A1. PWS - Artifact Conservation IDIQ - DRAFT V3.docx

DRAFT PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT (PWS)

ARTIFACT CONSERVATION SERVICES

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE MARINE CORPS (NMMC)

1. Background The National Museum of the Marine Corps (NMMC) acquires, stores, preserves and exhibits the material history representing Marine Corps’ history from 1775 to the present. As part of its mission, the NMMC is tasked with collections stewardship responsibilities to provide professional expertise for all museum artifacts and works of art within the collection located throughout all Marine Corps facilities.

The NMMC curators continually identify museum artifacts that require either conservation and/or stabilization treatment, as needed, to ensure they are managed and maintained in perpetuity. Museum artifacts that are conserved or stabilized may require custom storage boxes, trays, and/or supporting mounts made for the artifacts in preparation for storage and/or display.

2. Scope This requirement is for professional conservation services for artifacts within the NMMC collection. The conservation services required include assessment, treatment, and the fabrication of custom storage boxes, trays, and supporting storage mounts for artifacts, to include a final treatment report and photography of each artifact. See Performance Requirements listed below.

The Government intends to award an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract for this requirement with a 5-year ordering period during which individual Task Orders may be issued/awarded under the master IDIQ contract. The Contractor shall perform services as identified in each Task Order.

3. Performance Requirements

3.1 Tasks: The Contractor shall provide all materials, equipment, and supplies necessary to fully carry out the following Performance Requirements for each Task Order issued. Upon completion of Performance Requirements for each Task Order, the Contractor shall notify the NMMC for final inspection and acceptance of services.

3.1.1 Intake Meeting and Site Visit to NMMC Museum Support Facility (MSF): The Contractor shall be available for an intake meeting within twenty-five (25) days of contract award and to review artifacts requiring conservation on the first Task Order. The intake meeting and review of artifacts may be completed in a single visit. Meeting and site visit will be coordinated directly with the Government Technical Point of Contact (TPOC) and take place at the NMMC MSF.

3.1.2 Conservation Assessment(s)

a. The Contractor shall provide conservation assessments with potential options for conservation and stabilization of artifacts.

i. Conservation assessment shall include inspection, analysis, and evaluation of each artifact to determine conservation needs, recommend intervention techniques and treatment solution(s).

ii. The Contractor may be required to inspect, examine, and evaluate artifacts that have had past conservation treatment to determine if the artifact is still stable and sound or if further conservation and/or stabilization treatment is required. This will allow the NMMC to ensure the artifact is stable if it is scheduled to be placed on exhibit. If treatment is required, the Contractor shall prepare an assessment recommending conservation treatment to complete the necessary work per the direction of the TPOC and/or subject matter expert.

b. Conservation assessments shall be reviewed and approved by the TPOC.

i. Conservation Assessment shall be reviewed, discussed, and approved by the TPOC and/or subject matter expert(s) within ten (10) working days after assessment is received from the Contractor.

ii. Conservation shall not begin until approval is provided to the Contractor by the TPOC, where applicable.

c. Conservation assessments and/or stabilization of artifacts may include, but are not limited to, the following procedures:

i. Cleaning

ii. Removal of dirt, debris, grease, corrosion, verdigris, adhesives, old lacquer

iii. Stabilization of existing parts or artifact finishes

iv. Reintegrate areas of loss

v. Wax and buff surfaces or apply new lacquer to artifact surfaces

d. Conservation assessment for individual artifacts detailing the condition of the artifact shall include the following information:

i. Catalog number

ii. Artifact name/nomenclature

iii. Measurements

iv. Artifact description and condition

v. Recommended conservation treatment(s)

vi. Length of time for work to be completed

vii. The Contractor shall provide firm-fixed pricing for all conservation services required. If more than one treatment option is proposed in the conservation assessment, the Contractor shall provide pricing for each. Any proposed conservation services shall not exceed quoted pricing for billable tasks in the Pricing Table due to the firm-fixed price (FFP) nature of the contract.

viii. Specialized needs of the artifact that should be considered to include housing, proper mounts, etc., and proposal for creation of mounts for storage, boxes, and/or trays for support and safe handling of artifacts.

e. The assessment shall follow the standards as determined by the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (AIC).

3.1.3 Conservation Treatment

a. The Contractor may be required to perform a variety of conservation processes for various types of materials depending on the condition of the artifacts to be conserved and/or stabilized.

b. All conservation treatment processes must be approved by the TPOC and/or subject matter expert(s) prior to beginning conservation treatment. Conservation processes may include, but are not limited to the following:

i. Remove old stickers, labels, markings, old artifact identification tags, tape, unusual residues, and other materials that are not part of the original artifact.

ii. Remove previously applied artifact catalog numbers and reapply the artifact catalog numbers on the artifact(s) if the numbers were required to be removed during conservation.

iii. Stabilize and/or consolidate flaking or unstable paints applied to artifact surfaces; clean and stabilize painted designs where and when necessary. Clean and preserve painted designs on artifact surfaces, minimizing change and maintaining the integrity of the artifact.

iv. Reintegrate areas of loss. Replicate and/or procure for the correct period and style parts or materials to replace or reintegrate areas of loss within an artifact/

v. For medals, ribbon bars or other artifacts with a textile component, treatment may occasionally involve working in conjunction with the NMMC’s contracted textile conservator to complete any necessary treatment required.

vi. All elements separated from the artifacts and unable to be reattached shall be properly labeled with the artifact name and catalog number and returned to the TPOC in a proper storage container.

c. Provide a final treatment report for each artifact to include the following information:

i. Artifact catalog number

ii. Artifact name/nomenclature

iii. Artifact measurements

iv. Artifact condition and description

v. Detail of new condition and conservation treatment(s) performed

· The treatment report shall include any conservation treatment applied and the steps taken to achieve the new condition. The report shall include any previous repairs or restorations discovered during the treatment process.

vi. Photographs

· Photo documentation with before, during, and after images for each artifact after the work is approved by the TPOC and when conservation is complete.

· Artifacts shall be photographed from all sides with detailed photographs of areas of damage or instability and completed conservation treatment to include previous treatments, repairs, and construction techniques prior to conservation.

· Photographs will be included within the body of the conservation treatment report and provided as separate images.

vii. Fabrication details of any mounts created for artifacts

3.1.4 Fabrication of Custom Storage Boxes, Mounts, and/or other applicable storage supports

a. The Contractor may be required to provide custom storage boxes, storage mounts, supports, envelopes, trays, and/or frames for artifacts to prepare them to be safely stored and/or exhibited.

b. Artifacts may require some level of mount and/or framing using fabrics and materials appropriate and safe for display with each individual artifact. When specified, acid-free storage containers, trays, packaging, and/or mounts may be required to be made for safe storage, handling and/or display of artifacts. Storage containers and mounts to be designed shall be done in consultation with the TPOC and/or subject matter experts to ensure they meet the needs and requirements of each individual artifact. Original storage containers and mounts shall be returned to the TPOC and/or subject matter expert properly labeled with catalog number and artifact name.

c. All elements separated from the artifact and unable to be reattached shall be properly labeled with the artifact catalog number and name and returned to the TPOC in a proper storage container and/or properly placed for storage with the custom storage box made for artifact, per the direction of the TPOC and/or subject matter expert.

4. Applicable Information and/or Documents

4.1 Government Technical Point of Contact (TPOC): TPOC contact information to be provided at time of contract award.

4.1.1 The TPOC shall provide background material and information on artifacts, the possible exhibition and/or storage of artifacts to the Contractor, as applicable, for the artifacts requiring conservation. In some cases, there is limited historical data available that shall be provided upon request of the Contractor.

4.1.2 The TPOC may be assisted by multiple subject matter experts. The subject matter experts shall provide technical guidance and clarification in the absence of the TPOC.

4.1.3 The TPOC and/or subject matter experts shall review and approve all work. All work that does not meet the TPOC’s approval shall be rejected and reworked according to the TPOC and/or subject matter expert direction.

4.1.4 The TPOC shall have ten (10) working days to respond to the Contractor requests for information, proposals, or queries by either phone or email.

4.1.5 The TPOC may visit the Contractor’s conservation facility no less than two (2) times over the course of the contract. Each visit shall be coordinated with the Contractor.

4.1.6 The TPOC shall host initial progress meetings, generally in person or via telephone/teleconference call. Schedule, frequency, and duration are to be determined.

4.1.7 The final inspection and acceptance shall take place upon completion of conservation treatment on the agreed upon artifacts and accepted by the TPOC according to the accepted conservation treatment.

4.2 Period of Performance / Ordering Period: The Government intends to award an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity contract (IDIQ) for this requirement with a 5-year ordering period during which individual task orders may be issued/awarded under the master IDIQ contract. The ordering period for the base year shall begin upon the date of contract award.

4.3 Place of Performance:

4.3.1 The Contractor may assess artifact(s) onsite at the NMMC Museum Support Facility (MSF) or at their conservation facility. The Contractor may be required to visit other Marine Corps facilities, as directed by the TPOC, to examine artifacts on display.

4.3.2 The Contractor shall perform all conservation treatment required at their conservation facility, with the exception of artifacts that cannot be moved or transported to the Contractor’s facilities due to fragile condition, weight, or size of artifact.

a. The Contractor shall be able to perform conservation treatment on site at the NMMC and/or MSF for artifacts that cannot be easily moved or transported to the Contractor’s conservation facility due to fragile condition, weight, or size of artifact.

4.3.3 In coordination with the Contractor, the NMMC may provide transportation services for artifacts to and from the Contractor’s conservation facility. The Contractor must also be able to provide safe and secure transportation and/or in some cases, schedule fine art transportation/shipping for all artifacts that are transportable, to and from the designated NMMC location and their conservation facility, as required. The Contractor shall comply with all shipping and hauling requirements of the Commonwealth of Virginia, the USMC, and all other associated authorities. All deliveries shall be coordinated with the TPOC.

a. The Contractor must be able to receive artifacts and have a secure location in which they can be received safely and free of environmental hazards.

4.3.4 The Contractor shall be responsible for their transportation to and from any NMMC facility unless otherwise agreed upon with the TPOC.

4.4 List of Deliverables

Inspection, analysis, and evaluation of each artifact to determine conservation needs, recommend intervention techniques and treatment solution(s).

Specific Conservation work required for each artifact.

Conservation treatment applied detailing new condition, include photos of each artifact before, during and after treatment; if necessary, include fabrication details of any mounts created for artifacts.

Production of any custom mounts, boxes, frames, and/or other applicable materials for artifact(s) being conserved.

4.5 Government Property: The Government shall provide any artifact requiring conservation services under this contract to the Contractor. The artifact(s) provided by the NMMC under this contract are considered Government property. Once the conservation assessment is received and approved by the TPOC, the NMMC shall provide the artifact(s) to the Contractor for conservation work. Upon transfer and return of the artifact(s) to and from the NMMC, artifact transfer documentation is required for NMMC records and accountability.

4.6 Delivery Addresses: All artifacts and any/all deliverables shall be delivered to one of the following locations in coordination with the TPOC:

4.6.1 National Museum of the Marine Corps (NMMC)

1775 Semper Fidelis Way Triangle, VA 22172

4.6.2 NMMC Museum Support Facility (MSF)

17001 Interstate Dr. Ste. 130 Dumfries, VA 22026

4.6.3 Historic House

801 G Street SE Washington, D.C. 20003

4.7 Hours of Operation: The Contractor must be available to work during normal work hours in coordination with the TPOC, from 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except on U.S. Federal Holidays. Visit Federal Holidays (opm.gov) to view the applicable listing of U.S. Federal Holidays.

4.8 Contractor Personnel / Qualifications:

4.8.1 The Contractor shall adhere to the professional standards set forth in the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic (AIC) Works Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Practice.

4.8.2 The Contractor shall provide a Certificate of Insurance to ensure proper insurance coverage of a minimum of $500,000, as determined by the TPOC while in transport to and from the conservation facility and during the conservation process.

4.8.3 The Contractor’s conservation facilities shall provide the appropriate climate and humidity controls in place providing a stable environment for Museum property meeting the following requirements: 50-60% relative humidity and 68-72 degrees temperature Fahrenheit with plus or minus 5% fluctuation.

4.9 Travel:

4.9.1 The Government intends to award a Firm-Fixed Price (FFP) contract type. The Contractor is responsible for all travel/per diem related expenses required to perform this contract. Any anticipated travel costs in the performance of this contract shall be included as part of the quoted rate(s). Any travel matters associated with the performance of this contract are the sole responsibility of the Contractor. The Government shall not have any financial responsibility other than paying for the FFP on each line item.

4.10 Government Facility Access: The Contractor must possess a current valid sate driver’s license and/or form of government approved official identification containing a personal photograph. The identification is required for security purposes to access active military installations.

(End of PWS)