Attachment_1_-_SOW_(Textile_Conservation_JOMU-POCH).pdf

1 | P a g e

STATEMENT OF WORK

TEXTILE COLLECTION CONSERVATION

John Muir National Historic Site

Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial

I. CONFIDENTIALITY

The information developed under this Contract is the property of the United States government and shall be kept in strict confidence.

II. BACKGROUND

Contra Costa County, located in the east San Francisco bay area, includes two National Park Service sites: John Muir National Historic Site (JOMU) and Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial (POCH). Each of these sites contain museum and archival collections which aid in preserving and interpreting the sites’ important history.

Textiles are among the most fragile of museum collection objects. The textiles included in the museum collections at JOMU and POCH range from the wedding ensemble of Louie Muir to a WWII era life preserver. Additional textile types include clothing, linens and decorative furnishings, and quilts. A collection condition survey by a professional conservator was recently completed of these textile collections in 2022. During this survey, object condition reports with photographs and treatment proposals were produced and priorities for treatment identified.

The purpose of this contract is to perform professional conservation treatment, stabilization, and proper archival housing of 35 textile and leather-based objects identified in the 2022 Collection Condition Survey as being first (RED) and second (YELLOW) priority groupings for treatment. See the following Appendices for a description of the objects, current condition, and images:

Appendix A: 16 “RED” level items from John Muir NHS Appendix B: 1 “RED” level item from Port Chicago Naval Magazine NMem Appendix C: 18 “YELLOW” level items from John Muir NHS

RED (Appendices A & B) = Severe and Problematic Damages: This is the severe and immediately pressing category for conservation treatment including insect damages and potential mold issues to be addressed. There may also be significant stains, discoloration, distortions, tears, repairs, and hand-sewn support linings needed.

YELLOW (Appendix C) = Moderate Conservation Issues: This category discerns those details around conservation needs that are not an emergency, but are relevant for the long-term care, preservation, and stabilization of the item. There may be a need for

2 | P a g e surface cleaning, consolidation, minor hand-sewn repairs, and other issues such as relaxing creases, folds, and distortions and re-housing of objects.

III. LOCATION

John Muir National Historic Site 4202 Alhambra Avenue Martinez, CA 94553

IV. PROJECT SUMMARY OF WORK

A. Treatment Proposals The contractor shall review information in Appendices A, B, and C and submit Object Treatment Proposals for each object or groups of similar objects per National Park Service (NPS) Standards as described in the NPS Museum Handbook, Part I, Chapter 8, which is available on the web at https://www.nps.gov/museum/publications/MHI/Chap8.pdf. Treatment Proposals shall include recommendations for appropriate housings. When completed, these reports are to be sent to the National Park Service Contracting Officer Representative (NPS COR) via email attachment, for review and approval. The Treatment Proposals may be in either Microsoft Word (.docx) or Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) file formats.

As an example, treatment proposals may include all or part of the following steps:

Step 1: Anoxia Oxygen Deprivation Step 2: Micro- Hepa Vacuuming Step 3: Antiseptic Surface Cleaning Step 4: Surface Cleaning/De-Acidify Step 5: Stain & Adhesive Residue Removal Step 6: Cellulose Fiber Moisturizing & Conditioning Step 7: Hand Sewn Structural Support & Linings Step 8: Custom Fabricated Display Mounting Step 9: Replacement of Storage Material with new custom Archival Re-Housing Step 10: Wrapping & Packing for Safe Storage/Return Transport

B. Conservation Treatment, Treatment Imaging Documentation and Housings

The contractor shall take before and after treatment digital images of all objects including necessary details. The images shall be file named with the park acronym (JOMU or POCH) followed by the catalog number, component part if applicable, and an abbreviation for the stage of treatment. This naming shall also appear in the digital image.

This shall either be on a card during image capture or added as a layer in Adobe Photoshop after the images are taken. For multiple images per object each image shall be given a unique number inserted at the end of the filename separated by an underscore. All treatment images shall be saved to an external encrypted flash drive.

3 | P a g e

The images shall be captured to create preservation-quality Archival Master Images as 300 ppi TIFF files. Factors such as sharpness, color accuracy, and dynamic range shall be considered to obtain the best quality images. Technical metadata shall be embedded in each image.

A copy of each image captured shall also be created as a Use/Access Image. These shall be saved as 72 ppi JPEG files at 2400 (in width) pixels with an appropriate corresponding length.

The contractor shall complete treatment work as outlined in the approved treatment proposals. If there are any changes to the proposed treatment steps during treatment the contractor shall submit the changes in an email for review and approval by the NPS COR.

C. Treatment Reports The contractor shall prepare and submit treatment reports. The reports shall include:

catalog number; a detailed description of the treatment methodology and materials;

results of any testing conducted; and further recommendations, if any. All reports shall be submitted via external encrypted flash drive and one printed hardcopy.

V. GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

A. The Government will be available for a scheduled walk-through so that the contractor may examine the objects to receive conservation treatment under the project, if desired.

B. The Government will supply the contractor with condition assessments from the 2022 Collection Condition Survey (see the Appendices A, B, and C).

C. The Government will provide the necessary loan paperwork for objects while they are processed off site.

D. The Government shall answer contractor questions about such matters as existing environmental monitoring and control, preventive care of objects, uses of objects, and the park's pest management program.

E. The Government will provide access to relevant park library and archives materials for purposes of related research and collection background information.

F. The Government will provide the contractor with the American Alliance of Museums Standard Facility Report template.

G. The Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) is empowered to inspect and evaluate all work of this Contract for compliance with terms of this Statement of Work.

H. Acceptance of the work of this contract and any changes to the terms of this contract shall be made in writing only by the Contracting Officer.

VI. CONTRACTOR RESPONSIBILITIES

A. Contractor shall accomplish the work in its own secure facility. Prior to execution of work, the contractor shall provide a description of the facility where activities are to be performed, including submitting to the NPS an American Alliance of Museum (AAM) Standard Facility Report. The Contractor must demonstrate that the facility maintains

4 | P a g e adequate climate control, security, and fire detection systems, an has an emergency response plan in place.

B. Contractor will provide archival supplies that adhere to NPS standards and is responsible for all tools and materials necessary to perform the conservation work and appropriate archival enclosures for long-term preservation.

C. The Contractor will not undertake any treatments of the objects until the Object Treatment Proposals are reviewed and approved by the NPS COR. Once a plan is approved, object treatment may commence. The Contractor will perform no actions without NPS COR approval.

D. In completing the Object Treatment Proposals and Object Treatment Reports the contractor will conform to the standards set forth in the NPS Museum Handbook and Appendices. These standards are available on the web at: Chapter 8: Conservation Treatment (nps.gov).

E. The Contractor shall keep close contact with the NPS COR at all times. Any deviations from the treatment proposal plans shall be presented to the Project Manager in writing and work shall not proceed until alternatives are determined and agreed upon.

F. Contractor shall accomplish the work using contractor-owned or -leased hardware and software. Standard software programs appropriate to this project are Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, and Adobe Acrobat.

G. Contractor is responsible for shipping materials to/from NPS site or picking up/delivering if within the local area. At minimum, packing, handling, and transportation of the Government collection shall be executed in accordance with Museum Handbook II, Chapter 5: Outgoing Loans, https://www.nps.gov/museum/publications/MHII/mh2ch5.pdf. Arrangement for pickup and drop off will be made with the NPS COR and will occur during regular curatorial staff hours, Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM.

H. The contractor must comply with the Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Practice of the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (AIC) in all work performed.

I. Work of the contractor will be performed in accordance with all applicable Occupational and Safety Health Administration (OSHA) regulations.

VII. DELIVERABLES

Deliverables:

The following reports will be delivered to the NPS:

1) “Object Treatment Proposal” for each object, or group of similar objects

2) “Final Treatment Report” for all objects (digital and one printed copy)

3) Individual pre and post treatment digital photo files

4) Completed conservation treatment and return of 35 textile-based objects

Each report shall be §508 compliant and delivered as either Microsoft Word (.docx) or Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) file formats, which shall be compatible with Microsoft Word for Microsoft 365 or Adobe Acrobat DC. Final Treatment Report cover page with photograph will include project title, date submitted, name and address including phone number of Contractor. Examples of pre and post treatment photo-documentation should

5 | P a g e be included in the final treatment report as well as all of the individual digital images files provided on a flash drive. See Section IV.B above for image file requirements.

Work Progression:

Work shall be initiated within 10 days of the award.

Period of Performance: 10/1/2023 - 12/31/2024.

The Contractor is responsible for contacting the NPS COR to coordinate an initial onsite inspection if desired. This initial site visit will occur at a time agreeable to the Contractor and the COR. During the onsite inspection, the Contractor will be responsible for all photographs and measurements necessary to document his/her work and recommendations. The contractor may also complete the initial inspection at their own facility after objects are transported or shipped there.

The Contractor will provide the COR with the “Object Treatment Proposal,” in digital format within 21 calendar days of completion of the initial inspection either on-site or at the contractor’s facility. The report should include all supporting documentation, photographs, illustrations and any accompanying drawings. The NPS will have 14 days to approve the documents after receipt.