Solicitation Questions and Answers_6.25.26.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE

AIR FORCE LIFE CYCLE MANAGEMENT CENTER (AFLCMC) WRIGHT-

PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE OHIO

25 June 2026

SUBJECT: Response to Inquiries regarding Combined Synopsis/Solicitation

FA8601-26-Q-0071, NMUSAF Artwork Mold Remediation and Conservation Assessments

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

1. QUESTION: To better understand the situation, could you please clarify the extent of the mold damage?

ANSWER: White mold on front and back of some canvas and paper pieces, no visible mold on most of the pieces.

2. QUESTION: If there are any photos available, it would be helpful if you could share them with

us. Seeing the images will give us a clearer idea of the amount of work that may be required and help us plan accordingly.

ANSWER: See Photograph 1 and Photograph 2 posted to the Attachments section of the

Solicitation.

3. QUESTION: Will there be a site visit, we did not see mention. Other than 3.2 (but this is Post award)

ANSWER: There seems to be confusion about the scope of this effort. The requirement is for mold remediation and conservation assessments. The PWS does not call for any physical restoration or conservation work. If vendors still believe a site visit is necessary, please let us know.

4. QUESTION: Are there any pictures available of the damage

ANSWER: See example photos posted to the Attachments section of the Solicitation: Mold Detail

1, Mold Detail 2, Mold Detail 3

5. QUESTION: We have an artwork curator on staff to verify all restoration and supervise all restoration however, does the government intend on sending a curator to inspect the pieces prior to enclosure and return to the facility, to ensure completion? Taking pictures before and after may or may not meet the standards of the AF Museum curator.

ANSWER: The government does intend to send a curator to inspect a sample of pieces on site.

Since the PWS stipulates that fifty pieces can be returned to NMUSAF at a time, a curator will not perform a site visit prior to each return.

6. QUESTION: Does the government intend on the contractor performing any analytical testing on the artworks before and after restoration to prove removal of fungal growth? (i.e. swab testing) If so how many per piece? Before and after? Front and back?

ANSWER: - The government does not plan to perform analytical testing unless there is a concern that the contractor has not removed fungal growth as noted visually or by smell.

7. QUESTION: The 443 Pieces that are unframed, are they backed or supported or just canvas?

ANSWER: There is one piece that is a rolled canvas, most unframed pieces are works of art on paper that are already encapsulated, there is a small number of unframed stretched canvases and works on board.

8. QUESTION: Is the contractor required to also move the 5 freestanding sculptures? Can they we remediated in place?

ANSWER: The contractor will be required to move the 5 freestanding sculptures. All five sculptures can be lifted individually by one person. If the contractor wants to remediate in place then deliver to NMUSAF, that would be acceptable.

9. QUESTION: Does the facility have pictures of the sculptures?

ANSWER: See photos posted to the Attachments section of the Solicitation: Sculpture 1, Sculpture 2, Sculpture 3, Sculpture 4. Note 4 of 5 Sculpture photographs are included. The 5th

Sculpture is also a bust constructed the same as in Sculpture 3 and Sculpture 4.

10. QUESTION: What is the construction materials of the sculptures?

ANSWER: Wood and bronze.

11. QUESTION: The PWS calls for in CLIN 0002 for new enclosures. This will be very hard to quote on a FFP since even with dimensions, the fitment and media required for each my change dramatically.

Will the government allow for a supported bilateral modification for any changes?

ANSWER: The CLIN calls for replacement enclosures. The current enclosures are 2-4 ply mat board.

12. QUESTION: What is the government market research and financial scope of the project?

ANSWER: This information is internal to the Government.

13. QUESTION: Will the government require any authentication or other certifications in conjunction with the restoration after restoration?

ANSWER: No

14. QUESTION: What is the government expectations if a piece cannot be restored and is far too damaged?

ANSWER: The PWS does not call for any physical restoration or conservation work. If a piece cannot be restored, annotate that in the conservation assessment.

15. QUESTION: The posting on SAM.Gov stated completion in 290 days, the PWS states 270 days.

Which is it?

ANSWER: PWS Section 4.0 Deliverables states that the Conservation Assessments and

Photographs of Remediated Work are due NLT 270 day from contract award. PWS Section 5.0

Period of Performance states that the overall period of performance for the project is 290 days.

16. QUESTION: What is the government’s response if the damage is far more severe and the restoration takes longer?

ANSWER: The PWS does not call for any physical restoration or conservation work.

17. QUESTION: Does the facility have a preferred method for the restoration. There are multiple.

ANSWER: State your suggested method of conservation in the conservation assessment. The

PWS does not call for any physical restoration or conservation work.

18. QUESTION: Can the restoration be done with sublimation and then lifting under HEPA negative pressure enclosures?

ANSWER: The only forms of sublimation I am familiar with is dry ice blasting. It is not advised to create thermal shock or have high velocity impacts on any part of artworks.

19. QUESTION: Can the restoration be done under UV lights for areas that are not the visible artwork??

ANSWER: It is not advised to treat any part of artworks with UV lights.

20. QUESTION: Can desiccation be utilized for the artwork while in storage to cycle the air and thus start remediation while waiting in line for restoration and stop additional growth?

ANSWER: The PWS does not call for any physical restoration or conservation work. Taking these artworks down below 15% humidity (desiccation) will cause harm to the artworks such as paint cracking and/or loss and frame and stretcher warping/shrinking.

21. QUESTION: Will each piece require a conservator to asses each piece with verification by the government to prioritize restoration and also to identify the levels of damage / success of restoration ability prior to additional functions?

ANSWER: Half of this contract is for a conservation assessment done by a conservator. The PWS does not call for any physical restoration or conservation work.

22. QUESTION: Will the contractor be required to make any repairs to the artwork?

ANSWER: The PWS does not call for any physical restoration or conservation work

23. QUESTION: Will the contractor be required to make any touch up of the artwork? If so will it be supervised and approved by the government?

ANSWER: The PWS does not call for any physical restoration or conservation work

24. QUESTION (Follow-Up to Questions 18, 19, 20): What methods of remediation of the mold would the museum prefer? Brushing and HEPA vacuuming would be the only realistic options left.

ANSWER: Brushing and HEPA Vacuuming are both acceptable methods for mold remediation.

25. QUESTION: After looking at the pictures, it looks as if the storage area for the media may possibly need to be remediated and cleaned in depth, has that been discussed as part of this mold remediation?

ANSWER: Cleaning of the storage area is not within the scope of this effort. Per the PWS, the remediated artwork will be delivered to a different location at WPAFB. Should the Government determine that remediation and cleaning of the current storage area is necessary, then the Government would issue a separate solicitation for this work at a later time.

26. QUESTION (Follow-Up to Question 6): Analytical testing should be addressed since there is a cost associated with it, and also not all mold is visible and you cannot say that you are going to use a Smell test to verify if fungal growth is present.

ANSWER: The Government is not requiring before and after analytical testing by the contractor to prove removal of fungal growth.

Tracy L. Ferrise

Contracting Officer

AFLCMC/PZIBB