Attachment_A_Statement_of_Work.pdf

ATTACHMENT A

STATEMENT OF WORK

EXHIBIT DESIGN-BUILD SERVICES

BOOTT COTTON MILLS MUSEUM INTERACTIVES

1. PROJECT BACKGROUND

Lowell National Historical Park (LOWE) is located in Lowell, Massachusetts, 30 miles northwest of Boston. Lowell National Historical Park preserves and interprets the historic structures and stories of the Industrial Revolution and its legacies in Lowell, serving as a catalyst for revitalization of the city’s physical and economic environment and promoting cultural heritage and community programming.

This project shall enhance the visitor experience and provide greater accessibility through new interactive, manipulative exhibit elements to supplement the self-directed interpretation of modules on the second floor of the Boott Cotton Mills Museum. The new exhibit components will enable visitors to better comprehend specific narratives presented in the museum, specifically: plantation agriculture, mechanized cotton cloth manufacturing, and the socialization of workers via automated factory production.

Boott Cotton Mills Museum tells stories related to the industrial revolution in textile manufacturing, and especially the cultural history of that transformation with Lowell as microcosm. The museum uses objects, images, and oral histories to interpret the park’s interpretive themes:

The creation of the Waltham-Lowell system helped to change the nature and meaning of work by revolutionizing labor relations in the United States and transforming gender, racial, and ethnic identities ultimately leading to socioeconomic opportunity and inequity.

The accumulation of capital led to new investment opportunities in the United States centered on industrialization. Innovations in large-scale production systems in Lowell affected society in social, political, and economic ways and became a model for the future.

Through innovations in textile production, transportation, waterpower, and canal engineering, Lowell became a preeminent industrial city and helped propel the United States into a new industrial age. Cycles of innovation and technological development shaped, and continue to shape, the city and Lowell’s influence on the world.

The commodification and use of abundant natural resources in Lowell, as part of a global Industrial Revolution, changed human relationships with the environment and modernized societies throughout the world but resulted in environmental damage that presents challenges today.

Lowell is a microcosm of the historical and contemporary shifting of cultural identities and tensions brought about by broader social changes such as industrialization, urbanization, and globalization.

From its earliest days as a planned industrial city, through boom and bust economic cycles to today’s historic preservation renaissance, Lowell’s urban landscape has evolved and now serves as a model of development and revitalization.

For more information about the museum, please refer to the LOWE website:

https://www.nps.gov/lowe/planyourvisit/boott-cotton-mills-museum.htm.

2. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

The purpose of this contract is to provide the Planning, Design and Fabrication of five (5) interactive, manipulative exhibit components that supplement five (5) displays in the Boott Cotton Mills Museum at LOWE. The project includes coordination with the Contracting Officer (CO), Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR), and park staff and partners to integrate exhibit design with related exhibition gallery, building and infrastructure requirements.

The contractor shall provide all services including labor, materials, equipment, facilities, and travel necessary to plan, develop, design and build new interpretive manipulative display components, based on best practices and approaches to self-directed visitor experience and engagement. Design services shall include exhibit structures, mechanisms, furniture, graphics, electronics equipment and software, images, artwork, and any other custom elements.

Work shall also include comprehensive research for obtaining all necessary reference information and materials to design, specify, and provide comprehensive reference material for all the models, props, and artwork required in this contract. Work requires coordination, through the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR), with staff at the park, and with park partners in the Tsongas Industrial History Center to coordinate the exhibit design/build effort with any necessary building infrastructure improvements. The park is responsible for the removal of existing exhibits.

All work under this contract shall be performed in accordance with the terms herein, including all attachments. The government shall furnish, as appropriate, required data, materials, and access to project information necessary to perform the production of work as required.

2.1. Point of Contact

The contractor’s Project Manager (PM) shall be the primary point of contact between the contractor and COR. The contractor’s PM shall have full authority to act for the contractor on all matters relating to this contract, and shall perform the following work:

1. Be available to take or respond to telephone calls or electronic mail messages during normal hours of operation (8:30 am–5:00 pm local time).

2. Establish office procedures to ensure that messages are relayed to the Project Manager when out of the office or because of time zone differences.

3. Respond to emergency messages from the COR on the same day they are received.

All non-urgent messages from the COR shall be responded to in no more than two (2) business days.

2.2. Quality Control

The contractor shall provide quality control to ensure that all elements of project work meet the requirements of the contract specifications and that all modifications are implemented. The Project Manager shall provide routine inspections of in-house and subcontracted work to ensure it meets contract specifications and shall oversee the quality of work produced and implemented at all phases of the project. Any work found not acceptable or compliant with the specifications shall be corrected prior to inspection or review by the COR.

2.3. Government Furnished Property

If government-furnished material is provided during the course of the contract, the contractor shall receive, inspect, and inventory all government-furnished materials and ensure that this material is forwarded to the appropriate unit or person within the contractor’s organization for use in the project. The Project Manager shall notify the COR via email within seven (7) days after receipt if government-furnished materials are not satisfactory for their intended purpose.

The Project Manager shall notify the COR via email as soon as possible, but no later than three

(3) business days, if government- furnished materials are lost or damaged while in the contractor’s possession. The contractor shall be responsible for the security and protection of government-furnished property or materials in connection with this contract. Following acceptance of all work by the government, the contractor shall return to the COR all government-furnished property.

2.4. Schedule

The contractor shall schedule, coordinate, oversee, and manage work produced and installed under this contract. Track work progress to ensure that the project is completed according to the schedule. Coordinate and confirm the dates for all submittals and meetings with the COR.

2.4.1 Status Reports

Provide a monthly status report to the COR that includes the status of the project, issues that affect the schedule and budget, and an updated schedule based on the information at hand.

2.4.2 Project Schedule

The contractor shall produce a detailed, complete project schedule listing all required submittals and their review times. The project schedule shall also include site visits, shop inspections, installation activities, and closeout submittals.

The contractor shall submit a preliminary project schedule to the COR for review and approval seven (7) working days prior to the post award meeting. The contractor shall update the approved schedule and resubmit to the COR three (3) working days prior to every project status meeting for the life of the project.

2.4.3 Installation Schedule

The contractor shall coordinate and confirm dates with the COR for shipment, delivery, and installation at the exhibit site.

2.5.Meetings, Travel, and Presentations

Meet with the CO, COR, and park staff as specified below. The contractor shall document all issues discussed and decisions made relative to the project. The contractor shall prepare and distribute to the COR a trip report or meeting minutes of all telephone conversations, site visits, in-person meetings, or other discussions related to the project.

Work includes the additions, deletions, and changes as follows:

Meeting Purpose Location or Type Req. Contractor Attendees

3.2.B Post Award At LNHP Project Manager Exhibit Developer and Exhibit Designer

One-half working day on site.

3.3.A.2 SD 1 charrette

Online Project Manager Exhibit Developer and Exhibit Designer

One 4-hour meeting.

3.3.B.2 SD 2 Review Online

Project Manager Exhibit Developer and Exhibit Designer

One 4-hour meeting

3.4.A.3 DD1 presentation

Online Project Manager Exhibit Developer and Exhibit Designer

One 4-hour meeting

3.4.B.2 DD2 presentation

Online Project Manager Exhibit Developer and Exhibit Designer

One 3-hour meeting

3.4.C.3 DD3 presentation

Online Project Manager Exhibit Developer and Exhibit Designer

One 3-hour meeting

3.5.A.2

PD 1

Online Project Manager Exhibit Developer and Exhibit Designer

One 3-hour meeting

3.5.B.2

PD 2

Online Project Manager Exhibit Developer and Exhibit Designer

One 2-hour meeting

3.7.A.1 On-site or Online

TBD

Project Manager Exhibit Developer and Exhibit Designer

One 2-hour meeting

3.8.A Production Review

On-site or Online

TBD

Project Manager Exhibit Developer and Exhibit Designer

One 4-hour meeting

3.8.B Production Review

On-site or Online

TBD

Project Manager Exhibit Developer and Exhibit Designer

One 4-hour meeting

3.10 Delivery &

Installation

At LNHP Project Manager Exhibit Developer and Exhibit Designer

One working day

3.11 Closeout Online Project Manager

Exhibit Developer and Exhibit Designer

One 2-hour meeting

2.6. Submittals

At any point in the exhibit planning and design process the COR may require informal submittals of the contractor’s work-in-progress to document the current status and level of production of the project.

The contractor shall coordinate all submittals and review them for legibility, accuracy, completeness, and compliance with contract requirements. Forward all submittals to the COR for review and approval. Receive all reviewed submittals and take appropriate action according to the approval or rejection by the COR, as follows:

2.6.1 Approvals and Rejections

A. Approved Submittals – The contractor shall ensure that all changes, revisions, or additions required by review comments are addressed and incorporated into future submittals.

B. Rejected Submittals - When submittals are rejected, the COR will notify the contractor, in writing, identifying the reasons for rejection. The contractor shall ensure that the submittal is completed and/or revised as required and resubmitted within the time scheduled by the COR. Reasons for rejection include:

Incomplete Submittals – Approval of the submittal is delayed because required elements are missing. The contractor shall submit all missing elements.

Unacceptable Submittals – The submittal is rejected due to poor quality of work or work that does not otherwise meet the established project goals. The contractor shall submit new material.

2.6.2. Submittal Format

A. Three (3) printed copies and one (1) electronic PDF copy of each document submittal is required.

B. Two (2) copies of graphic prints and material samples are required.

C. One (1) physical sample of models, mock-ups, and prototypes is required.

D. Submittals shall be sent via overnight delivery service unless otherwise specified in the scope of work below.

E. Both printed and electronic submittals shall be delivered seven (7) calendar days prior to scheduled presentation of material.

F. Any Microsoft Office submittals shall be provided in an accessible 508-compliant format.

2.6.3. Transmittal Sheet

The contractor shall include a transmittal in the form of a printed letter, PDF document, e-mail, or fax cover sheet along with all samples, proofs, prints, reports, digital files, digital images, and multimedia files, sent from the contractor to the COR. This includes all copies sent to the park or other copied recipients.

The transmittal shall include the following information:

"From" (Contractor's name and contact information);

"To" (COR's name);

Date submittal was shipped;

Project name and park name;

Itemized list of contents; and

List of copied recipients who received the same submittals.

2.7. Accessibility

Exhibits planned, designed, and fabricated for the National Park Service shall follow the latest published version of Attachment 4, Programmatic Accessibility Guidelines for National Park Service Interpretive Media. These Guidelines are a combination of best practices, NPS and Department of the Interior directives, and federal laws. Federal laws include the Architectural Barriers Act, Sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act as amended, and the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act.

Accessibility requirements for visitors with specific disabilities shall be addressed within the designed and built exhibits. If design decisions pose particular challenges to accessibility (such as artifacts or objects behind glass), additional attention shall be paid to a full description of the accessibility solutions. See Attachment 4, Programmatic Accessibility Guidelines for National Park Service Interpretive Media for requirements addressed under specific disabilities.

2.7.1 Audiovisual Accessibility for Exhibits

Every audio, silent video, and audiovisual program in every exhibit is required to provide descriptive audio, hearing assistance, captions, and/or navigation buttons, as follows:

A. Audio-only Programs

Audio-only programs require hearing assist for the hard of hearing and captions for the deaf. The hearing assist requirement may be met using either sound wands with volume control and reset, or a FM transmitter and handheld receiver.

Captions for the deaf are displayed on a monitor synched with the audio.

B. Silent Video Programs

Silent videos require descriptive audio for people who are blind or have low vision, and notification, via on-screen caption or label adjacent to the monitor, for the deaf or hard of hearing that the video is silent. Delivery of descriptive audio is provided in the exhibit through a headset jack, a sound wand, or via Wi-Fi streaming in conjunction with the Exhibit Audio Description Tour app. When descriptive audio is delivered via headset jack, a label with the raised AD symbol and headset icon is required.

C. Audiovisual Programs

Audiovisual programs in exhibits require descriptive audio for people who are blind or have low vision, hearing assist for the hard of hearing, and captions for the deaf. Any of the delivery methods for audio-only programs and silent video programs may be used to meet these requirements.

D. Navigation Buttons Touch screen user interfaces require external control navigation buttons for people with limited mobility.

2.8 Design Parameters

The contractor shall plan and design exhibits for the Boott Cotton Mills Museum in accordance with the project attachments, in close consultation with the COR and project subject matter experts, and the following:

A. General Design Approach

i. The Museum occupies 18,800 ft2 over two floors of the historic Boott Mill No.

6, at 115 John Street, Lowell, MA. The second-floor exhibition gallery (9,400 ft2) is the space in which the interactive components will be deployed. The exhibits on this floor tell the stories of the transformation of farmland into the city of Lowell, the source of raw materials in the South, the source of initial capital in the trans-Atlantic trade, and of the social and technological processes associated with industrial textile production. Museum exhibits are moderate-to-highly complex interpretive exhibits that use appropriate technologies, provide interactive opportunities, allow visitors to engage in the story at different levels, appeal to different learning styles and ages, and allow for visitors to actively participate in learning about the cultural diversity of Lowell.

ii. Following the overall visual and environmental design of the gallery, the interactive components should facilitate a critical and dialogic experience of the specific exhibition themes and concepts and enable physical and cognitive accessibility.

iii. The visual and interface design of the interactive components should be consistent across all components, to facilitate ease of use and to cue visitors that each is ‘hands on.’ Exhibit design should be sufficiently distinct to differentiate opportunities for manipulation from other types of exhibits in the gallery, such as objects or models.

iv. Design of supporting furniture should emulate materials and/or finishes used in existing exhibition furniture and display objects.

B. Multiple User Perspectives

i. The industrialization of cotton manufacturing and in Lowell produced a multicultural city and the local population continues to reflect that multiculturality. Visitors to the museum may be loosely categorized as: local residents, students with their teachers on a class fieldtrip, family groups on weekends, and heritage tourists. The museum on average receives about 80,000 visitors annually, of whom about 45,000 are primary grade students on class fieldtrips with their teachers.

ii. Although users overwhelmingly share an interest in subject matter, each of these user types bring their own distinct interest and familiarity with museums and with self-directed learning.

iii. The overarching objective for the interactive components in this project is to facilitate visitor dialogue about and insight into the social processes and changing understandings and attitudes that took place via objects, material culture and technologies; to understand how those social practices changed lives.

C. Visitor Experience: Self-Directed, Multi-generational, and Unstaffed

i. Interactive exhibit elements in the Boott Cotton Mills Museum should be intuitive, self-directed, and support free-choice informal learning. They should not require complex printed instruction or staff mediation.

ii. Exhibits shall be robust enough to withstand frequent use (>100 times per day) and potential misuse or experimentation such as by younger visitors.

Components and constructions should be physically safe, fitted with appropriate guards, and shall conceal or cover pinch points and sharp edges.

iii. The exhibit components will primarily facilitate self-directed, object-centered, experiential, and dialogic learning practice. Secondarily, exhibit components will support mediated educational programs by park staff. The exhibit will be designed in a way that is useful to individuals, dyads, and cross-generational pairs and cohorts.

Small cohorts should be able to cluster around exhibit.

Components should allow but not require multiuser interaction.

Components should employ universal design standards.

Exhibit should foster observation and interactions that prompt further dialogic inquiry.

Exhibits should enable ‘proximal development’ of cognitive and affective learning within user cohorts.

Directions – if needed – should be conversational, using widely understood vocabulary (fourth-grade reading level).

Exhibits should leverage visitor understanding and experience.

iv. All exhibit directions or interpretive copy should be presented in English, Spanish and Khmer languages, and follow LNHP directives for best methods for translation and presentation.

D. Interpretive Direction

i. In the initial Post Award charrette and all subsequent work under this task order, the contractor shall focus on the following themes and/or ideas both historical and modern, derived from the interpretive plan for the museum, and the park’s comprehensive long-range interpretive plan. These themes derive from community-driven processes that LOWE has undertaken, following its enabling legislation.

Time – experienced by enslaved producers

The Industrial Revolution in America and Britain was propelled by the mechanization of textile production and particularly of spinning and weaving cotton. All of the cotton used in Lowell came from enslaved agricultural workers in the US South. This component should especially help younger learners to comprehend the human effort of 19th century practices of cotton growing and harvesting. Cotton growers worked from sun-up to sun-down and were tasked with daily quotas for planting and harvesting. Acreage was a typical metric for planting; the hundred-pound sack was a typical metric for harvesting. Failure to meet planting or harvesting quotas was severely punished.

Time – experienced by waged workers

Factory work is organized by time also including the time required to produce a profitable amount of product, the time required by the machine operation, and the time required by the dependencies of factory production. Failure to meet these time constraints are punished by loss of wages (i.e. piecework, docking), physical safety (i.e. working in close quarters with rapidly moving equipment, and loss of livelihood (being dismissed and/or blacklisted).

Discipline is both external (punishment by superiors) and internalized (conforming to employer or owner demands).

Agency – the social process of industrial manufacturing

The initial workforce in Lowell, as in other manufacturing locales, was drawn from mainly younger and unmarried women, from subsistence farms throughout New England. For these workers, factory production was a new social environment that brought them into close contact with others who they would not have met on the farm and introduced them to peer experts whose own life experiences were both revelatory and identifiable.

Ingenuity – 19th century engineering as practical experiment

Factory jobs concentrate producers (workers) and technologies (machinery) in production that results in consistent and useful output. In the early 19th century, most engineers learned ‘on the job’, while fewer received formal training. Solutions were arrived at through trial and error. These early efforts demonstrated that tools and technology come about through practice, rather than theoretical design, and not all at one time. Improvements combine planning and serendipity, so that not all improvements are successful; not all limitations are failures.

Technology and Wellbeing – factory work as deskilling, repetitive, tedium

Factories are noisy and chaotic, and integrated production requires strict dependencies between processes and outputs. Workers – ‘operatives’ in the jargon of the mill owners – were considered interchangeable, ‘productivity’ measures enforced factory discipline, tools were directed and assigned by overseers and not principally elected by tool users. Jobs became ‘operations’ with limited associated skills, and working conditions, rather than end-product, became a major consideration for workers. Work was both tedious and hazardous. Unlike artisanal practice, no single factory worker could say ‘this is the result of my labor and mine alone.’ Workers seek to improve their conditions of work in a variety of ways.

Attachment 9 is the compiled text for the complete Boott Cotton Mills Museum exhibition, Lowell – Visions of Industrial America, which the interactive components will help to explain. The exhibition features a wide range of objects, images, models, and oral histories.

The interactive components should conceptually reference those elements, the interpretive text for which is highlighted in yellow in Attachment 9. The interactive components will be located adjacent to those exhibits as follows:

o Plantation Economy / Plantation South – Lash and Loom (Time) o Working in the Mill: Spinning (Time) o Unhealthy Conditions / Working in the Mill: Carding (Wellbeing) o Drawing-in Frame (Ingenuity) o Weaving (Agency)

E. Maintenance and Update

Interactive components should enable routine maintenance and repair by qualified park personnel at low or moderate cost.

2.8.1 Use Rights

The contractor shall acquire use rights and production quality copies of all third-party images and other intellectual property (IP) required to produce the graphic layouts in the exhibit as specified in Attachment 1, Exhibit Planning, Design, and Fabrication Specifications, Section

17. The contractor shall budget for acquisition of use rights and production quality images and other IP used in the exhibits. This will be a not-to-exceed (NTE) contract line item (CLIN) for the acquisition of images and usage rights, not including labor. All costs associated with this work will be reimbursed on an actual cost basis. Back up information will be required with invoices requesting payment for this work.

2.8.2 Production Budget

For this project, the contractor shall design to a Production Budget of $104,500.

The Production Budget shall include:

a. All costs for purchasing, fabricating, transporting, and installing all exhibit elements as specified in the “National Park Service Standard Exhibit Planning, Design, & Fabrication Specifications, April 2020” and its references.

b. Production of original mechanical and electronic interactive programs.

c. Related fabrication costs including but not limited to project management, shop drawings, samples, packing, shipping, and project closeout.

d. Production of original artwork including, but not limited to, illustrations, maps, and photographs.

e. Acquisition of all pre-existing images required for the exhibition, including use-rights for the life of the exhibition.

f. Production or acquisition of all custom elements including, but not limited to, natural history models, taxidermy, reproduction furnishings, topographic maps, architectural models, sculpted or cast human figures, custom electronic elements, specialty lighting, mechanical and electromechanical devices.

g. Fabrication of any supporting museum furniture.

The Production Budget does not include:

a. Building infrastructure improvements such as carpet, paint, and electrical wiring.

b. Conservation of objects.

This project will not require infrastructure improvements or object conservation.

3. DESIGN/BUILD SERVICES

3.1. General

The contractor shall provide all technical, professional, non-personal services, including all labor, materials, equipment, supplies, facilities, travel, management, and supervision necessary to provide LOWE with exhibit design/build services for the Boott Cotton Mills Museum manipulative exhibits.

Work includes: the development of Schematic Design 1 & 2; Design Development 1, 2, & 3;

Production Design 1 & 2; Production Support; Pre-Fabrication and Fabrication; Shop Inspections;

Building Preparation; Installation; Primary Installation, Punch List, and Audio Description; and Closeout.

3.1.1. Specifications

The contractor shall perform all services required hereunder in accordance with this Statement of Work (SOW) and all attachments.

3.1.2. Design Considerations

In planning, designing, and fabrication these manipulative exhibits for the Boott Cotton Mills Museum, the contractor shall take into account as essential design considerations the following:

life safety, barrier-free design, accessibility/universal design, sustainability, energy conservation, artifact conservation including daylight modulation from skylights and windows, if applicable, control of sound-spill from AV programs, security provisions, integration and compliance with existing architecture where relevant, lamping, functionality, maintenance, conservation, and durability restrictions.

Exhibit lighting design and installation shall prioritize artifact conservation, energy conservation, sustainability, and maintenance, and shall be appropriate to the exhibition space.

LED track lighting shall be the default standard. Other lighting systems may be used where indicated by design or functional requirements and as approved by the COR.

3.1.3. Codes and Standards

All exhibits shall be designed in accordance with applicable codes, standards, design parameters or regulations noted in this or other sections of this contract, and in the location in which the exhibit shall be installed. In case of conflict between codes, standards, or regulations, the most stringent requirement shall apply.

A. Reference to standard specifications of any technical society, organization, or association, or to codes, manuals, or regulations of Federal or local authorities shall mean the latest standard, code manual, regulation, specification, or tentative specification adopted and published at least thirty (30) days prior to submittal of proposals, unless specifically stated otherwise.

B. Any code, standard, regulation, or specification listed below, in the attachments or otherwise referenced herein, that references the “authority having jurisdiction”, “local authority”, or “governmental authority” shall be interpreted to refer to the Contracting Officer as being this authority for purposes of interpreting/clarifying codes, standards, regulations, and specifications.

3.1.4. Post-award Conference Call

Upon award, the contractor shall participate in a project kick-off conference call to review contracting requirements and procedures with the project CO and COR.

3.2. Pre-Design

In Pre-design, the contractor shall gain a clear understanding of the project’s history, the park’s resources, and the roles of other project team members and stakeholders. Work in this phase focuses on preparing a solid foundation for all work that follows, ensuring that the project is logically structured, and its goals are understood and realistically attainable within the budget, schedule, and other specified parameters.

The contractor shall:

A. Review government furnished materials (all contract attachments).

B. The Project Manager, Exhibit Developer, and Exhibit Designer shall travel to LOWE, in Lowell, MA, for the post-award meeting and exhibit planning workshop. The meeting shall consist of a one-day site visit and meeting and the contractor shall complete the following work:

i. Orientation to park experience

ii. Identify and document media and object resources at park

iii. Orientation to and documentation of architectural space

iv. Conduct Exhibit Planning Workshop, including:

a. Analyze space and propose recommendations

b. Review existing planning documents

c. Review and/or develop design criteria

v. Review and/or develop themes, goals, and objectives, including:

a. Define target audience

b. Define the desired visitor experience

c. Document results of workshop

C. Identify sources for existing media resources and develop Resource Package Abstract.

D. Develop Project Brief, including:

i. Current overview of project, including updated information and understandings

ii. Interpretive themes and objectives

iii. Identification and analysis of all project goals in terms of their effect on the development and successful completion of the exhibit

iv. Analysis of the project budget, including review and/or development of a Class C Production Estimate

v. Analysis of the project schedule, and all other known parameters on the development and successful completion of the project.

3.3. Schematic Design

Work in this phase is organized into two (2) sub-phases: Schematic 1 (SD1) and Schematic 2 (SD2).

Schematic 1 includes development of several alternative schemes for organizing both the interpretive content and physical layout of the exhibits. Schematic 2 includes development of a preferred alternative. Major stories, exhibit elements, and presentation techniques are illustrated and described.

A. Schematic Design 1

During this phase, the contractor shall:

1. Conduct Content Research, including:

a. Survey repositories of relevant resources

b. Develop Resource Package Level 1

2. Develop Schematic Design 1, including three (3) schematic design exhibit alternatives:

a. Bubble diagrams that identify themes and concepts, placed in relationship to each other and to the physical space

b. One (1) preliminary sketch for each alternative that communicates the overall design intent

c. A title for each alternative, with written descriptions of how each scheme accomplishes the established project goals, including working titles and narrative of all exhibit scenes

d. A narrative addressing preliminary Universal Design and accessibility approaches, including proposed approach for audio description

e. Class B Production Cost Estimate and life-cycle cost estimates for each alternative.

3. Present Schematic Design 1 / Conduct Design Charette

a. The Project Manager, Exhibit Developer, and Exhibit Designer shall meet online with LOWE.

b. The meeting shall consist of one 4-hour virtual meeting and conference call with screen-sharing capacity. The Project Manager, Exhibit Developer, and Exhibit Designer shall attend the entire meeting.

4. Participate in a conference call to reconcile COR review comments and provide written documentation of all decisions made.

B. Schematic Design 2

During this phase the contractor shall:

1. Develop and submit Schematic Design 2 with Preferred Design Alternative including:

a. Written exhibit walkthrough

c. Overall design approach, including:

d. Resource Package Level 2, with its content integrated into exhibit walkthrough description

e. Class B Production Estimate and revised life-cycle cost estimates for preferred alternative.

2. Present Schematic Design 2 as follows:

a. The contractor shall facilitate a 4-hour virtual meeting and conference call with screen-sharing capacity to present the Schematic Design 2.

b. The Project Manager, Exhibit Developer, and Exhibit Designer shall attend.

c. The contractor shall be responsible for purchasing the licenses required to host the online meeting.

3. Participate in a conference call to reconcile COR review comments and provide written documentation of all decisions made.

3.4. Design Development

Work in this phase is organized into three (3) sub-phases: Design Development 1 (DD1), Design Development 2 (DD2), and Design Development 3 (DD3). Design Development 1 builds on the plan approved in the Schematic Design phase. Its emphasis is on confirming all major elements of the design and includes continued content planning. Design Development 2 focuses on the two-dimensional exhibit content, including the first full drafts of graphic layouts and all exhibit text.

Design Development 3 focuses heavily on developing all interpretive content in detail, with continued design refinement to ensure effective presentation of the content within the exhibit.

A. Design Development 1

During this phase the contractor shall:

1. Develop and submit the following:

a. Overview with narrative description, including interpretive purpose statements and objective, for each manipulative exhibit component.

b. Perspective view renderings that communicate design intent of each manipulative exhibit component.

c. Exhibit Design Drawings.

d. Sample graphic layouts/graphic approach/typography.

e. Text Level 1.

f. Preliminary material, finish, and color selections.

g. AV Concept Treatment, and proposed program type and display format for each proposed Electronic Program.

h. Revised Audio Description Production Plan, to include proposed audio description trigger types, trigger locations, and Table of Contents main menu selections.

i. Preliminary Content Management Database including entries for the following:

AO - accessioned objects

CE - custom elements, including any non-accessioned objects

EE and EP - audiovisual and digital interactive elements

IM - images

LA - text labels

j. Updated Class B Production Cost Estimate and life-cycle cost estimate.

2. Provide recommendations for any alterations that are needed to the facility to accommodate the new manipulative exhibit components (i.e., attachment, power, floor or wall treatments/colors). In order to coordinate with any exhibit area electrical upgrades, the contractor shall provide an electrical plan with the locations for electrical, conduit, and other building coordination needs; and, information regarding the electrical loads for all exhibit spaces to inform, and be coordinated with, the building renovation work.

3. Present Design Development 1 as follows:

a. The contractor shall facilitate a 4-hour virtual meeting and conference call with screen-sharing capacity to present Design Development 1.

b. The Project Manager, Exhibit Developer, and Exhibit Designer shall attend.

4. Participate in a conference call to reconcile COR review comments and provide written documentation of all decisions made.

B. Design Development 2

During this phase the contractor shall:

1. Develop and submit the following:

a. Full draft of all graphic layouts.

b. Text Level 2.

c. A first draft of the AV Program Production Treatment for each Electronic Program.

d. Selected Exhibit Design Drawing sheets, as required to show major design changes requested at Design Development 1.

2. Present Design Development 2 as follows:

a. The contractor shall facilitate a 3-hour virtual meeting and conference call with screen-sharing capacity to present Design Development 2.

b. The Project Manager, Exhibit Designer, and Exhibit Developer shall attend.

c. The contractor shall be responsible for purchasing the licenses required to host the online meeting.

3. Participate in a conference call to reconcile COR review comments and provide written documentation of all decisions made.

C. Design Development 3

During this phase the contractor shall:

1. Develop and submit the following:

a. Graphic Layouts Package, organized according to manipulative exhibit component, to include:

Overview with narrative description, including interpretive purpose statements and objective, for each manipulative exhibit component.

Perspective view renderings that accurately show the placement of graphic layouts within the three-dimensional exhibits.

Complete graphic layouts, showing full layouts as well as enlarged sections with text and image at legible size for review.

Text Level 3.

b. Exhibit Design Drawings.

c. Content Management Database to include the following reports:

Comprehensive Exhibit Plan

AO - Accessioned Objects Schedules

AO - Accessioned Objects Facsimile Sheets

CE - Custom Elements Schedules

CE - Custom Elements Facsimile Sheets

EE - Electronic Equipment Schedules

EP - Electronic Program Schedules

GL - Graphic Layout Schedules

IM - Image Schedules

IM - Image Facsimile Sheets

d. Electronic Programs Report including:

Updated AV Program Concept Treatments and AV Program Production Treatments for AV Programs and Digital Interactives.

Flow charts for Electromechanical Programs.

Electronic Equipment locations, wiring paths, circuit, and switch locations.

Audiovisual, digital interactive, and electromechanical technical specifications.

Updated Audio Description Production Plan, to include audio description trigger types, trigger locations, and Table of Contents segment titles and sub-menu selections.

e. Content Specialties Reference Package.

f. Material, finish, and color samples.

g. Updated Class B Production Cost Estimate and life- cycle cost estimate.

2. Provide updates to the DD1 recommendations for any alterations that are needed to the facility to accommodate the new exhibition (i.e., attachment, floor and wall treatments/colors), and electrical requirements (including loads).

3. Present Design Development 3 as follows:

a. The Project Manager, Exhibit Developer, Exhibit Designer shall facilitate a 3-hour virtual meeting and conference call with screen-sharing capacity to present Design Development 3.

b. The Project Manager, Exhibit Developer, and Exhibit Designer shall attend.

4. Participate in a conference call to reconcile COR review comments and provide written documentation of all decisions made.

3.5. Production Design

Work in this phase is organized into two (2) sub-phases: Production Design 1 (PD1) and Production Design 2 (PD2). Production Design 1 includes preparation of all documents needed for exhibit fabricators to understand and price the project. Production Design 2 includes completion of all other outstanding design and content development tasks.

A. Production Design 1

During this phase the contractor shall:

1. Develop and submit the following:

a. Graphic Layouts Package, organized according to manipulative exhibit component, to include:

Overview with narrative description, including interpretive purpose statements and objective, for each manipulative exhibit component.

Perspective view renderings that accurately show the placement of graphic layouts within the three-dimensional exhibits.

Complete graphic layouts, showing full layouts as well as enlarged sections with text and image at legible size for review.

Text Level 4.

b. Exhibit Design Drawings.

c. Content Management Database to include the following reports:

Comprehensive Exhibit Plan

AO - Accessioned Objects Schedules

AO - Accessioned Objects Facsimile Sheets

CE - Custom Elements Schedules

CE - Custom Elements Facsimile Sheets

EE - Electronic Equipment Schedules

EP - Electronic Program Schedules

GL – Graphic Layout Schedule

IM - Image Schedules

IM - Image Facsimile Sheets

d. Electronic Programs Report including:

Final AV Program Concept Treatments and AV Program Production Treatments for AV programs and Digital Interactive Programs.

Final flow charts for Electromechanical Programs.

Detailed technical specifications and cut sheets for all audiovisual, digital interactive, and electromechanical programs and equipment.

Audio Description Production Plan, including:

o A diagram of exhibits indicating required power sources o The types and locations of triggering hardware o Table of Contents with segment titles and submenus.

e. Content Specialties Reference Package.

f. Acquire use-rights and production-quality copies of all third-party images and other intellectual property.

2. Present Production Design 1 as follows:

a. The contractor shall facilitate a 3-hour virtual meeting and conference call with screen-sharing capacity to present Production Design 1.

b. The Project Manager, Exhibit Designer, and Exhibit Developer shall attend.

3. Participate in a conference call to reconcile COR review comments and provide written documentation of all decisions made.

B. Production Design 2

At Production Design 2, Production-ready files shall be provided to the COR and shall become government property. During this phase the contractor shall:

1. Develop and submit the following:

a. Graphic Layouts Package, organized according to manipulative exhibit component, to include:

Complete graphic layouts, showing full layouts as well as enlarged sections with text and images at legible size for review.

Text Level 4 corrections.

Production-ready graphic files.

b. Exhibit Design Drawings.

c. Content Management Database.

d. Electronic Programs Report:

Final Concept and Production Treatments for AV programs, and Digital Interactive Programs.

Flow charts for Electromechanical Programs.

Updated detailed technical specifications, cut sheets, and wiring diagrams, for all audiovisual, digital interactive, and electromechanical programs and equipment.

Updated Audio Description Production Plan.

e. Content Specialties Reference Package.

f. Use-rights documents package, with signed original content licenses.

2. Present Production Design 2 as follows:

a. The contractor shall facilitate a 2-hour virtual meeting and conference call with screen-sharing capacity to present Production Design 2.

b. The Project Manager, Exhibit Designer, and Exhibit Developer shall attend.

3. Following the PD2 presentation, the contractor shall provide all corrections to the Production Design 2 submittal, as provided by the COR. The contractor shall prepare and organize all exhibit material and submit the final, corrected versions to the COR. All final, corrected, and production-ready files shall become government property.

3.6. Production Support

Work in this phase includes creative and technical support during fabrication of the project. During exhibit fabrication, the contractor’s Project Manager and Exhibit Designer shall provide input and clarify questions regarding the production of the final Production Design 2 package. The contractor’s Project Manager and Exhibit Designer shall participate in production reviews, which include the following:

1. Travel to the Preliminary Shop Inspection at the fabricator’s facility

2. Review of shop drawings

3. Participation in production conference calls.

3.7. Production

Work in this phase shall include production of all exhibit elements in accordance with the final design intent as described in the corrected Production Design 2 submittals. Work in this phase is organized into two (2) sub-phases: Pre-Fabrication Submittals and Fabrication. Pre- Fabrication includes the development of project documents that must be approved before production can occur.

Fabrication includes all tasks required to complete the production of exhibit elements.

A. Pre-Fabrication Submittals

During this phase, the contractor shall:

1. Prepare and submit an Exhibit Production Plan, as follows:

a. Establish key project milestones and timeframes for review for 25%, 40%, 80%, and 95% completion.

b. At each milestone, the contractor shall provide a revised exhibit production plan that reflects the current status of production.

c. The Exhibit Production Plan shall include the AV Production Plan.

2. Provide Fabrication Shop Drawings.

a. Modifications. The general design requirements developed during previous phases of work are intended to establish basic dimensions of units or modules, profiles, and sight lines of members. Within these limitations, the contractor shall be responsible for any modifications or additions as required to meet accessibility, durability, and safety standards as outlined in Attachment 1, Exhibit Planning, Design, and Fabrication Specifications. The contractor shall submit proposed modifications to the COR for review and approval prior to implementing changes. The contractor shall maintain the visual design concept and operational features as shown, including members’ sizes, profiles, and alignment of components.

b. Electrical. The contractor shall provide equipment specifications, and a lighting and wiring diagram for all exhibit lighting as designed during previous phases of work. Building wiring and power shall be completed by the park. The contractor shall be responsible for acquiring and installing new track and fixtures, and for connecting fixtures to park-provided power throughout the exhibits. The contractor shall ensure that all physical loads are supported by adequate equipment and/or mounting devices as dictated by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

c. Object Cases. The requirements in Attachment 1, Exhibit Planning, Design, and Fabrication Specifications—Section 18, Object Preservation and Protection apply. The contractor shall propose, for review and approval by the COR, any modifications to case design, dimensions, materials, finishes, mechanisms, object layouts, and case furniture that are required to meet NPS specifications.

d. Object Mounts. The contractor shall include drawings of proposed object mounts and exhibit case layouts, submitted in the form of shop drawings. The contractor shall propose and produce all necessary object mounts required by the design.

e. Engineering. A certified professional engineer (PE) shall review the structural design of any exhibit components to be installed by the fabricator that may pose a risk to life safety and shall provide a certified engineer’s stamp on the drawings.

3. Provide Electronic Equipment submittals including plan drawings, wiring diagrams, and catalog cuts.

4. Provide one (1) physical copy of Material Sample Boards.

B. Fabrication

Each fabrication task may require a sub-series of steps to complete, and the contractor is not required to complete tasks in the order outlined below. All tasks shall be completed in accordance with Attachment 1, Exhibit Planning, Design, and Fabrication Specifications—Section 27, Quality and Safety Standards for Fabrication. Fabrication tasks include the following:

1. Content Specialties

Content Specialties under this contract may include illustrations and artwork, new photography, natural history models, architectural and other cultural history models, life-sized figures, dioramas, reproduction historic objects, historic objects (accessioned or non-accessioned), maps and topographic models, and electronic programs.

a. Illustrations and Artwork. The production process for custom illustrations shall be as follows:

i. Refer to the PD2 Content Specialties Reference Package for design intent, purpose, style, and other production details.

ii. Submit the proposed illustration style, in accordance with the PD2 Content Specialties Reference Package, for review and approval.

iii. Submit rough sketches of the illustrations, in the approved style.

iv. Submit more refined sketches of each illustration, including color, that shall incorporate all corrections, changes, modifications, or deficiencies identified by the COR.

v. Submit 90% complete illustrations that shall incorporate all corrections, changes, modifications, or deficiencies identified by the

COR.

vi. Submit the final illustrations that shall incorporate all corrections, changes, modifications, or deficiencies identified by the COR.

Incorporate the illustrations into the appropriate graphic layout files.

Metadata shall be included in the final digital file and shall include information fields supplied by the COR, and found in Attachment 13, Art Documentation Form.

b. New Photography. The production process for new photography shall be as follows:

i. Refer to the PD2 Content Specialties Reference Package for design intent, purpose, style, and other production details.

ii. Submit new photography for review and approval by the COR.

Multiple rounds of review may be required.

iii. Submit final…