Contract_Conservator_FY24_-_Books_SOW_Combined.docx

STATEMENT OF WORK

Book Conservation Contractor April 2024

SCOPE OF WORK

The contractor will provide technical and project management support in the conservation of museum collections in parks throughout the Northeast Region at the Conservator level. Scope of conservation includes: preventative conservation, the execution of collection-wide conservation treatment plans and surveys for parks, conservation treatment and research, and conservation training. The contractor will be a professionally trained conservator with experience in the conservation of historic books as well as more broadly defined historic artifacts.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work performed supports and directly effects personnel throughout the Northeast Region who share in the responsibilities of cultural resource preservation. Recommendations and assistance may cause changes in operation and funding at parks in the interest of museum collections care.

Work is performed in an office environment, a conservation laboratory and on-site. Report writing as well as many treatment tasks may include repetition of hand, wrist, or shoulder movement. Lifting moderately heavy objects (30-45 lbs) and conservation equipment and supplies is often required. Reagents, solvents, and chemicals are used in the laboratory and personal protection apparatus such as gloves, a respirator, and goggles are worn when required. Work using certain solvents is carried out in a fume hood. On-site work may involve exposure to reagents, solvent, chemicals, mold, air-borne allergens. Work hours are typically Monday through Friday for 8 hours/day between 9:00 and 5:30 pm.

TASK DESCRIPTION

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Conservation Laboratory Projects:

· The contractor will be responsible for performing a wide variety of conservation treatments, including difficult and complex technical analysis, testing, and treatment necessary to conserve items of historic and artistic value.

· The contractor will examine artifacts to determine the nature and cause of deterioration, conduct testing where necessary, and select appropriate conservation techniques for treatment.

· The contractor will develop treatments in consultation with the park curators and senior conservators in Historical Architecture, Conservation and Engineering Conservation (HACE) regarding final appearance and intended use of the object. They will provide written documentation for the examination and condition analysis phase, treatment proposal phase, and, following approval of the object’s custodian (usually the park curator through the park Superintendent), the final treatment phase. All will be contained in a comprehensive dossier for each item treated in the conservation laboratory, with complete photographic documentation before and after treatment, and during treatment, if warranted.

· The contractor will draw from professional experience and practical research in selecting professionally established treatment techniques, and in developing new treatment methodologies, including selection of conservation solvents, reagents, compounds, materials and application techniques. Treatment procedures often involve extremely delicate techniques requiring highly developed hand skills and mature professional judgement in determining the appropriate extent of intervention, and the desired final appearance of extremely valuable and irreplaceable objects.

· The contractor will make contacts with parks for treatment scheduling and proposal review, and to make recommendations concerning collection care in the realm of both preventive and remedial conservation. Contacts are also made with parks as a result of their requests for conservation information or services. Contacts with NPS and non-NPS conservators are usually for the purpose of information acquisition or exchange.

· The contractor will be expected to work collaboratively with other conservation colleagues and interns in the lab as well as provide general guidance in his/her area of expertise when required.

· The contractor will be responsible for compliance with all OSHA and NIOSH regulations in laboratory operations by all personnel working in the laboratory.

On-site treatment projects:

· The contractor will assess the condition and treatment needs of historic books on-site and will develop treatment proposals.

· The contractor will submit written treatment proposals to senior conservators for review.

· The contractor will identify and arrange for procurement and scheduled delivery of conservation supplies necessary for on-site treatments. On-site treatments are primarily, but not limited to, treatment of items too large or too fragile to be transported to the HACE Conservation laboratory.

The contractor will be responsible for the following conservatory laboratory/on site treatments

1. EDIS 319939A: Treat Framed Works on Paper

This project will hire a professional Conservator to provide conservation treatment for a collection of historic books surveyed in 2024. The books in need of treatment were identified by the Park. The work is expected to take no more than 525 hours.

The conservator will conserve and stabilize the artifacts, and prepare Treatment Reports, including "before” and “after" digital images to illustrate the work. The completed Treatment Reports and digital images will be shared with both HACE and with the Park via a secure flash drive. Formatting of reports are to follow established templates available on the HACE computer server.

All travel and shipping arrangements, as well as the purchase of conservation supplies required to complete the work will be arranged by the Contract Conservator and will not exceed the NTE CLIN ($4,000).

Though general conservation supplies will be provided at the HACE labs, any materials needed to complete treatment on the artifacts associated with this contract will be the responsibility of the Contractor.

Costs for shipping, materials and equipment, and travel are to be borne by the vendor. Travel-related expenditures for Contractor's personnel are restricted to the limits established for federal employees using GSA guidance. (www.gsa.gov/travel)

2. LONG 321382A: Conserve Historic Photo Albums

This project will hire a professional Conservator to provide conservation treatment for a selection of historic photo albums at the Longfellow House Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site. The eighteen albums contain photographs in carte-de-visite and large formats and were collected by Charles Appleton Longfellow during the late 18oos. The albums exhibit structural issues, including damaged spines and detached pages. The work is expected to take no more than 250 hours.

The conservator will conserve and stabilize the artifacts, and prepare Treatment Reports, including "before” and “after" digital images to illustrate the work. The completed Treatment Reports and digital images will be shared with both HACE and with the Park via a secure flash drive. Formatting of reports are to follow established templates available on the HACE computer server.

All travel and shipping arrangements, as well as the purchase of conservation supplies required to complete the work will be arranged by the Contract Conservator and will not exceed the NTE CLIN ($3,000).

Though general conservation supplies will be provided at the HACE labs, any materials needed to complete treatment on the artifacts associated with this contract will be the responsibility of the Contractor.

Costs for shipping, materials and equipment, and travel are to be borne by the vendor. Travel-related expenditures for Contractor's personnel are restricted to the limits established for federal employees using GSA guidance. (www.gsa.gov/travel)

3. MORR 314215D: Conservation of Frozen Water-Damaged Books

This project will hire a professional Conservator to provide conservation treatment for a selection of water damaged books that were frozen immediately after the water incident. Five to seven books will require extensive treatment and drying, depending on further assessment. Additionally 18 boxes of frozen loose documents will need to be dried. The work is expected to take no more than 425 hours.

The conservator will conserve and stabilize the artifacts, and prepare Treatment Reports, including "before” and “after" digital images to illustrate the work. The completed Treatment Reports and digital images will be shared with both HACE and with the Park via a secure flash drive. Formatting of reports are to follow established templates available on the HACE computer server.

All travel and shipping arrangements, as well as the purchase of conservation supplies required to complete the work will be arranged by the Contract Conservator and will not exceed the NTE CLIN ($5,000).

Though general conservation supplies will be provided at the HACE labs, any materials needed to complete treatment on the artifacts associated with this contract will be the responsibility of the Contractor.

Costs for shipping, materials and equipment, and travel are to be borne by the vendor. Travel-related expenditures for Contractor's personnel are restricted to the limits established for federal employees using GSA guidance. (www.gsa.gov/travel)

4. SAGA 321982A: Treatment of Seven Bronze Sculptures

This project will hire a professional Conservator to provide assistance in the conservation treatment for four bronze heroic-size public monuments and three bronze busts at Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park. The work is expected to take no more than 75 hours.

The conservator will conserve and stabilize the artifacts, and prepare Treatment Reports, including "before” and “after" digital images to illustrate the work. The completed Treatment Reports and digital images will be shared with both HACE and with the Park via a secure flash drive. Formatting of reports are to follow established templates available on the HACE computer server.

All travel and shipping arrangements, as well as the purchase of conservation supplies required to complete the work will be arranged by the Contract Conservator and will not exceed the NTE CLIN ($2,500).

Though general conservation supplies will be provided at the HACE labs, any materials needed to complete treatment on the artifacts associated with this contract will be the responsibility of the Contractor.

Costs for shipping, materials and equipment, and travel are to be borne by the vendor. Travel-related expenditures for Contractor's personnel are restricted to the limits established for federal employees using GSA guidance. (www.gsa.gov/travel)

5. SAGA 321995A: Treat Plaster Frieze

This project will hire a professional Conservator to provide conservation treatment for 14 plaster relief panels on the exterior of Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ Little Studio. The friezes were hand-painted by Saint-Gaudens’ assistants to recall the colors of the Ancient Greeks. The work is expected to take no more than 70 hours.

The conservator will conserve and stabilize the artifacts, and prepare Treatment Reports, including "before” and “after" digital images to illustrate the work. The completed Treatment Reports and digital images will be shared with both HACE and with the Park via a secure flash drive. Formatting of reports are to follow established templates available on the HACE computer server.

All travel and shipping arrangements, as well as the purchase of conservation supplies required to complete the work will be arranged by the Contract Conservator and will not exceed the NTE CLIN ($2,500).

Though general conservation supplies will be provided at the HACE labs, any materials needed to complete treatment on the artifacts associated with this contract will be the responsibility of the Contractor.

Costs for shipping, materials and equipment, and travel are to be borne by the vendor. Travel-related expenditures for Contractor's personnel are restricted to the limits established for federal employees using GSA guidance. (www.gsa.gov/travel)

Conservation survey responsibilities

· As part of a team, or proceeding independently, undertake on-site conservation assessments of museum exhibit and storage facilities, and object-specific surveys of park collections, to include estimates for treatment hours. Results are entered into spreadsheets and documents to be provided to the park.

The contractor will be responsible for the following conservation surveys:

1. STLI 338132A: Conduct Collection Condition Survey and Provide Treatment for Books, Pamphlets, and Works on Paper

This project will hire a professional Conservator to survey and assess the park’s collection of books, pamphlets, and works on paper in preparation for an upcoming exhibition. The survey will address the condition of 128 artifacts, including passports, id cards, posters, photographs, maps, contracts, and journals. The survey will contain images and will detail object conditions with proposals for treatment, cost estimates for conservation treatment, and priorities for treatment and will be shared with both HACE and with the Park via a secure flash drive. Formatting of reports are to follow established templates available on the HACE computer server.

The on-site survey and off-site write up is expected to take no more than 275 hours.

All travel and shipping arrangements, as well as the purchase of conservation supplies required to complete the work will be arranged by the Contract Conservator and will not exceed the NTE CLIN ($10,000).

Though general conservation supplies will be provided at the HACE labs, any materials needed to successfully survey the artifacts associated with this contract will be the responsibility of the Contractor.

Costs for shipping, materials and equipment, and travel are to be borne by the vendor. Travel-related expenditures for Contractor's personnel are restricted to the limits established for federal employees using GSA guidance. (www.gsa.gov/travel)

PROFESSIONAL DELIVERABLES

Contractor will be required to work on various projects that support the preservation of cultural resources in the Northeast Region as needed by the government.

Contractor shall provide treatment proposals, treatment reports and surveys as needed by the government.

Contractor shall arrange for travel, shipping, and materials purchases with costs borne by the Contracting Firm. NTE amounts are specified in individual SOWs.

Contractor shall provide advice to the client on conservation issues (e.g. storage and exhibit questions, object condition observations, etc.) and participate in meetings as needed.

Contractor shall record and maintain records of treatments and surveys in conjunction with NPS guidelines/ protocols.

SKILLS REQUIRED

Prior experience relating to conservation treatment of historic collections located in National Parks is preferred, therefore, any contractor personnel with such experience should be provided, as is reasonable.

Completion of a graduate program in conservation or the equivalent degree of knowledge and skill gained through formal apprenticeship programs with accredited museums and/or professionally recognized conservators through the American Institute for Conservation (AIC). Graduate level degree in a related field such as art history, historic preservation, or fine arts, with coursework in architectural history, preservation, archaeology, or materials conservation.

Full professional knowledge of conservation theory, procedures, and techniques for the conservation of historic furniture and furnishings.

Knowledge and experience in high resolution digital tethered photography of historic furniture.

General knowledge of professional standards of historic house museum operations.

Strong verbal and writing skills to enable the transmission of complex information to parks in an accurate, clear and concise manner.

Extensive knowledge of computer software programs such as Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop, applications and spreadsheet programs such as Excel for creating and generating reports for conservation documentation and planning purposes.

Contractor Personnel Security and Suitability Requirements

A. National Agency Check and Inquires (NACI) Background Investigation

Before starting work under this contract, the contractor will need to have a basic NACI background investigation. Forms required to initiate this process will be provided to the Contractor by the COR and must be returned to the COR to be provided to the Human Resources Office to being the process. The Human Resources Office will provide the employee fingerprint forms which must be taken to a local police station for fingerprinting and returned to the Human Resources Office. The contractor will not be able to start work until notified that their fingerprints have been cleared. The employee will also need to complete the NPS IT security training and provide a printed copy of the completion certification prior to gaining access to NPS computers. This training takes 1-2 hours to complete.

B. Credentialing (PIV)

In addition to the basic NACI background and investigation, performance of this contract requires the contractor employee to have a Federal government-issued Personal Identity Verification (PIV) credential to perform certain duties (routine, unsupervised access to NPS networks). The cost is paid by the contractor and is approx. $350.00, amount subject to change. Completion of the approval process may take from 4 to 6 weeks.

During performance of the contract, the contractor must keep the COR appraised of changes in personnel to ensure that performance is not delayed by compliance with credentialing processes. Cards that have been lost, damaged, or stolen must be reported to the COR and Issuing Office within 24 hours. If reissuance of expired credentials is needed, the contractor must coordinate with the COR.

At the end of contract performance, or when a contractor employee is no longer working under this contract, the contractor must ensure that all identification cards are returned to the COR.

1. Credentialing Request

The Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) is the requesting official and will make arrangements through the NPS Access Card sponsor for personal identity verification and DOI Access Card issuance. The contractor must make their personnel available at the place and time specified by the COR or DOI Access Card sponsor in order to initiate the credentialing process. If an individual has already been credentialed by another agency through OPM, and that credential has not yet expired, further investigation may not be necessary. In that case, the contractor must provide the COR with documentation that supports the individual’s credentialed status.

2. Enrollment

When a valid email address has been created for the contractor employee, the process will begin for the DOI Access Card. The COR will request the email account and will notify the HR Specialist to begin the enrollment process in USAccess. The employee should receive an email within 15 to 30 minutes from HSPD- 12 and/or USAccess. When the email is received, the employee will need to follow the instructions to make an appointment and collect the types of identification required. Contractor employees will begin the enrollment process at https://app3.timetrade.com/tc/login.do?url=usaccess to find the most conveniently located enrollment center. Once this process is completed, the employee will receive an email stating that the card is ready for pick-up at the GSA location to certify and activate the card. The Human Resources Specialist (Adjudicator) will provide the information to USAccess to initiate this process.

3. Activation

Once the enrollment process begins, the employee will need to bring two pieces of identification to the Credentialing Center to start the activation process.

Contractor provided personnel will be required to follow all NPS and DOI computer security guidelines and requirements.

Contractor provided personnel will be required to read and sign the NPS document, “NPS Responsibilities for Computer Use”, acknowledging their understanding of NPS computer security requirements.

Contractor and contractor provided personnel will be required to report all computer security related incidents to the NER Security Manager and/or appropriate staff.

All contractor provided personnel will be required to take annual Department of the Interior (DOI) Security Training.

Contractor will also provide resumes or other documentation necessary to reasonably verify the credentials of the assigned personnel upon Government request. The Government reserves the right to approve or to disapprove of the assignment of any contractor personnel to provide services.

Government Furnished Resources

Facilities, Supplies, and Services

The National Park Service will provide office space, equipment, including computer and mobile phone, and software for the task for one contractor provided personnel. All government resources shall be returned to the client upon completion of this task.

Points of Contact

NPS Contracting Officer's Representative (COR):

Angela Campbell Historic Architecture, Conservation & Engineering Center Interior Region 1 115 John St, Lowell Ma 01852 978-970-5152 Angela_Campbell@nps.gov

NPS HACE Representative:

Margaret Breuker Historic Architecture, Conservation & Engineering Center Interior Region 1 115 John St, Lowell Ma 01852 978-483-6978 Margaret_Breuker@nps.gov

Place of Performance

The primary duty location is office at Boott Mill, 115 John Street, Lowell, MA. Occasional site visits will be required to Northeast Region Parks.

Hours

Regular Hours: The contractor shall provide coverage at the specified government sites during the hours of 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M (core hours); Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

Overtime: Overtime will be authorized in emergency situations such as natural disasters and/or activation of the Northeast Region Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP). The COR will identify which tasks are necessary during this emergency and what personnel will be required to report to work or work additional hours.

Travel: Occasional travel is required to various sites in the Northeast Region.

Standards and References

NPS standards and procedures will be made available upon task initiation.

All work performed will be within the standards of the American Institute for Conservation (AIC) Code of Ethics and Guidelines