A04-SOWGardenFurniture.pdf

Restore Historic Garden Furniture on the Grounds of

Thomas Edison’s Home, Glenmont

PMIS PROJECT # 226535

Statement of Work March 26, 2025

Thomas Edison National Historical Park (Glenmont estate)

12 Honeysuckle Avenue West Orange, NJ 07052

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 survey and conserve 12 historic pieces of garden furniture which are functionally used on the grounds of Thomas Edison’s 1880 estate, Glenmont. Conservator will create detailed treatment proposals that identify the condition, material, previous repairs, condition issues, and suggested treatment for each object. These completed proposals will inform the upcoming treatment. The majority of these pieces of garden furniture were part of the cultural landscape at Glenmont during the historic period. The cast iron benches and chairs appear in shades of dark green and black. Their intricate patterns vary from snow drop flowers to grapes with ivy. Some benches and chairs are skirted.

Due to these objects’ direct association with Thomas Edison and the Edison family, as well as their association with the overall cultural landscape of the Edison home, the garden furniture plays a key role in both the interpretation and the academic study of

Glenmont’s cultural landscape. These character-defining small features of the cultural landscape are part of the historic scene that is interpreted to the public and are also available for visitors to sit on, in order to enjoy the nature and beauty of Glenmont’s bucolic surroundings. The furniture is also important for academic study, for both researchers who study the Edisons as well as those who study the history of landscape design.

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. Glenmont’s historic cultural landscape is designed as a feature that compliments the mansion.

The majority of the work will be performed on-site on the grounds of Glenmont, in situ

(where the benches and chairs are currently located). A detailed treatment proposal and treatment report will also be produced by the selected vendor for each individual object, complete with before and after photographs of the work performed. Off-site work includes producing a survey of these objects, in the form of treatment proposals, and completion of the final treatment reports. More details related to the restoration of this furniture are provided in section 4.0 of this document.

On-site work for the project will include: examination of the garden furniture on the

Glenmont grounds (outdoor areas), photographing the furniture, conducting historic paint analysis of the historic finishes on the furniture, re-installing and de-installing any protect in place measures in order to protect any surrounding components, both historic and non-historic (such as other historic features and objects located on the estate grounds, the natural fauna, the accessible pathways and roads, etc.), re-installing and de-installing any safety measures and/or equipment (for example: barriers that stanchion off an area of work, plastic sheeting to protect paints/rust inhibitors from spraying around or coming in contact with a visitor, tarps, etc.). Please note that the contractor may need to move the historic garden furniture to alternate locations on the grounds in order to consolidate their work areas and to maximize their work’s efficiency. In this case, the contractor is responsible for safely moving the objects and returning each piece of garden furniture to its original location and original configuration on the exterior grounds of the Edison home, Glenmont, when the work is complete. On-site work will also include the physical restoration of the garden furniture. More details about this aspect of the work are described in Section 4.0 of this document.

In all instances, the selected contractor will be responsible for protecting-in-place adjacent artifacts, historic features and objects as well as non-historic features and objects such as natural areas and their components, which are present on the grounds of

Glenmont, including, but not limited to, such features as walking paths, trees, grass, other historic objects or architectural components, building exteriors, parking lots, etc. Protect-in-place measures are the responsibility of the Contractor and also include protecting-in-place historic areas and artifacts along the path of travel, as required, if deemed necessary to prevent damage to any aspect of the historic/non historic exterior components of the cultural landscape and/or the historic buildings at Glenmont as well as any other physical component of the park such as roadways, walkways, steps, planters, birdfeeders, grave markers, parking lots, street lights, fences, etc. during the course of the project. 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

Thomas Edison resided at the Glenmont mansion for over half of his life, from 1880 until his death in 1931. The cultural landscape of Glenmont is an important contributing feature to the overall aesthetic of the estate and includes features such as manicured formal gardens, exotic tree species, historic bird feeders, and historic garden furniture.

During the historic period, the garden furniture, which is ornate and highly decorative, complimented the landscape but also served a functional purpose as a place for people to sit while family members and guests enjoyed the natural landscape. Today, the garden furniture is used, much in the same way as it was during the historic era, with park visitors and Llewellyn Park neighbors sitting on the furniture to take in the sunshine and to enjoy the outdoors. Historic photographs also document the Edison family’s love for and use of this historic garden furniture. As nature lovers, there are images of both Mina and Thomas Edison sitting on the garden furniture, either reading, relaxing, or during special events that took place on the Glenmont grounds. As is apparent by their condition today, these benches and chairs were well loved and well used.

Existing Conditions:

The garden furniture collection, 5 benches and 7 chairs, consists of cast iron objects of varying styles and patterns. Most feature cut outs with motifs that resemble raised relief examples of botanical species such as ferns or snowdrop flowers. Several of the pieces are skirted. Due to wear and tear, as well as exposure to the elements, many of the finishes have been compromised and issues with rust and corrosion have developed.

Some pieces have become unstable and/or their hardware is not functioning or is missing.

Although the exact date of each object is unknown, likely, most of the furniture dates to pre-1914 when they can be seen in historic photos taken during daughter, Madeleine’s

Edison’s wedding. Other pieces may be later examples of this type of furniture, ones that date to the end of the Edison era at Glenmont, circa 1940s. In some cases, elements of the furniture have been replaced with modern components whose finish was not restored to match the existing finish on the rest of the historic object.

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 year’s experience restoring and/or conserving historic outdoor metal furniture, historic metal sculpture or monuments, historic metal jardinieres, historic metal fountains, historic metal gates or doors from historic period (c. 1880-1947) of which one project is an example of the restoration of a cast iron object of this historic period.

Comparable past work must also include the stabilization of a failing component of a historic metal object from the historic period (c. 1880-1947), an object that is designed to be functional. Lastly, comparable past work must also include one example of historic paint or finish analysis completed on a metal object from the historic period (c. 1880-

1947).

All comparable past work examples must demonstrate restoration work that was performed in AAM accredited museums/properties or within properties listed on the

National Register of Historic Places/Landmarks/Monuments, and are also projects of similar scope, complexity, and historic resource value to that required by this solicitation.

Bids will also be evaluated on the bidder’s knowledge and use of in-kind materials and techniques to complete project work and their emphasis on using the least invasive approach to accomplish the work while adhering to NPS preservation and safety standards.

The lead conservator overseeing this project must have a minimum of three years of object conservation training obtained through a degree program or a comparable period of apprenticeship with a reputable conservation or restoration 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 or restoration 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 https://www.nps.gov/tps/standards.htm

In the event that the selected vendor determines that welding will be part of the project methodology, in order to complete this work, the vendor must have a certified master welder as one of their team members. Due to the high degree of difficulty related to welding cast iron, this welding certification is required. Additionally, the certified welder on the team must possess a minimum of 5 year’s experience welding metal objects which includes previous experience successfully completing welding work on an iron object. If welding is part of the bidder’s approach, this past performance and certification documentation must be included in the bidder’s proposal.

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 garden furniture in person and to assess the spacial constraints that must be safely navigated in order to work on the grounds of Glenmont without posing a risk to any of its exterior elements that are part of the park, nature, or the cultural landscape. 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 object conservation training obtained through a degree program or a comparable period of apprenticeship with a reputable conservation or restoration service, demonstrating object conservation or restoration 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 year’s experience restoring and/or conserving historic outdoor metal furniture, historic metal sculpture or monuments, historic metal jardinieres, historic metal fountains, historic metal gates or doors from historic period (c. 1880-1947) of which one project is an example of the restoration of a cast iron object of this historic period.

Comparable past work must also include the stabilization of a failing component of a historic metal object from the historic period (c. 1880-1947), an object that is designed to be functional. Lastly, comparable past work must also include one example of historic paint or finish analysis completed on a metal object room the historic period (c. 1880-

1947).

Bids will also be evaluated on the bidder’s knowledge and use of in-kind materials and techniques to complete project work and their emphasis on using the least invasive approach to accomplish the work while adhering to NPS preservation and safety standards. Additionally, this qualified conservator must be considered the key personnel for this contract and must execute the associated conservation/restoration work.

In the event that the selected vendor determines that welding will be part of the project methodology, in order to complete this work, the vendor must have a certified master welder as one of their team members. Due to the high degree of difficulty related to 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.nps.gov/tps/standards.htm welding cast iron, this welding certification is required. Additionally, the certified welder on the team must possess a minimum of 5 year’s experience welding metal objects which includes previous experience successfully completing welding work on an iron object. If welding is part of the bidder’s approach, this past performance and certification documentation must be included in the bidder’s proposal.

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.

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 smoking is permitted within site work areas. Contractor must protect-in-place adjacent historic/non historic components of the cultural landscape in the immediate work areas and areas required for transport, installation, and de-installation, as needed to prevent damage to the resource, such as its buildings, its artifacts, its natural areas and features (such as trees and grass), its park related features (such as walkways and roads), 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, including those used for protect-in-place measures.

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 permissible for this project, provided that advanced approval is obtained and that the Contractor adheres to the park’s established

Fire Watch and Hot Work policies while providing the necessary safety equipment and/or features to mitigate the threat of fire or spark on the Glenmont grounds. Any bidding proposals that include on-site hot work shall very clearly explain their methodology for using the hot work and any associated safety protocols that the Contractor uses in these cases.

2.0 SCOPE

On-site work for the project, will take place on the grounds of the Edison mansion, in its nationally significant cultural landscape. Contractor is responsible for safely navigating all aspects of the historic cultural landscape and its adjoining roadways, walkways, gardens, parking lots, etc. in order to successfully and safely complete tasks associated with this project. Contractor must protect in place the architectural features, historic features, non historic features, adjacent artifacts, natural features, and all other related park components (such as roadways, parking lots, paths, fences, etc.) and associated areas when completing this work on the grounds of Glenmont - also along the path of travel to and from the various pieces of garden furniture, to the extent required to prevent damage or risk of fire to any of these components during the course of the project.

Restoration of the 12 pieces of garden furniture, which will be performed on-site, in-situ, on the Glenmont grounds, will mainly consist of addressing failing finishes, rust, structurally unstable components, removing staining and deposits such as algae/moss and/or cleaning product residue, addressing bird waste, and dirt; and addressing hardware issues. Restoration of the garden components will also require applying a rust inhibitor, repainting finishes, replacing missing hardware, and curatorially cleaning the objects. It may also require welding, based upon the vendor’s assessment of the condition of the furniture and their restoration approach. Restoration of this garden furniture will also require the vendor to dismantle it and then reassemble the furniture when the restoration work is complete. The work may also require replacement in kind of some components of the furniture or hardware, based upon the vendor’s methodology.

Project will also include addressing any stabilization issues related to the furniture, enabling the furniture to be returned to its historic location on the grounds of Glenmont where it will be sat on, on a regular basis, without imminent risk of structural failure.

Historically accurate finishes that are selected for this restoration are expected to last a minimum of 5 years, when exposed to the elements. The vendor may need to move the garden furniture from one exterior location – to another – in order to more efficiently perform their work. This transport of furniture is the responsibility of the vendor. In this case, the furniture must be returned to its original location and in its original configuration on the Glenmont grounds, by the vendor, when the restoration work is complete. Please note that the pieces of garden furniture cannot be stored overnight in areas on the grounds where there is pedestrian or vehicle traffic such as on a road or a walkway.

Bidder must include the cost of all of supplies and equipment for this project and any moving, labor, or services costs for this project (including welding, if required) in their bidding proposal as it is the Contractor’s responsibility to fund and purchase all materials, services, and supplies related to completing the identified tasks for this project.

In all instances, the selected contractor will be responsible for protecting-in-place adjacent artifacts, historic features and objects as well as non-historic features and objects such as natural areas and their components, which are present on the grounds of

Glenmont, including, but not limited to, such features as walking paths, trees, grass, other historic objects or architectural components, building exteriors, parking lots, etc. Protect-in-place measures are the responsibility of the Contractor and also include protecting-in-place historic areas and artifacts along the path of travel, as required, if deemed necessary to prevent damage to any aspect of the historic/non historic exterior components of the historic buildings at Glenmont as well as any aspect of the cultural landscape or park components such as roadways, parking lots, street lights, natural components, etc. during the course of the project. The selected vendor will also be required to adhere to park safety and security policies which will be further detailed in this document.

Selected vendor will complete a treatment proposal and a treatment report for each object, 12 pieces of garden furniture in total (described as deliverables in section 5.3 below).

Selected vendor will also be responsible for obtaining pre-approval by NPS staff for selected repair techniques and for anticipated results of any finish work associated with the project that could alter the appearance, functionality, or stability of the historic garden furniture. The intent is for the outdoor furniture to be re-installed on the Glenmont grounds and sat on regularly as functional elements of the historic landscape. The garden furniture is intended to be stored outside and exposed to the elements. Restoration approach to this work is intended to be sympathetic to this furniture as historic artifacts.

Proposals that include stripping away the existing layers of paint and finish, sandblasting, or powder coating the objects shall not be considered. Proposals that include significantly altering the garden furniture to incorporate new parts, hardware, or features into the historic garden furniture shall not be considered. Applied finishes must be based upon the historic paint analysis and must be NPS approved as well as deemed to be historically accurate.

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.

The goal of the NPS is to maintain the original appearance of the historic garden furniture using in-kind materials and methods with an emphasis on retaining as much original historic fabric as is possible in a minimally invasive manner.

3.0 OBJECTIVES

The goal is to restore, stabilize, and improve the overall historically accurate aesthetic appearance of 5 historic garden benches and 7 historic garden chairs and then return them to their historic locations, in situ, on the grounds of Thomas Edison’s 1880 home, Glenmont.

This project enables the park to continue the work of actively preserving and maintaining objects in the park’s museum collections while maintaining and improving Glenmont’s cultural landscape and its small-scale character defining features. The end products, namely the treatment proposals, treatment reports, and the historic paint/finish analysis will improve the documentation for this collection and assist in the development of restoration projects for similar collections.

4.0 TASKS

4.1 A qualified conservator will complete the restoration of 5 historic cast iron garden benches and 7 historic cast iron garden chairs that are situated on the historic grounds of the Edison Family home, Glenmont. Work will use appropriate NPS approved museum techniques and NPS approved materials. The majority of the work will be performed on-site, in-situ, on the grounds of Edison’s home, Glenmont.

On-site work for the project will include: examination of the garden furniture on the

Glenmont grounds (outdoor areas), photographing the furniture, conducting historic paint analysis of the historic finishes on the furniture, re-installing and de-installing any protect in place measures in order to protect any surrounding components, both historic and non-historic (such as other historic features and objects located on the ground, the natural fauna, the accessible pathways and roads, etc.), re-installing and de-installing any safety measures and/or equipment (for example: barriers that stanchion off an area of work, plastic sheeting to protect paints/rust inhibitors from spraying around or coming in contact with a visitor, tarps, etc.). Please note that the contractor may need to move the historic garden furniture to alternate locations on the grounds in order to consolidate their work areas and to maximize their work’s efficiency. In this case, the contractor is responsible for safely moving the objects and returning each piece of garden furniture to its original location and original configuration on the exterior grounds of the Edison home, Glenmont, when the work is complete.

In all instances, the selected contractor will be responsible for protecting-in-place adjacent artifacts, historic features and objects as well as non-historic features and objects such as natural areas and their components, which are present on the grounds of

Glenmont, including, but not limited to, such features as walking paths, trees, grass, other historic objects or architectural components, building exteriors, parking lots, etc. Protect-in-place measures are the responsibility of the Contractor and also include protecting-in-place historic areas and artifacts along the path of travel, as required, if deemed necessary to prevent damage to any aspect of the historic/non historic exterior components of the cultural landscape and/or the historic buildings/artifacts/features at Glenmont as well as any other aspect of the park related components such as roadways, walkways, steps, planters, birdfeeders, grave markers, parking lots, street lights, fences, etc. during the course of the project. The selected vendor will also be required to adhere to park safety and security policies which will be further detailed in this document.

Restoration of the 12 pieces of garden furniture, which will be performed on-site, in-situ, on the Glenmont grounds, as part of this project, will mainly consist of such tasks as addressing failing finishes, rust, structurally unstable components; removing staining and deposits such as cleaning product residue, addressing bird waste, and dirt. Restoration of the garden components will also require applying a rust inhibitor, repainting finishes, replacing missing hardware or hardware in disrepair, and curatorially cleaning the objects. It may also require welding, based upon the vendor’s assessment of the condition of the furniture and their restoration approach. Restoration of this garden furniture will also require the vendor to dismantle it and then reassemble the furniture when the restoration work is complete. The work may also require replacement in kind of some components of the furniture, based upon the vendor’s methodology.

Treatment will also address condition issues such as accretions of bio-growth, failing paint, corrosion, pitting, oxidation, and structural issues. Application of a rust inhibitor, and the preparation for and application of a historically accurate finish, applied to all components of each piece of furniture, is also included in these associated project tasks.

This may involve preparing the surface of the objects, in some way, in order to ensure a uniform finish is applied. Furniture hardware will also be examined for vulnerability and replaced as needed. Missing hardware will also be replaced with in kind materials.

Missing components that affect the structure, functionality, or stability of each object will also be replaced, in kind, as required.

As part of this work, the conservator will disassemble furniture to ensure overall cleaning and even treatment and wash the surface by hand. The Contractor will also conduct a historic paint analysis for each piece of furniture to determine the nature and appearance of the historically accurate finish for each furniture object.

The compromised or missing historic finishes will then be reapplied, as required, in order to reflect the findings of the Contractor’s executed historic paint analysis and to return each piece of furniture to its historic appearance. As part of this process, corrosion will be removed with minimally abrasive methods and then an appropriate rust inhibitor will be applied, prior to reapplying the historically accurate finish as the presenting layer of finish on the object. Emphasis will be placed on retaining original finishes and elements of furniture (no stripping of the previous furniture finishes), whenever possible.

In the event that it is determined that stabilizing a piece of furniture must include welding, in order to return the object to a stable, functional state, the conservator is responsible for performing the welding and all associated tasks. Welding on-site is considered to be Hot Work at TENHP and adheres to specific safety protocols that are outlined in an attachment to this solicitation. Hot Work is by advanced permission only and must take place in certain areas under specific conditions (in a selected area by the

NPS where there is no threat of combustible natural or non-natural components in close proximity to the work area, in order to avoid threat of spark or ignition). This work area must also take place in a location where no visitors are present and work must be performed in outdoor conditions that are conducive to this type of work (no precipitation or high winds). Any contractor performing Hot Work at the park must adhere to the park’s established Hot Work and Fire Watch procedures. As a note, the use of a tack iron or heat guns is also considered to be hot work and is also subject to TENHP Hot Work and Fire Watch procedures.

In the event that welding is required, due to the high degree of difficulty related to welding cast iron, the welding must be performed by a certified master welder who has experience welding iron objects. These requirements are further specified in Section 1.2 of this document.

Off-site work for the project will include producing treatment proposals and treatment reports for each object (including before and after photos). The completed proposals will inform the upcoming treatment.

The contractor is responsible for ordering and purchasing the supplies for this project and should consider this when preparing their fixed cost estimate. As an associated task for this project, the contractor is also responsible for transporting the furniture to and from different locations on the Glenmont grounds, if required, in order to perform their work.

The contractor is responsible for any associated costs related to this transport.

Selected vendor will also be responsible for obtaining pre-approval by NPS staff for selected repair techniques and for anticipated results of any finish work associated with the project that could alter the appearance of the historic garden furniture. In these circumstances, the park advocates using the least invasive method to complete the work while maintaining preservation standards. In these circumstances the park advocates using in-kind materials and methods to complete the work while retaining as much of the original materials as possible. Any proposal containing suggestions, approaches, options, or ideas that do not conform with the above stated information, regarding the required use of in-kind materials or techniques, will not be considered.

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

4.3 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.

4.4 The selected vendor is required to present a certificate of insurance in the coverage amount of $500,000 dollars including coverage for when the contractor is completing installation and de-installation of equipment and supplies on-site, during deliveries, and while performing any other form of on-site work for this project (including welding, if required). Coverage must cover damages accrued during the course of the project either to the 12 pieces of historic garden furniture or any other historic or non-historic features of Glenmont and/or its cultural landscape as well as any historic or non-historic features of the park such as roads, walkways, signage, street lights, fences, etc. (Please note that this also includes damage to natural features and fauna and vehicles).

Contractor must provide proof of liability insurance in the amount of $500,000 dollars as well as standard insurance and bonding which covers the company and its employees against neglect, accident, theft and damage. This shall be provided to the CO. Contractor will also carry insurance to cover injuries to his workmen and damage caused by the workmen. (Please note that this will also include, in addition to the standard coverage, any injuries or damage accrued during welding work). The Vendor must provide a certificate of insurance within ten days of the contract award for the full amount of insurance requested. Contractor shall be responsible for all damages to persons or property that occurs as a result of Contractor’s fault or negligence. The contractor shall take proper safety and health precautions to protect work, workers, the public, and property of others. Selected contractor must be present on-site for these activities as well as for all on-site deliveries.

4.5 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 building finishes and features, damage to historic staircases and steps, damage to historic features on the grounds of Glenmont such as bird feeders, planters, and grave markers;

damage to non historic elements such as vehicles, natural fauna and trees, walkways, roadways, damage to any historic artifacts, or to any building systems or estate areas, etc.

4.6 Hot work is defined as the use of any heat generating equipment such as a heat gun, blow dryer, welding equipment, or a tack iron to complete the project tasks. The selected vendor is responsible for following the park’s Fire Watch and Hot Work procedures during the course of their onsite work. If hot work is part of the bidder’s methodology, this shall be clearly identified in the bidder’s proposal. Please note that any on-site welding must be performed by a certified master welder (professional welding certification) who possesses insurance coverage that equals the amount and type of what is required by the vendor for this project solicitation. See Section 1.2 of this document for more details related to welding requirements for this project.

4.7 Contractor must refrain from storing project equipment on-site during the course of the project and is responsible for funding and purchasing all supplies related to the project, including any museum grade packing supplies that are required for transport of the objects. Contractor must be present for any associated project deliveries which will be arranged by advanced appointment only.

4.8 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 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 relevant 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 all “at risk” components of the

Glenmont grounds, as well as the Glenmont mansion and Glenmont outbuildings, will be protected during the course of on-site project work (includes both historic and non historic elements and park components such as roadways and walkways as well as any protection required for the natural fauna). The Protect-In-Place plan will identify 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

5.2 At the mid waypoint of the contract the selected vendor shall provide the following:

The NPS approved individual treatment proposals for all 12 pieces of historic garden furniture and the historic paint analysis for each of the 12 pieces of garden furniture.

1. two paper copies of the report on 8 1/2 x 11 paper, and

2. one electronic copy of each report in PDF format on a flash drive.

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

B. The selected vendor must also produce an individual treatment report for each of the 12 garden furniture objects detailing the work executed, including before and after color photos of the work as it progresses as well as when it is completed. The Contractor will provide the following condition and treatment reports to the COR:

1. two paper copies of each report on 8 1/2 x 11 paper with color photographs

2. one electronic copy of each report 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 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 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 the Glenmont estate’s components and features, as detailed in other sections of this document, 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 any relevant 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 work place. 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, or other heat generating equipment or welding equipment is by advanced permission only and must adhere to the park’s established Hot Work and Fire Watch procedures. If welding will be part of the bidder’s approach for this project, this must be identified in the bidder’s proposal which will also outline any safety protocols that the vendor initiates in order to prevent damage or injury during welding work.

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 the Glenmont estate, 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.

Potential bidders should take notice of the spacial and egress/access restrictions on the grounds of the Glenmont estate and along 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 and non historic components of the Glenmont estate and the estate’s historic buildings, historic features and artifacts, as well as non historic components such as natural fauna, walkways, and parking lots that may be adjacent to the work site areas on the Glenmont grounds and also along the path of transport/ travel leading to and from these work areas.

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 a ten 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. 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. See other sections of this document for more details regarding these plans.

Midway during the project, the Contractor must produce the 12 individual…