Attachment01_StatementOfWork.pdf

Scope of Work for Flag Conservation Treatment and Museum Quality Mounting National Park Service – Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield

1. Introduction Flags are an enduring symbol of importance to soldiers and civilians alike. During the Civil War, flags indicated many things, from the story of a particular unit to confirmation that the enemy had taken control of an area. Soldiers risked their lives to carry these objects from battle to battle. One can only imagine the violence that raged around these flags during the epic four-year struggle. Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield plans to include some iconic flags in the Park’s exhibit space. All flags will be exhibited one at a time on a rotating basis using a STAS hanging system.

All flags are to receive the necessary examination, conservation treatment and stabilization.

Flags shall be mounted fully supported and with loss compensation. They are to be protected within a completely archival quality frame with acrylic glazing so that they can be displayed on the designated wall within the Park’s exhibit space. Documentation of all work will be required.

Base bid is for flag conservation treatment/stabilization and archival mounting for a Civil War era flag (WICR catalog number 30049) – Turner Battalion flag. Flag dimensions are approximately 86” (L) X 57” (W). This flag was carried by the Turner Battalion, 1st Missouri Volunteer Infantry. They took part in the battles of Boonville, Dug Springs and Wilson’s Creek.

The red stripes carry inscriptions for “St. Louis Turner-Regt,” “Booneville,” “Carthage,” “Duck [sic] Springs,” and “Wilson’s Creek.” The battalion was 48% German. Flags carried by Missouri "ethnic" regiments in the Wilson’s Creek campaign are extraordinarily rare.

Option line item 01 is for flag conservation treatment/stabilization and archival mounting for a Mexican War era flag (WICR catalog number 30021) – Clarkson flag. Flag dimensions are approximately 75” (L) X 39” (W). This flag is associated with James J. Clarkson. This silk flag has 27 stars. The eagle, stars, and banner are hand painted. An eagle is visible in the field. It has a banner in its beak that reads “E pluribus unum." A second banner is clutched in the eagle’s talons. Underneath the eagle is an inverted cannon and the words "Mary C Wilson, Virginia L.

Willick, Independence Hoffman." Evidence points to the creation of the flag in 1845 by Mary C.

Wilson and Virginia L. Willick of Independence, MO. The flag was likely used by Missouri Mounted Infantry in the Mexican American War. The flag was used again during the Civil War by the Missouri State Guard. This flag is unique, as it was used by United States troops in one war and Confederate soldiers in another.

Option line item 02 is for flag conservation treatment/stabilization and archival mounting for a Civil War era flag (WICR catalog number 12468) – 8th Missouri Cavalry flag. Flag dimensions are approximately 36” (L) X 25” (W). This silk guidon was carried by Company L, 8th Missouri

Cavalry (US), a southwest Missouri regiment that was organized in Springfield in 1862 and saw extensive service during the Civil War. Cavalry guidons used by Missouri cavalry regiments are rare.

2. Required Resources Government-furnished property:

WICR 30049: Turner Battalion flag WICR 30021: Clarkson flag WICR 12468: 8th Missouri Cavalry flag

Contractor-furnished property:

A certificate proving the contractor is carrying the appropriate Fine Arts Insurance to cover the flags during treatment.

Equipment and supplies necessary for completing the conservation and mounting work in this project.

Personnel requirements:

The contractor working on the flags shall be a current Professional Associate or Fellow of AIC.

Packing/Transportation/shipping of flags before and after treatment and mounting:

It is the contractor’s responsibility to arrange shipping via fine art shipper from and to Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield.

3. Specific Tasks

A. The contractor shall examine all flags noting construction details and all condition issues.

B. The contractor shall submit separate written conservation treatment and mounting proposals for each flag-two copies each. Proposals shall include:

Digital images Detailed description & condition notes Proposed treatment and mounting methods Proposed stabilization and mounting materials, including mount types

C. After acceptance of the conservation treatment proposals by the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR), the contractor shall perform the accepted conservation treatments and mountings. These shall include:

Surface cleaning (vacuuming) Removal of old backings/crude stitches Humidification/flattening Stabilization of vulnerable areas using underlays and/or overlays Ordering and then preparing the archival mounts with conservation-approved materials Preparation of underlays for loss compensation Mounting of flags and assembly of archival frames

Complete documentation D. The contractor shall submit separate written treatment reports for each flag-two hard copies and two digital copies each. Hard copies shall be printed on archival bond paper using archival inks and stainless steel staples. Digital copies shall be presented on archival gold CDs or DVDs. All reports shall include:

Digital images-before treatment, during treatment, after treatment Information on the digital imaging & lighting equipment used Detailed description & condition notes of flags Detailed descriptions of treatments & mounting methodologies employed Complete & detailed listing of all materials used including stabilization materials, mounting materials, and the mounts.

Recommendations for subsequent care

4. Applicable Documents: The contractor shall follow the conservation guidelines as outlined in :

A. The NPS Museum Handbook, Part 1 (Chapter 8, pp. 8:1 to 8:33, Conservation

Treatment; http://www.nps.gov/history/museum/publications/MHI/Chap8.pdf)

B. The Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Practice from the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (AIC; http://www.conservation-us.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=page.viewPage&pageID=858&nodeID=1)

5. Performance Requirements

It is the contractor’s responsibility to arrange shipping via fine art shipper from and to Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield.

A. Deliverables:

1. Proposals-The contractor shall submit all proposals to the COR for acceptance.

a. Treatment and Mounting Proposal for WICR 30049 Flag

b. Treatment and Mounting Proposal for WICR 30021 Flag

c. Treatment and Mounting Proposal for WICR 12468 Flag

2. Fully conserved and mounted flags in archival frames-The contractor shall ensure all frames are completely assembled, cleaned and ready for display.

a. Fully conserved and mounted flag in archival frame-WICR 30049

b. Fully conserved and mounted flag in archival frame-WICR 30021

c. Fully conserved and mounted flag in archival frame-WICR 12468

3. Treatment Reports- The contractor shall submit all reports to the COR for acceptance.

4. Treatment Report for WICR 30049 Flag

5. Treatment Report for WICR 30021 Flag

6. Treatment Report for WICR 12468 Flag

B. Quality Assurance:

1. Authorization-The contractor shall not proceed with any treatment work or ordering of materials until they are authorized to do so as signified by the authorized signature on the proposals. If any major deviations from the proposals seem appropriate during the course of treatment, the contractor shall consult with the COR to discuss and obtain approval before continuing with the project.

2. Inspection-The contractor shall allow the COR access to his or her studio during the treatment and/or mounting phase to assess the project’s progress and quality.

6. Exhibits

A. Catalog card information on each flag

B. Photographs of each flag: overalls and details

C. Current condition of each flag-for example:

WICR 30049

-Fair overall: stained, faded, distorted, with significant areas of loss -Currently stitched to cotton cloth which is stretched around a wooden strainer and tacked.

-Current flag dimensions are 86” (L) X 57” (W) -Current frame dimensions are 93” (L) X 63” (W)

WICR 30021

-Poor overall: stained, faded, distorted, with areas of loss -Currently stored flat on sheet -Current flag dimensions are 75” (L) X 39” (W) -Current frame dimensions are 79.5” (L) X 43.5” (W)

WICR 12468

-Fair overall: stained, faded, some loss around union edges and fly end -Currently mounted on board -Current flag dimensions are 36” (L) X 25” (W) -Current frame dimensions are 39” (L) X 28” (W)