Historic Buildings (Attachment B) which identifies specific guidelines that shall be followed by contractors when they work on-site. In general, no food, drink, or smoking is permitted within site work areas. Contractor shall protect-in-place adjacent artifacts in immediate work areas as outlined in their NPS approved plan (including historic floors, staircase components, walls, artifacts, light fixtures, etc. as required), and refrain from storing project equipment on-site during the course of the project.

7.0 SECURITY AND SAFETY

Contractors and their team shall be escorted at all times by a National Park Service staff member while they are working on-site. This means that contractors shall not be left unattended, even for short periods of time, and an NPS staff member shall be continually monitoring them as they work, in the immediate vicinity. Please note that there should be no expectation of a contractor working independently, without staff monitoring or staff supervision, in any NPS facility. For more details, please refer to the Contractor

Monitoring SOP that is attached to this solicitation.

Backpacks and bags are subject to inspection. Contractor team members may be required to wear an identification badge while on-site and use a sign in sheet to log their on-site hours. Selected vendor shall be required to submit a roster supplying the names of participating team members prior to the start of any on-site work. Parking location is subject to security issues and shall be handled on a case by case basis.

Contractor will be required to submit an NPS approved health and safety work plan. Plan will detail steps taken by the Contractor to avoid damage to Glenmont artifacts and historic features/finishes as well as steps taken to reduce the incident of accident or injury during the course of the project. Plan must outline all equipment and materials used for the project and their related safety features or properties as well as any special safety requirements identified on their Safety Data Sheets (SDS sheets will also be submitted by the contractor with the plan). Please note that the park strictly adheres to guidelines specified in Safety Data Sheets for on-site work as part of the park’s safety protocol. Any required PPE must have up-to-date certification and an up-to-date fit test if required for on-site work.

In the health and safety work plan, the Contractor must also address how they will adhere to CDC guidance related to COVID-19 in the work place while working on-site at the Glenmont estate. The manual “Guidance on Preparing Work Places for COVID-19”

(OSHA 3990-03 2020) is attached to this solicitation for the bidder’s reference. Please note that the contracting team may be required to wear appropriate PPE, (ie mask and gloves that meet the current CDC recommendations for reducing the risk of COVID-19 disease transmission), to execute appropriate disposal of PPE, to sanitize their work equipment and work areas (ie scaffolding, etc.), to adhere to current social distancing guidelines, to adhere to current COVID-19 reporting requirements to initiate contact tracing, to adhere to current quarantine guidelines, etc. in order to reduce the risk of disease transmission while working on-site, if so dictated by New Jersey state guidelines and/or CDC guidelines for managing COVID-19 in the workplace. These guidelines are continually being updated and shall change over time.

Contractor must ensure that they provide sufficient labor (ie number of individuals required) to safely complete all aspects of this work as per OSHA guidelines.

The offeror’s equipment, tools, and supplies must be of a size and configuration capable of safely accommodating such work and must be equipped with the necessary fire and safety capabilities. Selected vendor must provide a form of egress in the event of fire during the course of the project.

For safety, security, and preservation reasons, family, friends, or pets are not permitted to accompany the contractor’s staff to the job site at Thomas Edison’s home, Glenmont.

This includes, but is not limited to, underage children. The park reserves the right to request that the Contractor produce documentation for any person on-site which provides evidence that they are legitimate and approved project personnel assigned to work on the project.

Please note that on-site hot work, including use of heat guns, tack irons, blow dryers, or other heat generating equipment or welding is not permitted for this project.

8.0 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

8.1 LOCATIONS

A. On-site work will be completed at the following location inside Thomas Edison

National Historical Park:

1. Pick up, delivery, and on-site work will be completed at Glenmont, Thomas Edison National Historical Park, Llewellyn Park, 12 Honeysuckle Avenue, West Orange, New Jersey. Contractor must be present for any associated deliveries related to supplies for the on-site project work. Please note that navigating steps in narrow halls with historic staircases and plaster walls and ceilings is required to complete any transport process as well as key tasks related to the project. Potential bidders should take notice of the spacial restrictions of the confined work space where the work takes place and the historic nature of the path of travel for transport of objects, equipment, and supplies and plan accordingly, notating how these restrictions will be handled in their bidding proposal.

2. Special attention must also be paid to not damage historic objects adjacent to the work site in the historic rooms as well as navigating narrow corridors that feature historic finishes, historic light fixtures and windows, historic floors and staircases, and historic walls and historic artifacts, not only in the period rooms and the museum collection storage areas but along the path of transport leading to and from these spaces, all of which contain artifacts and are historic in nature.

On-site work/pick up/drop off/packing may only be done between the hours of 9:00 am and 3:30 pm, Monday through Thursday, excluding holidays. On-site work is subject to weather conditions, other state of emergency conditions, or government shutdown.

Access is by advanced appointment only. Please note that on-site work hours are non-negotiable and the contractor must consider the hours of availability of the resource when formulating their fixed cost estimate for this project .

9.0 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The Contractor shall be required to commence work under this contract within 10 calendar days after the date of the award to the Contractor, execute the work diligently and complete the entire project within an eight month timeframe which begins on the date of award.

Within 10 calendar days after award, submit Certificate of Liability Insurance for the project.

Within 30 days after the award, Contractor will also be required to submit an NPS approved Protect-In-Place plan detailing how artifacts such as adjacent furniture, architectural features, modern carpeting, historic steps and staircases, plaster walls, ceilings, stained glass windows, decorative finishes, etc. will be protected in place by the

Contractor, to the extent deemed necessary to protect the estate and its historic features and artifacts from damage during project work. Contractor must identify the specific techniques and materials to be used for this purpose. Within 30 calendar days after date of award, contact COR to discuss project and schedule for on-site work. Within 30 days after award, Contractor will be required to submit an NPS approved health and safety work plan.

Upon completion of contract, the lead conservator shall submit three final paper hard copies and one electronic copy of the rug condition survey with all photo documentation for the project to the COR, as per the criteria identified in other sections of this document.

Contractor must also have removed all associated supplies, tools, and equipment from on-site locations.

DELIVERABLES: DUE:

Provide Certificate of Liability Insurance for project

Within 10 calendar days of award

Contact COR to schedule on-site work/conduct pre-project meeting, provide

NPS approved Protect-In-Place plan and NPS approved health and safety work plan

Within 30 calendar days of award

Complete on-site work portion of project Within 160 calendar days of award

Submit draft of completed rug object condition survey to NPS staff for review and feedback

Within 180 calendar days of award

Contractor completes any necessary edits to the survey, as per NPS review, and submits the final version of the completed rug object condition survey for NPS approval, contractor removes all supplies/equipment used to execute the project from the Glenmont estate

Within 240 calendar days of award

10.0 PAYMENT SCHEDULE

PAYMENT SCHEDULE:

A. Upon completion of the on-site project work and NPS approval of the first draft of the rug object condition survey, submitted in the format which is outlined in this document (50 %)

B. Upon submission and approval of the final, completed draft of the rug object condition survey, submitted in the format which is outlined in this document and the removal of any supplies or equipment used on-site at the Glenmont estate (50%)

Attachment A

Modern photo of Thomas Edison’s 1880 residence, Glenmont

Modern photos of historic rug in Pedder Library

Modern photos of a historic rug located in the Drawing Room

Modern photos of the main area rug in the West Bedroom

Modern photos of one area rug in the Family Living Room

Modern photos of area rug in the North Bedroom

Attachment B

RULES FOR CONTRACTORS IN HISTORIC BUILDINGS

Food, drink, or gum chewing are not permitted in the historic buildings. Debris and staining left behind can permanently damage museum objects. Smoking is not permitted. Do not attempt to move or touch anything in the museum. Museum objects are too weak for functional use. We do not use historic sinks, bathrooms, ladders, chairs, or tables. Alternate work hours are subject to approval. Please review your daily work plans at your morning meeting with the assigned NPS staff member.

Any alteration to a historic structure such as a hole, insertion of a nail or bracket, an alteration of a trim or surface must first be approved by the NPS to ensure compliance with the National

Historic Preservation Act.

Protective barriers must be used between your equipment and museum surfaces. Clean blankets and plastic must protect the historic interiors from scratching, dents, and liquid spills. Surfaces of museum objects should not be used for storing tools. Protective barriers in doorways and on floor surfaces must be used to protect plaster or dust from entering into non-work areas.

Tours and museum staff may be entering into your work area. Do not block doorways or emergency exits with your equipment or supplies. Do not set up equipment near fragile objects.

No open flames are permitted in any of the buildings or on the grounds. If you plan to use any equipment that emits heat or creates a spark, you must receive ADVANCED PERMISSION from the NPS. These include use of heat guns, stripping guns, electrical drying tools, heaters, and welding torches. Procedures for hot work are strictly enforced. Work occurring in close proximity to a fire detector or sprinkler pipe that generates heat, dust or debris requires advanced notice in order to prevent accidental activation.

Chemicals and other flammable materials, such as those containing butane or alcohol, cannot be left overnight in the historic buildings and must be stored in a designated safety zone during work hours. MSDS sheets are required for on-site chemicals. Rags must be stored in regulation non-combustible fire canisters. Unless advanced arrangements are made, trash must be removed at the end of each work day.

Electrical service is limited in historic buildings. Arrangements must be made in advance to use electrical equipment. Electrical equipment must be in satisfactory shape, including no use of frayed or damaged extension cords. Do not leave construction lights or equipment on or plugged in while unattended.

A National Park Service employee must escort you at all times when in the buildings. This is a standard policy that applies to all guests and visitors at the site. Please notify the NPS of any injuries or safety issues that arise during your work day.

Have your fire extinguisher handy and know your emergency exits in case of an emergency.

Follow instructions from NPS staff when an alarm sounds.

Parking is limited. Consult the NPS for guidelines.